Written Answers Nos. 141-160
141. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports that are in place for parents struggling to afford infant baby formula, particularly where such formula is essential; and if he plans to increase such supports. [26529/23]
View answerMatters related to social welfare payments are a matter for the Department of Social Protection.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, the Department of Social Protection may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.
Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation, and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
142. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will considerextending the AIM programme to school-age childcare for children in receipt of the support for ECCE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26545/23]
View answerMy Department has, since 2016, funded the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.
Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme and reap the benefits of high-quality early learning and care.
AIM offers tailored, practical supports - both universal and targeted - based on need and does not require a formal diagnosis of disability. Over 20,000 children have received over 43,000 targeted supports in over 4,000 settings nationally since its introduction. These figures do not include the many more children and services that have benefited from the universal supports funded through AIM.
One of the commitments in First 5, the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, was to undertake an evaluation of AIM and subject to evaluation findings and other relevant developments, to consider enhancements to, and/or extension of, AIM to, for example, all early learning and care services, all school-age childcare services and to children with additional needs other than a disability.
The AIM evaluation is now close to completion. The final report is due to be published in quarter 4 of this year. The findings from the evaluation will inform further development of AIM, as committed to in First 5.
143. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will consider extending the AIM programme to allow providers to hire an SNA through the AIM scheme given their skillset; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26546/23]
View answerIn line with emerging best practice to support the integration and independence of children with a disability, the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) does not fund Special Needs Assistants (SNAs). Rather, Level 7 of AIM provides financial support to the pre-school provider, which is used either to reduce the adult-to-child ratio in the pre-school room or to buy in additional assistance to the pre-school room. Accordingly, AIM Level 7 assistance is a shared resource for the pre-school setting.
For this reason, staff who are supported with AIM Level 7 funding must adhere to the same qualification criteria as their colleagues in the early learning and care setting, as prescribed in Regulation 9 of the Early Years Services Regulations 2016. It is important to stress that the minimum qualification requirement to work directly with children in an early learning care service was introduced in 2016 in order to improve the quality of provision and to achieve better outcomes for children. To remove this minimum qualification requirement could be contrary to the best interests of children and the vision for the sector that is outlined in First 5, the whole-of-Government strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families.
Individuals who wish to work directly with children in a pre-school service must hold at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or a qualification deemed equivalent. My Department has published a list of qualifications that meet this regulatory requirement. If an individual's qualification does not appear on the list they may apply to my Department for assessment of equivalence of their qualification.
144. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will consider changes to the school-age childcare staff-to-pupil ratio to allow the provider to apply the ratio based on age groups similar to the creche model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26547/23]
View answerSchool age childcare (SAC) services are required to operate within regulatory minimum adult-to-child ratios as set out in the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Registration of School Age Services) Regulations 2018. The ratio is the minimum number of adults required to supervise, care for and work directly with the children in the service.
The introduction of SAC Regulations in 2018 was an important step in ensuring oversight and quality assurance of school-age childcare services which is in the best interests of the children and families who use these services.
In setting regulatory requirements, the primary consideration must be children’s health, safety and well-being, and these were the primary factors considered when setting a minimum 1:12 adult-to-child ratio in the Regulations for school-age childcare. The 1:12 ratio was agreed following consultation with an expert group on school-age childcare standards, which included a range of sector representatives among its members.
The adult : child ratios for Early Learning and Care (ELC) services are set out in Schedule 6 of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016. Ratios for ELC services are categorised by age and service-type from 1:3 for children aged 0-1 in full day care up to 1:11 for children aged 2 to 6 in sessional ELC services.
There are no plans at present to revise the minimum adult : child ratio for SAC services.
145. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has recently engaged with the Dublin city childcare committee to identify vacant places for early learning and childcare in their catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26578/23]
View answerThe availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority and my Department relies on a number of data sources to monitor supply and demand.
The annual data captured by Pobal on behalf of my Department - through the Early Years Sector Profile Survey - is one important data source that allows us to monitor supply and demand. In addition to this survey data, my Department also relies on data from the register of services held by Tusla and data provided by services as part of their application for Core Funding. My Department also regularly conducts surveys with parents. Indeed, since 2020, five parent surveys have been undertaken by Ipsos MRBI on behalf of my Department.
In addition to these measures, the City/County Childcare Committees (CCC), including Dublin City Childcare Committee proactively engage with early learning and childcare services to identify unused capacity and explore the potential/intention for services in increase capacity, particularly where there is evidence of unmet early learning and childcare needs of families.
Most recently, in February/March this year, CCC, including Dublin City Childcare Committee undertook a survey in a sample of providers in their local area for this purpose.
Fieldwork for the Early Years Sector Profile Survey 2022/23 is currently underway which will provide an updated position of capacity across all CCC areas.
146. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm the current number of early childhood education and care places currently available in Dublin Central; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26579/23]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a free universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. It provides children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and the programme year runs from September to June each year.
Based on data captured through the Early Years Sector Profile Survey 2021/22 (gathered in Spring 2022 with a response rate of 82.5%) – extrapolated to take account of all services delivering the ECCE programme – the number of ECCE places in Dublin Central was 1,988. Data collection for the Early Years Sector Profile 2022/23 is currently underway and will give an updated position for Dublin Central.
For the current programme year (September 2022 – June 2023), there are 108,482 enrolled on this programme nationally.
147. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline any plans his Department is currently engaged in to address any issue of under supply of early childhood education and care places in Dublin Central; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26580/23]
View answerThe availability of high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. The 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.
The annual data captured by Pobal on behalf of my Department - through the Early Years Sector Profile Survey - is one important data source that allows us to monitor supply and demand. In addition to this survey data, my Department also relies on data from the register of services held by Tusla, data provided by services as part of their application for Core Funding and has also conducted several surveys with parents. Since 2020, five parent surveys have been undertaken by Ipsos MRBI on behalf of the Department.
Data captured from the 2021/22 iteration of the Early Years Sector Profile, indicated that the vacancy rate in Dublin City is 15% and is 16% on average across the country. This data does not take account of increases in capacity since the introduction of Core Funding. Data collection for the 2022/23 Early Years Sector Profile is currently underway and will give an updated position.
A series of steps are being taken to address issues of undersupply.
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.
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.
Some €70m has been allocated to my Department through the revised National Development Plan (NDP) – with the majority of this funding earmarked for new places.
My Department, in partnership with the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government, is in the process of updating the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings. As part of this work, my Department has been included in the updated list of prescribed bodies that need to be notified on certain planning matters, including the formulation of County Development Plans and Local Area Plans.
In addition, Core Funding - introduced in September 2022 - has already proven to be effective in expanding capacity, particularly in areas of undersupply and additional funding secured in Budget 2023 for year two of Core Funding provides further opportunity to invest in a further 3% growth in capacity .
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.
148. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports available for early childhood education and care services who are experiencing sustainability issues; and the steps a service can take to access these supports. [26581/23]
View answer152. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early childhood education and care services that have raised viability concerns with the Dublin city childcare committee in the years 2020 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26585/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 152 together.
In instances where a service has concerns about their sustainability, the first step in obtaining support is for the service to reach out to their local City and County Childcare Committee (CCC).
Once a services engages with their local CCC they will be able to avail of supports through the case management process. My Department oversees this process through which local CCC’s and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to ELC and SAC services experiencing difficulties. This support can take the form of assisting services with interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances. In some instances, financial supports may be deemed appropriate in tandem with the case management process.
As a new development to the suite of supports available, a further stand of sustainability funding is now available to Core Funding Partner Services, both community and private, who are experiencing financial difficulty. As with previous strands of the Sustainability Fund, it focuses on the provision of operational as well as short term financial supports where appropriate, and will assist services in managing their immediate financial difficulties, providing advice to support their long term sustainability, while transitioning to a more sustainable model of service delivery.
My Department, Pobal and the CCCs continue to closely monitor trends concerning services entering case management and will continue to maintain the availability of Sustainability Funding for individual services at risk. If any service has sustainability concerns, I would encourage them to reach out to their local CCC to start availing of supports through the aforementioned case management process.
149. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will set out the early childhood education and care vacant places, the enrolled places, and the overall capacity for places in Dublin Central for the years 2020 to 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26582/23]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a free universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. It provides children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and the programme year runs from September to June each year.
The table provided below is based on data captured through the Early Years Sector Profile Surveys 2020/22 (gathered in Spring 2021 with a response rate of 57%) and 2021/22 (gathered in Spring 2022 with a response rate of 82.5%) – extrapolated to take account of all services delivering the ECCE programme in Dublin Central.
|
- |
2020/21 |
2021/22 |
|
ECCE vacant Places |
252 |
256 |
|
ECCE enrolled Places (places currently occupied) |
1,676 |
1,732 |
|
ECCE overall capacity |
1,928 |
1,988 |
The calculations assume ECCE places apply to children in the following age ranges:
• 3 years+ to 4 years
• 4 years+ to 5 years (Non-school going)
• 5 years+ to 6 years (Non-school going)
Data collection for the Early Years Sector Profile 2022/23 is currently underway and will give an updated position for Dublin Central.
For the current programme year (September 2022 – June 2023), there are 108,482 enrolled on this programme nationally.
150. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm the number of new early childhood care and education scheme classes that have opened in Dublin Central for the years 2020 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26583/23]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a free universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. It provides children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and the programme year runs from September to June each year.
Based on data captured through the Early Years Sector Profile Surveys 2020/22 (gathered in Spring 2021 with a response rate of 57%) and 2021/22 (gathered in Spring 2022 with a response rate of 82.5%) – extrapolated to take account of all services delivering the ECCE programme – the number of ECCE places had grown by 60 places (3%) in Dublin Central over this period. Data collection for the Early Years Sector Profile 2022/23 is currently underway and will give an updated position for Dublin Central.
For the current programme year (September 2022 – June 2023), there are 108,482 enrolled on this programme nationally.
151. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is considering any plans to provide new childcare places in light of the pressure on childcare places and the closure of some services in Dublin Central; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26584/23]
View answerThe availability of high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. The 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.
The annual data captured by Pobal on behalf of my Department - through the Early Years Sector Profile Survey - is one important data source that allows us to monitor supply and demand. In addition to this survey data, the Department also relies on data from the register of services held by Tusla, data provided by services as part of their application for Core Funding and has also conducted several surveys with parents. Since 2020, five parent surveys have been undertaken by Ipsos MRBI on behalf of the Department.
Data captured from the 2021/22 iteration of the Early Years Sector Profile, indicated that the vacancy rate in Dublin City is 15% and is 16% on average across the country. This data does not take account of increases in capacity since the introduction of Core Funding. Data collection for the 2022/23 Early Years Sector Profile is currently underway and will give an updated position.
A series of steps are being taken to address issues of undersupply.
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.
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.
Some €70m has been allocated to my Department through the revised National Development Plan (NDP) – with the majority of this funding earmarked for new places.
My Department, in partnership with the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government, is in the process of updating the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings. As part of this work, my Department has been included in the updated list of prescribed bodies that need to be notified on certain planning matters, including the formulation of County Development Plans and Local Area Plans.
In addition, Core Funding - introduced in September 2022 - has already proven to be effective in expanding capacity, particularly in areas of undersupply and additional funding secured in Budget 2023 for year two of Core Funding provides further opportunity to invest in an additional 3% growth in capacity.
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
153. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is satisfied with the adequacy of the investigative powers of Pobal where a breach of the core funding model is reported; his views on the procedure which is in place; and his plans to strengthen investigative and remedial mechanisms in place for alleged breaches of the core funding model. [26633/23]
View answerThere are currently more than 4,200 Partner Services participating in Core Funding – representing 95% of all eligible services.
These services must operate in line with the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement.
Regarding fees, Partner Services must uphold their contractual obligations regarding Fee Management as laid out in this Agreement. In its first year, Partner Services must not increase the fees charged to parents from those charged in September 2021. An increased charge of any kind for an existing and unchanged Service Type will be in breach of Core Funding rules.
In its first year of operation, City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), Pobal, and my Department are operating a Core Funding Fee Review process whereby any person can seek to have a potential breach regarding Fee Management examined and a conclusion reached. Further guidance on Fee Management and the Core Funding Fee Review Process can be found here: first5fundingmodel.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Together-for-Better-Guidelines-on-Fee-Management-7.pdf.
Where a determination is made of a breach regarding Fee Management, a Partner Service must provide evidence of remedy of that breach within 30 working days. Failure to do so may result in the termination of the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement.
I would encourage any parent with concerns or questions about fees to contact their local CCC for support and guidance or to initiate a Core Funding Fee Review. The first point of contact for parents and providers on fee issues is their local CCC.
154. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures his Department has undertaken to alleviate the pressures of the recruitment and retention crisis in the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26701/23]
View answerI acknowledge that many early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services report staffing difficulties in relation to recruitment and retention. In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover.
However, providers of ELC and SAC are private businesses. 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.
Recruitment and retention difficulties are undoubtedly linked to pay and conditions. There is now, through the independent Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process, a formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate minimum pay rates for different roles in ELC and SAC services.
On 15 September 2022, two Employment Regulation Orders for Early Years Services, negotiated through the JLC, came into effect, providing for minimum hourly rates of pay for various roles in ELC and SAC services.
The Orders are being supported by Core Funding – which has an allocation of €259 million in its first year – to support amongst other things, improvements in staff wages, alongside a commitment to freeze parental fees and support for sustainability of services. As announced in Budget 2023, the Core Funding allocation will increase by €28 million for the second year.
I understand that the JLC for Early Years Services is continuing to meet in relation to possible future pay negotiations.
I am also committed to addressing other challenges which may impact on the recruitment and retention of staff in the sector. In December 2021, I published "Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for ELC and SAC, 2022-2028". Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in the sector. One of the five "pillars" of Nurturing Skills comprises commitments aimed at supporting recruitment, retention and diversity in the workforce, and it includes actions to raise the profile of careers in the sector.
155. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the ratification of the Optional Protocol of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26726/23]
View answerThe Optional Protocol is an international treaty that establishes procedures aimed at strengthening the implementation and monitoring of the Convention. Ratification of the Optional Protocol is a commitment in the Programme for Government. The timeline for ratification was originally anticipated to follow the conclusion of Ireland’s first review period before the UN Committee. Due to delays at UN level, Ireland’s appearance before the Committee will now be delayed. Due to this delay , both Minister O'Gorman and I have indicated our support for earlier ratification of the Optional Protocol.
My Department is continuing to scope out the requirements for earlier ratification. This scoping work is required due to the long-standing position of the state in relation to honouring international agreements. As a matter of foreign policy, Ireland does not enter into binding international treaties until we are confident that the obligations set out within can be complied with. As such, the ongoing scoping exercise is procedurally necessary.
While I had expected the scoping exercise to have been completed by Easter this year, the procurement of appropriate expert legal services to complete and conclude the exercise has been delayed. A tender for the necessary specialist services was issued in February of this year, but that process did not result in a suitable contract being awarded. My Department is now in the process of revising the approach to be taken but I can assure the Deputy that this is being addressed as a matter of urgency.
My Department is consulting with the Office of the Attorney General to identify appropriate legal expertise so that the scoping exercise can be completed at the earliest possible time. I am informed that the work will be complete in quarter 4 of this year, should the procurement of expertise go to plan on this occasion.
156. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he has taken in response to a report (details supplied), including any actions to ensure immediate reforms within the organisation. [26735/23]
View answerI and the Government welcomed the publication of the independent review in relation to the handling of past complaints in St John Ambulance Ireland (SJAI). I thank Dr Geoffrey Shannon for his work in bringing to light his findings, and acknowledge the dedication and extraordinary courage that victim-survivors have shown through their central role in ensuring the review was undertaken.
Recently, the Chief Social Worker in my Department and other Officials met with the Commissioner and the Chair of the Board of St John Ambulance following the publication of the review.
As the Deputy will no doubt be aware, SJAI published a 'Response Document' outlining their commitments in response to recommendations made by Dr Geoffrey Shannon as a result of his findings in relation to the Handling of Past Abuse Complaints within SJAI.
The purpose of this meeting was to ascertain progress in respect of the actions to be implemented as swiftly as possible, consistent with the review recommendations.
In response to these recommendations, SJAI have reported that the following steps are being, or have already been, taken:
1. A written organisational apology has been issued, through the Review Team, on behalf of the SJAI Board, to all known victim-survivors.
2. SJAI has made counselling/therapeutic services available to victims-survivors who came forward for the Review.
3. SJAI is in the process of implementing a change programme to replace the hierarchical structure that was in place previously, with a more collegiate management style approach.
4. Complaints processes have been reviewed and updated.
5. The organisation is currently recruiting an independent Safeguarding Officer. The role of the Safeguarding Officer will include providing training on child protection, managing complaints within the organisation, and monitoring vetting of members. The Safeguarding Officer will report directly to the board on all safeguarding matters.
6. The organisation are in the process of implementing a new records management system to ensure all active members are compliant with safeguarding policies. All Garda vetting and the required child protection training must be completed and up to date in order to be an active member of SJAI. Members who are non compliant will be stood down from all activities until the issue is rectified.
SJAI have also given their commitment to completing quarterly progress reports, which will be submitted to my Department.
157. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if he was made aware of reports of a recent visit by Ireland’s National Ambulance Service to Israel to study the operations of Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical service established by the Israeli government; his views on whether such a visit was appropriate in view of reports of repeated attacks by Israeli forces on Palestinian emergency relief rescuers and health personnel as well as numerous attacks by illegal Israeli settlers on Palestinian ambulance cars with the acquiescence and support of Israeli security forces; if he is concerned that such a visit might be seen to justify these Israeli actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26586/23]
View answer190. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his views on the recently reported visit by Ireland’s National Ambulance Service to Israel to study the operations of Magen David Adom, Israel’s national Emergency Medical Service established by the Israeli Government; his views on whether this visit was appropriate in view of the many recent reports of a dramatic increase in attacks by illegal Israeli settlers in the Palestinian Territory on treatment centres and health workers, and the daily obstruction of the movement of ambulances and paramedics with the compliance of the Israeli military, and the unwillingness of the Israeli authorities to uphold their obligations as the occupying power, as reported by the UN General Assembly last October; if this visit was approved by him beforehand; if the Minister for Foreign Affairs was consulted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26587/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 190 together.
The HSE engages with the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine (WADEM) on an ongoing basis. Following a successful WADEM Conference hosted by Spain in 2022, NAS and representatives of Magen David Adom (MDA) (Israel’s equivalent to NAS), agreed to collaborate on issues of mutual interest, in particular, disaster emergency preparedness and potential applications for EU Research projects. Following this, the NAS was invited to visit MDA to learn from the joint work underway between MDA and the Jordanian Red Crescent. The study visit was arranged to follow the WADEM Conference for 2023, hosted in Ireland, which was attended by representatives of MDA.
The National Ambulance Service consulted with my Department and The Department of Foreign Affairs in advance of the visit. Ireland’s bilateral relations with Israel encompass cooperation and exchanges across a wide range of sectors and the visit of the National Ambulance Service to their counterparts was important in this context. All such official cooperation strictly respects the delineation between Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has advised that the exchange of best practice between emergency responders in Ireland and Israel does not in any way run contrary to Ireland’s principled position on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including as regards the conduct of the Israeli security forces. Ireland is consistently clear in underlining the requirement of Israel, as an occupying power, to protect civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory.
158. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if additional investment will be made for cancer services so that everyone can access timely treatments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26684/23]
View answerSuccessive National Cancer Strategies have delivered continuing improvements in outcomes for Irish cancer patients in terms of earlier diagnosis, better treatment, and improved rates of survival. This Government’s commitment to implementation of the National Cancer Strategy is evidenced by significant investment in recent years. €20m new development funding was allocated to cancer services and €15m was allocated for new cancer drugs in both 2021 and 2022. This increased total funding for cancer services to €139m in 2022.
We have seen significant progress on the implementation of the Strategy over the past six years, with clear evidence-based policy direction from my Department and strong implementation by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP). It is important that we continue to invest in cancer services, as the incidence of cancer is projected to grow due to demographic change and improved detection of cancer.
In 2022, 172 new staff were recruited to cancer services from this new development funding, which represent a 20% increase in total staffing for cancer. Cancer surgeries returned to above 2019 thresholds with more than 16,200 surgeries performed, more patients were seen at Rapid Access Clinics with attendances at 104% of 2019 levels, and over 126,000 chemotherapy treatments were administered, more than than ever before.
The National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 Implementation Report 2022 is currently being prepared, and it is expected that this Report will be published very shortly. The annual Implementation Report will outline how this funding was used to support ongoing initiatives and to drive improvements across all stages of the cancer continuum, facilitating further developments across prevention, diagnosis, treatment and patient supports. My Department continues to work with the NCCP to implement the recommendations of the Strategy in 2023, including the recruitment of staff into cancer services and the improvement of services for patients.
National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) data shows substantial progress being made to control the four major cancers (prostate, breast, lung and colorectal), with mortality rates falling or stabilising for each. These comprise over half of all invasive tumours (not including rarely fatal nonmelanoma skin cancers).
Treatment in our medical oncology, radiation oncology and surgical oncology services also continues to improve, with an estimated 200,000 people in Ireland living with and beyond cancer.
The implementation of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 is a Government priority and continued improvements in cancer services will be driven by both my Department and the National Cancer Control Programme within the HSE. Priorities for 2023 will include the further centralisation of cancer services which has a direct impact on positive outcomes for patients, and the implementation of models of care for areas such as medical oncology and psycho-oncology, which ensure continuity of care and support for cancer patients and their families.
159. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update in relation to expediating the emergency department at Mayo University Hospital. [26752/23]
View answerI am delighted to confirm the HSE Building & Equipment Capital Plan 2023 has been published. The Capital funding for 2023 is €1,027m, which includes an increase of 11% on the core allocation in 2022.
Provision has been made in the Capital Plan 2023 to progress an extension at ground floor level to the existing emergency department (ED) at Mayo University Hospital.
It is proposed that this will provide seven new assessment and treatment spaces in the ED.
A new first floor medical assessment unit will also be constructed, providing an additional ten assessment spaces for unscheduled care and ancillary services.
A design team has been appointed from the HSE Design Team Framework to progress this project.
The Stage 1 report has been completed and was submitted for review as there is a substantial associated cost increase in the project. The review has been completed and a follow-up meeting is being arranged by the HSE in the coming weeks to discuss the cost increase. Design work is continuing on the project in the interim.
As the project is at design and planning stage, more detailed information on the timeline will become clearer as the design process progresses.
160. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health when the medication fenfleuramine, used in the treatment of severe epilepsy - Dravet syndrome, will be approved for reimbursement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26429/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the formal Reimbursement list. Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
There are formal processes which govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded and/or reimbursed.
The HSE Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit (CPU) is the interface between the HSE and the Pharmaceutical Industry in relation to medicine pricing and reimbursement (P&R) applications and the operation of the national pricing framework agreements. The role of the CPU is to manage the process around pricing and reimbursement applications for new medicines received by the HSE from industry and to lead on pricing negotiations with individual companies around specific medicines.
With respect to Fenfluramine (Fintepla):
Fenfluramine (Fintepla) received a marketing authorisation (MA) from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in December 2020.
As per the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), Fenfluramine (Fintepla) is indicated for the treatment of seizures associated with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome as an add-on therapy to other anti-epileptic medicines for patients 2 years of age and older.
The HSE CPU has confirmed that, as of the 26th May 2023, it has not received a P&R application from UCB Pharma (the MA holder) for Fenfluramine (Fintepla).
