Friday 6 October 2000
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail how many patients are on waiting lists for surgery in the Homefirst Community Trust area and to indicate what action will be taken to reduce this waiting list.

(AQW 125/00)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): At the end of June 2000, there were no patients waiting for surgery in the Homefirst Community Trust area.

Ag deireadh Meithimh 2000, ní raibh othar ar bith ag fanacht ar mháinliacht ag Iontaobhas an Phobail Homefirst.

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will detail the number of children suffering eye damage attributable to contact with dog excrement; and if she will make a statement.

(AQW 126/00)

Ms de Brún: Information on the number of children suffering eye damage attributable to contact with dog excrement is not available.

Statistics on numbers of people admitted to local hospitals with a diagnosis of toxocariasis are given in the table below.

Níl eolas ar fáil faoi líon na bpáistí ar cuireadh síos dóibh go ndearnadh dochar dá súile de bharr teagmháil le cac madadh.

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what action will be taken to ensure that Whiteabbey Hospital plays a role in addressing the health needs of residents in East Antrim.

(AQW 127/00)

Ms de Brún: The provision of safe, effective and accessible acute hospital services is of vital importance to the whole community. It is one of my top priorities as Minister. I want to move forward as quickly as possible on this matter, and that is why I have commissioned a short, independent review of all the issues involved. The review group will report to me at the end of February 2001 with recommendations on the future development of services.

I cannot anticipate what the independent group’s report may have to say about services at Whiteabbey or any other hospital.

Tá sé barrthábhachtach don phobal uile go soláthrófar seirbhísí sábháilte éifeachtacha géarmhíochaine ospidéal, seirbhísí ar féidir teacht go réidh orthu. Tá sé sin ar na tosaíochtaí is mó agam féin. Ba mhaith liom gluaiseacht chun tosaigh a ghaiste is féidir agus is é sin an chúis ar choimisiúnaigh mé athbhreithniú gairid neamhspleách ar gach ní a bhaineann leis an ábhar seo. Cuirfidh an grúpa athbhreithnithe a dtuarascáil faoi mo bhráid faoi dheireadh Feabhra 2001 agus in éineacht léi beidh moltaí faoin dóigh ar cheart na seirbhísí a fhorbairt sa todhchaí.

Ní thig liom gníomhú sula mbeidh tuairimí an ghrúpa neamhspleách ar fáil ina dtuarascáil faoi na seirbhísí in Ospidéal na Mainistreach Finne nó in ospidéal ar bith eile.

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will confirm the current waiting times for occupational therapy appointments in the East Antrim constituency and to confirm if there has been a reduction in waiting times over the last 18 months.

(AQW 128/00)

Ms de Brún: At the end of the June 2000 there were 1,155 people waiting for an occupational therapy assessment in the East Antrim constituency area. Of these, 63% have been waiting for more than three months. This compares with 1,468 at 31December 1998, of whom 64% have been waiting for more than three months.

Faoi dheireadh mí an Mheithimh 2000 bhí 1,155 duine ag feitheamh le measúnú le haghaidh teiripe ceirde i dtoghlach Antroim Thoir. Bhí 63% díobh siúd ag feitheamh le breis agus tri mhí. I gcomparáid leis an fhigiúr seo bhí 1,468 duine ar an 31 Nollaig 1998 agus 64% díobh siúd ag feitheamh le breis agus tri mhí.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what is the current position in regard to the recruitment of occupational therapists for the Health Service.

(AQW 134/00)

Ms de Brún: Health and social services boards and trusts are responsible for ensuring that there are sufficient occupational therapists to provide the level of service to meet the assessed needs of their population. However, my Department has highlighted occupational therapy waiting times as a pressure to be addressed by boards in proposals for spending the £53m recurrent funding announced earlier this year. The four boards have indicated that additional resources will be allocated to occupational therapy services in the current year. My Department will monitor the situation.

Tá se mar freagracht ar na boird sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisilta agus ar na hlontaobhais a chinntiú go bhfuil go leor teiripeoirí ceirde ann leis an leibhéal seirbhíse a sholáthar a bheas ag freastal ar riachtanais mheasta na ndaoine ina gceantair. Ach tá na tréimhsí feithimh le haghaidh teiripe ceirde leagtha síos go sonrach ag mo Roinnse mar bhrú a gcaith fidn na boird aghaidh a thabhairt air agus tá seo luaite sna moltaí a rinneadh faoin dóigh ar cheart na £53m de mhaoiniú athfhillteach a chaitheamh nuair a fógraíodh sin níos luaithe i mbliana. Tá na ceithre bhord i ndiaidh a chur in iúl go gcuirfear acmhainní breise ar fáil do sheirbhísí teiripe ceirde sa bhliain reatha. Déanfaidh mo Roinnse faireachán ar na chúrsaí seo.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will confirm the amount of funding available over the next five years for research into cancers specific to men.

(AQW 136/00)

Ms de Brún: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety funds research largely through the HPSS research and development fund which is managed by the research and development office for the HPSS to implement the HPSS research and development strategy. In common with other NHS research and development strategies, it is neither-disease specific nor disease-driven. Therefore, there is no amount of funding earmarked for cancers specific to men. Equally, there is no limit, other than the total value of the HPSS fund, to the amount that is potentially available to cancers specific to men.

At present the HPSS research and development fund has committed £4·9m (at 1999/00 prices) to support cancer research over the next five years. None of these research projects is in cancers specific to men. It should be noted that the research and development office has not received any research proposals relating to research into cancer specific to men, so no proposals have been turned down in this area.

This future five-year cancer spend is incurred across the various strands of the HPSS research and development strategy as follows:

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety also core funds, from the Departmental Surveys, Registries and Research Group (DSRRG) budget, the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR). Part of the NICR aim is to enable research. However, as with the HPSS research and development fund, there is no amount of funding earmarked for cancers specific to men. Core funding for 2000/01 is £422k, rising to an estimated £500k in 2004/05.

Funding for cancer research is also available from sources outside the DHSSPS, for example the Medical Research Council. The scale and quantum of this funding is not known.

Maoiníonn an Roinn Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí taighde go formhór ó chiste taighde agus forbartha (TF) na SSSSP. Tá an ciste seo á stiúradh ag an oifig taighde agus forbartha thar ceann na SSSSP chun straitéis TF an SSSSP a chur i gcrích. Tá an straitéis seo ar aon dul leis na cinn eile a bhaineann le TF na SNS. Níl sí dírithe go sonrach ar ghalar amháin nó ar ghalair go háirithe. Ar an ábhar sin níl suim áirithe den mhaoiniú á cur i leataobh do ‘chineálacha ailse a bhaineann le fir amháin’. Ag an am ceanna níl aon teorainn, seachas luach iomlán chiste TF na SSSSP, leis an tsuim a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ar fáil do ‘chineálacha ailse a bhaineann le fir amháin’.

Faoi láthair tá £4.9m (de réir phraghasanna 1999-00) de chiste TF na SSSSP i dtacaíocht le taighde ar ailse thar na chéad chúig bliana eile. Ní bheidh ceann ar bith de na tionscadail taighde seo á dhéanamh ar ‘chineálacha ailse a bhaineann le fir amháin’. Ba cheart a thabhairt faoi deara nach bhfuair an oifig TF iarratas ar bith maidir le taighde ar ‘chineálacha ailse a bhaineann le fir amháin’, agus dá bharr seo níor diúltaíodh aon iarratas sa réimse seo.

Is mar seo a leanas a bheas an caiteachas cúig bliana seo sa todhchaí ar ailse thar na réimsí éagsúla de straitéis TF na SSSSP:

Cuireann an Roinn Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí bunmhaoiniú ar fáil do Chlárlann Ailse Thuaisceart Éireann (CATÉ) ó bhuiséad an Ghrúpa Ranna um Shuirbhéanna, Chlárlanna agus Thaighde (GRSCT). Tá sé mar chuid de aidhm CATÉ ‘taighde a chumasú’. Mar sin féin, amhail le chiste TF na SSSSP, níl suim ar bith á cur i leataobh do ‘chineálacha ailse a bhaineann le fir amháin’. Is é £422k an bunmhaoiniú don bhliain 2000-01 agus meastar go méadóidh sin go £500k sa bhliain 2004-05.

Cuireann foinsí eile, taobh amuigh den RSSSSP, maoiniú ar fáil le haghaidh taighde ar ailse, an Chomhairle Taighde Míochaine mar shampla. Ach ní fios scála nó méid an mhaoinithe sin.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will make a statement about the condition and facilities for patients and visitors to Belvoir Park Hospital.

(AQW 145/00)

Ms de Brún: Belvoir Park Hospital is owned by Belfast City Hospital Health and Social Services Trust.

The condition and the facilities for patients and visitors to Belvoir Park Hospital reflect the fact that the cancer centre is based in an old fever hospital and that facilities have developed in response to changes in treatment.

The trust is aiming to provide new accommodation for these services on the Belfast City Hospital site by 2003. Nevertheless, it recognises the need to ensure that the accommodation and facilities at Belvoir Park Hospital are adequately maintained, within available resources, bearing in mind the expected limited lifespan of the hospital.

Is le hIontaobhas Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta Ospidéal Bhéal Feirste Ospideal Pháirc Belvoir.

Léiríonn bail Ospidéal Pháirc Belvoir agus na saoráidí d’othair agus do chuairteoirí atá ann gur i seanospidéal fiabhras atá an t-ionad ailse suite agus gur fhás na saoráidí de réir mar a bhí an chóireáil ag athrú.

Tá an tIontaobhas ag iarraidh áit nua a fháil do na seirbhísí seo ar shuíomh Ospidéal na Cathrach faoin bhliain 2003. Ach mar sin féin aithníonn sé gur gá a chinntiú go bhfuil an chóiríocht agus na saoráidí in Ospidéal Pháirc Belvoir á gcoinneáil go sásúil taobh istigh de na hacmhainní atá ann agus ag féachaint don teorainn a mheastar bheas ann maidir le saolré an ospidéil.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she consulted with the Royal Ulster Constabulary when drawing up her report on a strategy for reducing alcohol related harm and to detail the role she envisages for the Royal Ulster Constabulary in this strategy.

(AQW 146/00)

Ms de Brún: The Community Affairs Division of the RUC was represented on the project team which developed the report ‘Reducing Alcohol Related Harm in NI: A Report to DHSS by the Project Team’, published in June 1999 and which formed the basis for the current strategy. Many interested parties, including the Community Affairs Division, were further consulted by my Department during the final consultation of the strategy.

As outlined in the strategy document a local strategy implementation group, involving a wide range of concerned organisations, will be established in each board area. These groups will have a key role in implementing the strategy at ground level. This will include working with the Department to develop measures for protecting the community by reducing anti-social and criminal behaviour, advising on licensing options, supporting efforts to reduce access to alcohol by underage drinkers and encouraging and supporting responsible trading practices.

Bhí ionadaithe ó Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail an RUC ar an fhoireann tionscadail a d’ullmaigh an tuarascáil "Reducing Alcohol Related Harm in NI -A Report to DHSS by the Project Team", a foilsíodh i mí an Mheithimh 1999, agus ba uirthi a bunaíodh an straitéis reatha. Chuaigh mo Roinnse i gcomhairle arís leis na páirtithe leasmhara, agus an Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail san áireamh, le linn an bhabhta dheireanaigh comhairliúcháin maidir leis an Straitéis um Dochar de bharr Alcóil a laghdú.

Mar a mhínítear sa doiciméad straitéise, bunófar grúpa feidhmithe i ngach ceantar boird agus beidh réimse leathan eagraíochtaí a bhfuil baint acu leis an cheist páirteach ann. Beidh ról tábhachtach ag na grúpaí seo maidir leis an straitéis a chur i bhfeidhm i measc an phobail. Chomh maith leis sin beifear ag obair leis an RSSSSP chun bearta a cheapadh a chosnóidh an pobal trí iompar frithshóisialta agus coiriúil a laghdú, trí roghanna ceadúnaithe a mholadh, trí thacaíocht a thabhairt do na hiarrachtaí atáthar a dhéanamh le alcól a choinneáil ó dhaoine faoi aois agus trí spreagadh agus tacaíocht a thabhairt do chleachtais díolacháin freagracha.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will confirm that no health monitoring, as specified by health and safety guidelines, is being carried out following the reintroduction of organophosphate sheep dipping.

(AQW 155/00)

Ms de Brún: The Health and Safety Executive produced guidance on sheep dipping in 1995.

The leaflet provides advice to contractors to monitor the health of those involved in sheep dipping. In addition, any ill health of people or animals resulting from exposure to sheep dipping should be reported through the Suspected Adverse Reactions Surveillance Scheme operated by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. This guidance applies here and is distributed to sheep farmers by the Health and Safety Executive.

It will remain relevant following the reintroduction of certain organophosphate sheep dipping products.

D’fhoilsigh an Feidhmeannas Sláinte agus Sábháilteachta bileog treorach ar thumadh caorach sa bhlian 1995. Sa bhileog moltar do chonraitheoirí faireachán a dhéanamh orthu siúd a bhfuil baint acu le tumadh caorach. Lena chois sin, má tá tinneas ar dhaoine nó ar ainmhithe de bharr teagmháil a bheith acu le tumadh caorach, ba cheart sin a thuairisciú faoin Scéim Faireacháin i leith Cásanna a bhfuil Cuma Dhroch-Fhrithghníomhúcháin Ann a fheidhmíonn Stiúrthóireacht Chógas Tréidliachta na hAireachta Talmhaíochta, Iascaigh agus Bia. Tá an bhileog treorach i bhfeidhm anseo agus tá sí á dáileadh ar fheirmeoirí ag an Fheidhmeannas Sláinte agus Sábháilteachta.

Fanfaidh an bhileog i bhfeidhm ós rud é go bhfuil tairgí áirithe orgánafosfáite in úsáid arís le haghaidh tumadh caorach.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) how much the review of acute hospital services has cost so far and (b) what the estimated final cost will be.

(AQW 156/00)

Ms de Brún: To date, the independent review of acute hospitals is estimated to have cost £11,000. The total costs of the review are estimated at £145,000.

Go nuige seo, meastar gur gurb é £11,000 costas an athbhreithnithe neamhspleách ar ospidéil ghéarmhíochaine. Meastar gur £145,000 a bheas mar chostas iomlán ar an athbhreithniú.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what steps she is taking to increase the number of cardiologists.

(AQW 162/00)

Ms de Brún: Current plans are aimed at maintaining current consultant numbers, and while it is anticipated that there will be approximately eight consultant retirements in cardiology by 2006, current training levels mean that there is scope for increasing consultant numbers by 10% in the same period.

We have better cardiologist provision than England, Scotland and Wales, with 21 consultant cardiologists currently in post and 10 specialist registrars in training.

In view of the constantly changing situation, the position is reviewed annually.

Táthar ag iarraidh sna pleananna reatha líon na lianna comhairleacha atá ann a choinneáil agus cé go bhfuiltear ag dréim leis go mbeidh tuairim ocht gcairdeolaí chomairleachaag éirí as faoin bhliain 2006, tá an oiread díobh faoi oiliúint anois agus go bhféadfaí líon na lianna comhairleacha a mhéadú faoi 10% le linn an ama sin.

Tá níos mó cairdeolaithe fostaithe anseo ná mar atá i Sasana, in Albain agus sa Bhreatain Bheag. Tá 21 chairdeolaí comhairleach fostaithe faoi lathair agus tá 10 sainchláraitheoir faoi oiliúint.

Ós rud é go bhfuil cúrsaí ag síorathrú — beidh an t-ábhar seo á athbhreithniú go bliantúil.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will (a) confirm the level of expenditure her Department allocates to her personal transport arrangements and (b) identify the private company contracted to do this work.

(AQW 163/00)

Ms de Brún: The Department currently rents a car for use by me on official business at a cost of £950 a month plus VAT.

The rate payable in respect of the driver and back-up driver, where appropriate, is £5·68 an hour plus allowances for overtime, evening or night working.

Fuel is obtained from a central point on the Stormont Estate and is not charged to the Department.

No private company is involved in this work.

Faoi láthair bíonn gluaisteán ar cíos ag an Roinn agus bainim úsáid as le haghaidh gnó oifigiúil. Tá £950 móide CBL an mhí mar chostas cíosa air.

Íoctar £5·68 san uair mar ráta (maille le liúntais maidir le ragobair agus obair oíche) leis an tiománaí agus leis an tiománaí cúltaca, nuair is cuí.

Faightear breosla ó lárphointe ar Eastát Stormont agus ní ghearrtar an costas ar an Roinn.

Níl baint ag aon chuideachta phríobháideach leis an obair seo.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the waiting time for occupational therapy appointments, (b) the cancellation rate and (c) if there are sufficient therapists.

(AQW 181/00)

Ms de Brún: At the end of June 2000 there were 11,000 people waiting for an occupational therapy assessment. Of these, 34% had been waiting for less than three months and 66% over three months. Information on cancelled occupational therapy appointments is not collected. Health and social services boards and trusts are responsible for ensuring that there are sufficient therapists to provide the level of service to meet the assessed needs of their populations. The length of the waiting list suggests that there are not sufficient therapists currently in post. However, the four boards have indicated that additional resources will be allocated to occupational therapy services in the current year from the £53m recurrent funding announced earlier this year.

Faoi dheireadh mhí an Mheithimh 2000 bhí 11,000 duine ag feitheamh le measúnú le haghaidh teiripe ceirde. Bhí 34% díobh siúd ag feitheamh le níos lú ná trí mhí agus bhí 66% ag feitheamh le breis agus tú mhí. Ní bhailítear eolas ar choinní teiripe ceirde a cealaíodh. Tá sé mar fhreagracht ar na boird sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta agus ar na hiontaobhais a chinntiú go bhfuil go leor teiripeoirí ceirde ann chun an leibhéal measta seirbhíse a sholáthar a theastaíonn le freastal ar riachtanais na ndaoine ina gceantair. Má chuirtear líon na ndaoine ar an liosta feithimh san áireamh, tá an chuma air nach bhfuil go leor teiripeoirí fostaithe faoi láthair. Tá na ceithre bhord i ndiaidh a chur in iúl go gcuirfear acmhainní breise ar fáil do sheirbhísí teiripe ceirde sa bhliain reatha as na £53m de mhaoiniú athfhillteach a fógraíodh níos luaithe i mbliana.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will outline what progress has been made pursuant to AQW 761/99 and if she will list the number of reports that she is (a) currently examining and (b) awaiting.

(AQW 182/00)

Ms de Brún: The joint Housing Executive/Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety team reviewing the housing adaptations service has completed an extensive examination of each of the constituent elements involved in providing the service, including occupational therapy input. I am awaiting the preliminary report of the review.

Tá comhfhoireann an Fheidhmeannais Tithíochta agus na Roinne Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí, a bhí ag déanamh athbhreithniú ar sheirbhísí oiriúnaithe tithe, i ndiaidh scrúdú mór a chríochnú ar na comhchodanna a bhaineann le soláthar na seirbhíse, agus eolas ó theiripeoirí ceirde curtha san áireamh acu. Tá mé ag fanacht le réamhthuarascáil an athbhreithnithe.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will undertake to ensure that the Ulster Hospital will be included in future major redevelopment programmes.

(AQW 185/00)

Ms de Brún: I am satisfied that, in line with the redevelopment programmes at the other main acute hospital sites, the Ulster Hospital needs to be upgraded. My officials met recently with the trust and agreed that the range of investments envisaged for the hospital should be drawn together into a comprehensive redevelopment programme to bring services and facilities at the Dundonald site up to modern standards. I have asked for this work to be completed as quickly as possible. When that has been done, I will be able to consider the overall needs in the light of the resources available to me.

Tá mé sásta go bhfuil uasghrádú de dhíth in Ospidéal Uladh le bheith ar aon dul leis na príomhospidéil ghéarmhíochaine eile a bhfuil cláir athfhorbartha ar siúl acu. Bhí cruinniú idir feidhmeannaigh de mo chuid agus an tiontaobhas ar na mallaibh agus aontaíodh gur cheart an réimse infheistíochtaí a shamhlaítear don ospidéal a tharraingt le chéile mar chlár cuimsitheach athfhorbartha leis na seirbhísí agus na saoráidí ar shuíomh Dhún Dónaill a thabhairt suas chun caighdeáin nua-aimseartha. D’iarr mé orthu an obair seo a chríochnú a ghaiste is féidir. Nuair a bheas sin déanta, beidh mé ábalta na riachtanais iomlána a mheas i bhfianaise na n-acmhainní a bheas ar fáil agam.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 761/99, if she will give a date for the publication of the preliminary report.

(AQW 186/00)

Ms de Brún: I am not able at this time to give a firm date for the publication of the preliminary report. However, I can tell you that the steering group hopes to agree its report in early October. and intends that recommendations, together with an implementation plan, will be available shortly after that meeting. It is envisaged that some of the recommendations can be implemented immediately, with others being phased in over time.

Níl mé in ann dáta cinnte a thabhairt an tráth seo maidir le foilisiú na réamhthuarascála. Ach thig liom a inse duit go bhfuil an grúpa stiúrtha ag súil go mbeidh siad ábalta aontú ar an tuarascáil go luath i mí Dheireadh Fómhair agus go bhfuil sé ar intinn acu go mbeidh na moltaí, agus plean feidhmithe, ar fáil go gairid i ndiaidh an chruinnithe sin. Samhlaítear gur féidir cuid de na moltaí a chur i bhfeidhm láithreach agus go gcuirfear na cinn eile i bhfeidhm de réir a chéile le himeacht aimsire.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if her review of acute services will delay a review of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board.

(AQW 205/00)

Ms de Brún: Many of the issues covered by the Eastern Board’s consultation on the clinical profiles of hospitals in its area will not be affected by the independent review of acute hospital services. It is important that work on these issues goes ahead where practicable. Clearly, some issues, such as those relating to hospital services in Downpatrick, will be affected by the work of the independent review. The board will be making relevant material on these issues available to Dr Hayes and his colleagues.

Ní rachaidh an t-athbhreithniú neamhspleách ar sheirbhísí géarmhíochaine ospidéal i bhfeidhm ar a lán ceisteanna a bheas faoi chaibidil mar chuid den chomhairliúchán atá ar siúl ag bord an Oirthir maidir le próifílí cliniciúla ospidéal ina cheantar. Tá sé tábhachtach go leanfar den obair ar na ceisteanna seo más indéanta sin. Is léir go rachaidh obair an athbhreithnithe neamhspleách i bhfeidhm ar cheisteanna áirithe, mar shampla, na cinn sin a bhaineann le seirbhísí ospidéil i nDún Pádraig. Cuirfidh an bord an t-ábhar a bhaineann leis na ceisteanna seo ar fáil don Dr Hayes agus dá chomhghleacaithe.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will detail (a) the current financial position at Royal Belfast Hospital Group (RBHG) (b) the reasons for its current debt and (c) what steps are being taken by the RBHG to reduce it.

(AQW 206/00)

Ms de Brún: As you will be aware, the previous financial year was an exceptionally difficult one for the Royal Group of Hospitals Trust and, indeed, for the HPSS in general, due, in part, to the unprecedented nature of the winter pressures, particularly the outbreak of flu and flu-related illnesses and additional costs which were incurred in dealing with the threat of the millennium bug and in staffing payments over the millennium period. The present financial year will present an equally challenging financial environment.

Within this context, the Royal Group of Hospitals trust reported an operational deficit of £6·8 million for 1999/2000 and the Trust has incurred a deficit of £3·5 million for the four months up to the end of July 2000.

The main factors contributing to the deficit position arise from pressures relating to increased casemix complexity and dependency of patients treated. This has led to increased expenditure on agency nursing, medical staff, drugs and medical and surgical items. There are also shortfalls in GP fundholder and non-contract income and difficulties in maintaining planned activity levels in cardiac surgery.

The Royal Group of Hospitals trust has recently produced a draft recovery plan which identifies savings of around £3 million for 2000/01 and recurring savings of £5 million by the end of 2002/03. This plan, together with a report produced by the advisory group on efficiency, is presently being considered by senior officials from my Department and a multidisciplinary group chaired by the chief executive of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board.

It would be inopportune of me to pre-judge the outcome of these deliberations, as they have not yet been finalised. I can, however, assure you that I will be examining the outcome extremely closely and I will ensure that all steps are taken to ensure a speedy recovery process that will enable the Trust to achieve a position of financial stability.

Mar is eol duit, ba bhliain an-deacair ar fad í an bhliain airgeadais seo a chuaigh thart don Ghrúpa Ríoga Ospidéal agus le fírinne, do na SSSSP i gcoitinne. Tharla seo go páirteach de bharr bhrúnna ollmhóra an gheimhridh, an ráig fliú go háirithe agus tinnis ghaolmhara, agus de bharr na gcostas breise a tabhaíodh chun déileáil le bagairt fríd na mílaoise agus le íocaíochtaí speisialta a thabhairt do bhaill foirne thar thréimhse thús na mílaoise. Beidh dúshlán na bliana airgeadais seo chomh mór céanna.

Sa chomthéacs seo, thuairiscigh an GRO go raibh £6.8 milliún mar easnamh oibríochtúil acu don bhliain 1999/2000 agus gur thabhaigh an tiontaobhas £3·5 mar easnamh do na ceithre mhí a fhad le deireadh Iúil 2000.

Is iad na príomhchúiseanna leis an easnamh seo na brúnna a bhaineann le fás agus le castacht mheascán na gcásanna agus le spleáchas othar i ndiaidh cóireála. Dá bharr seo tá caiteachas breise ann ar altraí gníomhaireachtaí, ar fhoireann mhíochaine, ar dhrugaí agus ar mhíreanna míochaine agus máinliachta. Tá easnaimh ann fosta maidir le hioncam neamhchonarthach agus ioncam a thagann ó chisteshealbhóirí agus tá deacrachtaí ann cloí leis na leibhéil ghníomhaíochta a beartaíodh do mháinliacht chairdiach.

Tá an GRO i ndiaidh plean téarnaimh a cheapadh ar na mallaibh a aimsíonn tuairim le £3 mhilliún coigiltis don bhliain 2000/01 agus coigilteas athfhillteach £5 mhilliún faoi dheireadh na bliana 2002/03. Ta an plean seo agus tuarascáil a d’ullmhaigh an grúpa comhairleach ar éifeachtúlacht á n-iniúchadh faoi láthair ag feidhmeannaigh shinsearacha ó mo Roinnse agus ag grúpa ildisciplíneach a bhfuil príomhfheidhmeannach BSSSO i gceannas air.

Ba mhítráthúil an mhaise dom breith a thabhairt roimh ré ar thoradh an bhreithnithe seo, ós rud é nach bhfuil sé críochnaithe go fóill. Ach thig liom a dhearbhú duit go ndéanfaidh mé féin mionscrúdú géar ar an toradh agus cinnteoidh mé go ndéanfar gach beart lena chinntiú go mbainfear téarnamh amach go gasta, téarnamh a chuirfidh ar chumas an iontaobhais cobhsaíocht airgeadais a bhaint amach.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will detail the numbers of patients attending each dermatology unit across Northern Ireland and the cancellation rates for appointments at each unit.

(AQW 207/00)

Ms de Brún: Information on the rate of cancellations of dermatology appointments is available only for outpatient clinics. In the financial year 1999/2000, the cancellation rate for outpatient dermatology clinics at hospitals here was 6·3%. In the quarter ending 30 June 2000 (the latest date for which information is available) the cancellation rate was 4·5%.

Statistics on inpatient and outpatient activity for the dermatology specialty are given in the tables below.

Tá eolas faoi ráta cealúcháin coinní le haghaidh cóireáil deirmeolaíochta ar ceal ar fáil i gcás clinicí othar seachtrach amháin. Sa bhliain airgeadais 1999/2000 ba é 6.3% ráta na gcealúchán do chlinicí deirmeolaíochta in ospidéil anseo. Sa ráithe dár chríoch an 30 Meitheamh 2000 (an dáta is déanaí a bhfuil eolas ann dó) ba é 4.5% an ráta cealúcháin.

Tugtar staitisticí ar thinreamh othar cónaitheach agus seachtrach maidir le deirmeolaíocht mar shainchóireáil sna táblaí thíos.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will confirm that the Royal Belfast Hospital Group (RBHG) transferred resources from its new building programme to provide walkway equipment and, as a result, cannot complete its new building programme.

(AQW 208/00)

Ms de Brún: Resources from the new building programme within phase 1 of the redevelopment programme at the Royal Victoria Hospital have not been transferred to provide for a covered walkway on the site. The walkway is part of a separate millennium-funded programme of work which complements and enhances the siteworks.

The building programme is ahead of schedule, and full handover of all floors is expected by October 2001.

Níor aistríodh acmhainní ar bith ó chlár tógála chéim 1 den chlár athfhorbartha in Ospidéal Ríoga Victoria chun cosán a bhfuil díon air a sholáthar san áit. Is cuid de chlár oibre ar leith an cosán atá á mhaoiniú ag Ciste na mílaoise agus cuireann sé cuma agus feabhas ar an suíomh oibre.

Tá an clár oibre chun tosaigh ar an sceideal agus táthar ag súil go bhfaighfear seilbh ar gach urlár — faoi Dheireadh Fómhair 2001.

Mr Adams asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to identify the number of staff in her Department and its associated agencies currently receiving (a) the national minimum wage and (b) less than £5 an hour.

(AQW 215/00)

Ms de Brún: There are no staff in the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety or the Health Estates Agency who currently earn the national minimum wage of £3·70 an hour. There are currently 130 staff who earn less than £5 an hour.

Níl ball foirne ar bith sa Roinn Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí nó i nGníomhaireacht na nEastát Sláinte faoi láthair atá ag gnóthú an íosphá náisiúnta £3·70 san uair an chloig. Tá 130 ball foirne ann faoi láthair a ghnóthaíonn níos lú ná £5 san uair an chloig.

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