Friday 24 November 2000
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES
AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Sure Start Project (South Down)

Mr McGrady asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what progress has been made in respect of the Sure Start strategy for young babies and children in the constituency of South Down.

(AQW 564/00)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): One of the Sure Start projects, for which I announced funding in July, will cover Downpatrick and surrounding districts. There are an estimated 1,500 children aged under five in the area to be covered by the project. Ballymote Children’s Centre will provide a base for the project, but much of the work will be done on an outreach basis. Work is in hand to recruit a co-ordinator for the Sure Start project, which should be operational before the end of December.

Clúdóidh ceann de na tionscadail Sure Start, ar fhógair mé maoiniú ina leith i mí Iúil, Dún Pádraig agus na ceantair máguaird. Meastar go bhfuil 1500 páiste faoi bhonn cúig bliana d’aois sa cheantar a gclúdóidh an tionscadal é. Beidh an tionscadal bunaithe in Ionad Leanaí Bhaile an Mhóta ach déanfar cuid mhór den obair ar bhonn cianrochtana. Táthar i mbun oibre le comhordaitheoir a earcú don tionscadal Sure Start agus ba cheart go mbeadh an obair faoi lán seoil roimh dheireadh mhí na Nollag.

Domestic Violence

Mr McMenamin asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will detail the number of cases of domestic violence where men were the victims.

(AQW 566/00)

Ms de Brún: There were 7,411 reported cases of domestic disputes involving physical violence in 1999, of which 889 involved male victims.

Tuairiscíodh 7,411 chás díospóidí teaghlaigh sa bhliain 1999 ina raibh foréigean fisiciúil agus i 889 gcás díobh siúd ba fhir na híospartaigh.

Bed Losses

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will detail the number of private bed losses in (a) residential care, and (b) nursing care in each board area in each of the last three years.

(AQW 574/00)

Ms de Brún: The net losses or gains in numbers of private beds in residential care and nursing care in each board area in each of the last three years are shown in the tables below.

The information for the Eastern, Northern and Southern Boards is in respect of the position at 31 March each year, and that for the Western Board is in respect of the position at 30 June each year.

Tá na glanchaillteanais nó na glanghnóthachain maidir le líon na leapacha príobháideacha faoi chúram cónaitheach agus faoi chúram altranais i ngach ceantar boird ar taispeáint sna táblaí thíos.

Maidir le Bord an Oirthir, Bord an Tuaiscirt, agus Bord an Deiscirt baineann an t-eolas leis an staid ar an 31 Márta gach bliain, agus maidir le Bord an Iarthair baineann sé leis an staid ar an 30 Meitheamh gach bliain.

Neural Tube Defects

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if, in relation to neural tube defects, including spina bifida, she will (a) detail the incident rate in Northern Ireland in comparison with Great Britain, (b) outline what steps she is taking to reduce these figures, (c) give her assessment of the use of folic acid as a supplement to reduce spina bifida births, and (d) detail any plans to have folic acid added to bread and flour.

(AQW 575/00)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is as follows:

(a) The incident rate is

0·5 per 1,000 births here,

1·1 per 1,000 births in Scotland, and

0·1 per 1,000 births in England and Wales.

(b) Since 1991, information campaigns have highlighted the importance for women contemplating pregnancy of taking folic acid supplements to prevent neural tube defects. Indeed, we are presently running a major folic acid campaign in co-operation with the Department of Health and Children in Dublin.

(c) I fully support the scientific evidence on the importance of folic acid supplements in reducing the risk of neural tube defects.

(d) Health Departments issued a consultation document in July this year on the fortification of flour with folic acid. The consultation ended on 31 October, and the responses are presently being considered.

Is mar a leanas atá an t-eolas a iarradh:

(a) Is é ráta na gcásanna: -

0.5 in aghaidh gach 1,000 breith anseo

1.1 in aghaidh gach 1,000 breith in Albain

0.1 in aghaidh gach 1,000 breith i Sasana agus sa Bhreatain Bheag

(b) Tá feachtais eolais ar siúl ón bhliain 1991 le cur in iúl a thábhachtaí atá sé go nglacfaidh mná atá ag smaoineamh ar choimpeart ábhar forlíontach d’aigéad fólach le cosc a chur ar éislinní néarfheadán. Leoga, táimid i mbun mórfheachtais ar aigéad fólach faoi láthair i bpáirt leis an Roinn Sláinte agus Leanaí.

(c) Tacaím go hiomlán leis an fhianaise eolaíochta go bhfuil tábhacht mhór le hábhair fhorlíontacha d’aigéad fólach maidir le priacal éislinní néarfheadán a laghdú.

(d) D’eisigh na Ranna Sláinte cáipéis chomhairliúcháin i mí Iúil i mbliana ar phlúr a threisiú le haigéad fólach. Chríochnaigh an tréimhse chomhairliúcháin ar 31 Deireadh Fómhair agus tá na freagraí á mbreithniú faoi láthair.

Cystic Fibrosis

Mr McGrady asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will detail the percentage of newborn babies who were screened for cystic fibrosis in all hospitals from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000.

(AQW 576/00)

Ms de Brún: All newborn babies here are screened for cystic fibrosis.

Déantar scagthástáil ar gach leanbh nuabheirthe anseo le haghaidh fiobróise cistí.

Heart Disease

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will detail the steps she is taking to combat heart disease in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 577/00)

Ms de Brún: Action is being taken on many fronts. The Health Promotion Agency spends about half its total annual budget on initiatives to tackle the risk factors associated with heart disease. The agency’s efforts are complemented at local level by the health promotion work of health and social services boards and trusts and by GPs. Strategies on food and nutrition, physical activity, smoking and alcohol have been developed and are being implemented at local level. In addition, a review of cardiology has been completed, and a review of cardiac surgery has just started.

Tá bearta á ndéanamh in a lán réimsí. Caitheann an Ghníomhaireacht um Chur Chun Cinn Sláinte tuairim agus leath a buiséid bhliantúil ar thionscnaimh le haghaidh a thabhairt ar na priacail a ghabhann le galar croí. Cuireann an obair ar chur chun cinn sláinte a dhéanann na boird agus na hiontaobhais sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta agus na liachleachtóirí le hiarrachtaí na gníomhaireachta. Ceapadh straitéisí go háitiúil maidir le bia agus cothú, gníomhaíocht fhisiciúil, caitheamh tobac agus alcól, agus tá siad á gceapadh go fóill. Ina theannta sin tá athbhreithniú ar sheirbhísí cairdeolaíochta curtha i gcrích agus táthar go díreach i ndiaidh tús a chur le hathbhreithniú ar mháinliacht chairdiach.

National Health Service: Nurses

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will detail the number of nurses working in the National Health Service.

(AQW 580/00)

Ms de Brún: The estimated number of qualified nurses employed in the National Health Service is 410,000.

Meastar gurb é 410,000 líon na n-altraí cáilithe atá fostaithe sa tSeirbhís Náisiúnta Sláinte.

Occupational Therapy
(Ulster Hospitals and Community Health
and Social Services Trust)

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will undertake to employ more administration staff in the occupational therapy department with responsibility for the Ulster Hospitals and Community Health and Social Services Trust area.

(AQW 582/00)

Ms de Brún: The employment of staff in the health and social services is a matter for health and social services boards and trusts. I understand that the Ulster Hospitals and Community Health and Social Services Trust is committed to ensuring that recruitment of additional staff to the occupational therapy service will reflect the need to have the correct balance between clinical and administrative staff so as to ensure the most effective use of the time of occupational therapists.

Is gnó é do na boird agus do na hiontaobhais sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta foireann a fhostú sna seirbhísí sláinte agus sóisialta. Tuigim go bhfuil rún daingean ag Iontaobhas SSS Phobal agus Ospidéil Uladh a chinntiú go léireoidh líon na foirne breise a earcófar do theiripe cheirde an gá atá leis an chothromaíocht cheart a fháil idir an fhoireann chliniciúil agus an fhoireann riaracháin lena chinntiú go mbainfear an úsáid is éifeachtaí as am na dteiripeoirí ceirde.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will detail the amount of time that occupational therapists use to visit patients and how much time is spent on administration in the Ulster Hospitals and Community Health and Social Services Trust area.

(AQW 583/00)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is not available.

Níl an t-eolas a iarradh ar fáil.

Northern Health and Social Services Board: Budget Allocation

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will detail the percentage increase in funding to the Northern Board as a result of the Budget announcement, compared to last year’s allocation.

(AQW 587/00)

Ms de Brún: I am not yet in a position to provide this information. Decisions on the allocation of the budget available to my Department will only be finalised following the further statement on the Budget by the Minister of Finance and Personnel to the Assembly in December.

Níl mé in ann an t-eolas sin a sholáthar go fóill. Is i ndiaidh an ráitis bhreise ar an Bhuiséad a thabharfaidh an tAire Airgeadais agus Pearsanra don Tionól i mí na Nollag a chuirfear bailchríoch ar na cinntí maidir le leithroinnt an Bhuiséid a bheas ar fáil do mo Roinnse.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will detail how the Budget allocation to her Department will address the shortage of skilled nursing staff in the Northern Health and Social Services Board area.

(AQW 588/00)

Ms de Brún: Decisions on the allocation of the Budget additions for my Department will be taken in due course and will be informed, among other things, by the further statement from the Minister of Finance and Personnel on the Budget in December to the Assembly. A key objective in the allocation of resources is providing the necessary funding to support front line staff and services in meeting the increasing pressure on them. In this respect, any additional resources I allocate to the Northern Board will help it, and local trusts, to look at their own priorities, including the shortage of skilled nursing staff, and to fund them accordingly.

Déanfar cinntí maidir le leithroinnt bhreiseanna an Bhuiseid ar mo Roinnse in am is i dtráth agus is é a rachaidh i gcion ar na cinntí sin, i measc nithe eile, an ráiteas breise ar an Bhuiséad a thabharfaidh an tAire Airgeadais agus Pearsanra don Tionól i mí na Nollag. Nuair a leithroinntear acmhainní tá sé ar na príomhchuspóirí an maoiniú riachtanach a sholáthar le tacú le baill foirne agus le seirbhísí sa líne tosaigh agus iad ag déileáil leis na brúnna atá ag síormhéadú. I dtaca le sin de, beidh acmhainní breise ar bith a leithroinnfidh mé ar Bhord an Tuaiscirt ina gcuidiú aige agus ag iontaobhais áitiúla aghaidh a thabhairt ar a gcuid tosaíochtaí féin, agus ganntanas altraí cáilithe san áireamh, agus iad a mhaoiniú da réir.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will detail how much additional funding she intends to allocate to the Northern Board area during the next financial year.

(AQW 589/00)

Ms de Brún: I am not yet in a position to provide this information. Decisions on the allocation of the budget available to my Department will only be finalised following the further statement on the Budget by the Minister of Finance and Personnel to the Assembly in December.

Níl mé in ann an t-eolas sin a sholáthar go fóill. Is i ndiaidh an ráitis bhreise ar an Bhuiséad a thabharfaidh an tAire Airgeadais agus Pearsanra don Tionól i mí na Nollag, a chuirfear bailchríoch ar na cinntí maidir le leithroinnt an Bhuiséid a bheas ar fáil do mo Roinnse.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will detail how much additional funding she intends to allocate to the Northern Board for new nursing staff.

(AQW 590/00)

Ms de Brún: I am not yet in a position to provide this information. Decisions on the allocation of the budget available to my Department will only be finalised following the further statement on the Budget by the Minister of Finance and Personnel to the Assembly in December.

Níl mé in ann an t-eolas sin a sholáthar go fóill. Is i ndiaidh an ráitis bhreise ar an Bhuiséad a thabharfaidh an tAire Airgeadais agus Pearsanra don Tionól i mí na Nollag, a chuirfear bailchríoch ar na cinntí maidir le leithroinnt an Bhuiséid a bheas ar fáil do mo Roinnse.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will confirm that the shortage of nursing staff in the Northern Board area can only be resolved once permanent funding arrangements are put in place.

(AQW 591/00)

Ms de Brún: It is a matter in the first instance for the relevant health and social services trusts to determine their nursing staff requirements to ensure that effective patient services are in place and to negotiate funding with the Northern Health and Social Services Board. The scope for allocating resources will of course be dependent on the amount of funding available to the board and on the priorities determined by the board for services in its area.

Sa chéad dul síos is gnó é do na hiontaobhais sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta chuí a shocrú cad iad na riachtanais atá orthu maidir le foireann altraí lena chinntiú go mbeidh seirbhísí éifeachtacha d’othair ann agus an maoiniú ina leith sin a chaibidil le Bord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Tuaiscirt. Ar ndóigh beidh an scóp maidir le leithroinnt acmhainní ag brath ar an mhaoiniú atá ar fáil ag an bhord agus ar na tosaíochtaí a shocraíonn an bord do sheirbhísí ina cheantar.

Health Service: Consultants

Mrs Carson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will detail the number of consultants currently employed in the Health Service in Northern Ireland broken down by speciality, by health board area and by individual trust.

(AQW 592/00)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is set out in the attached tables.

CONSULTANTS BY BOARD, TRUST AND SPECIALTY

* Radiology includes Radiotherapy

Tá an t-eolas a iarradh leagtha amach sna táblaí atá i gceangal leis seo.

LIANNA COMHAIRLEACHA DE RÉIR BORD, IONTAOBHAS AGUS SPEISIALTÓIREACHTAÍ

* Áirítear Radaiteiripe le Raideolaíocht

<< Prev / Next >>