Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she intends to change the regulations for travel expenses for husband, wife or partner travelling to visit their partner on the grounds of therapeutic benefit and to confirm that at present travel expenses are only granted for actual health treatment.

(AQW 1328/00)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): I have no proposals to amend the Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges Regulations (NI) 1989 to provide travel expenses for a husband, wife or partner visiting their partner on the grounds of therapeutic benefit. These Regulations provide for the payment of travelling expenses incurred by patients attending hospital and by relatives visiting patients who are receiving hospital treatment in Great Britain or the South of Ireland.

The reimbursement of relatives’ travel costs to local hospitals is a matter for the Minister for Social Development.

Níl moltaí ar bith agam na Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges Regulations (NI) 1989 a athrú le costais taistil a íoc d’fhear céile, do bhean chéile nó do pháirtnéir ag tabhairt cuairte ar a pháirtnéir as cúiseanna tairbhe teiripí. Cuireann na Rialacha seo íocaíocht chostais taistil ar fáil a tharraing othair orthu féin agus iad ag freastal ar an otharlann agus a tharraing gaolta orthu féin agus iad ag tabhairt cuairte ar othair atá ag fáil chóireáil otharlainne sa Bhreatain Mhór nó i nDeisceart na hÉireann.

Is ceist don Aire Forbartha Sóisialta í aisíoc chostais gaolta as a dtaisteal chuig otharlanna áitiúla.

(AQW 1335/00)

Ms de Brún: In July last year I announced the allocation of £2million to introduce the Sure Start programme for families with young children in 15 areas of social disadvantage, with £4million for full-year costs of these projects from April 2001. I am, however, conscious that there are still areas of high disadvantage with no Sure Start project, so I intend to make available an additional £1·8million from April 2001 to allow some new projects in these areas. I shall shortly be considering recommendations for allocation of this additional funding from the local childcare partnerships, who have considered bids from projects in areas where there are gaps.

I mí Iúil anuraidh, d’fhógair mé dáileadh £2m le tús a chur leis an chlár Sure Start do theaghlaigh le páistí óga i 15 cheantar de mhíbhuntaiste sóisialta, agus £4m do bhliain iomlán costas do na tionscadail seo ó Aibreán 2001. Aithním, áfach, go bhfuil ceantair de mhíbhuntaiste ard ann go fóill gan tionscadal Sure Start ar bith. Mar sin de, tá rún agam £1·8m breise a chur ar fáil ó Aibreán 2001 le roinnt tionscadal nua a cheadú sna ceantair seo. Beidh mé ag meas, gan mhoill, moltaí le haghaidh dháileadh hna maoinithe breise seo ó na páirtíochtaí áitiúla chúram páistí a bhfuil tairiscintí ó thionscadail i gceantair a bhfuil bearnaí iontu.

(AQW 1336/00)

Ms de Brún: It has been the policy of the Ambulance Service Trust for a number of years to engage extra resources at specific times throughout the year to allow for situations such as major public events, Christmas and New Year. For the 2000-01 Christmas and New Year period, extra resources were employed and special arrangements put in place. The four area health boards have also funded additional patient care service resources to assist with winter pressures. All of these initiatives help the Ambulance Service Trust meet its aim of achieving the standards on response times agreed with the four boards.

Is é polasaí Iontaobhas na Seirbhíse Otharcharr le roinnt blianta acmhainní breise a ghlacadh ag amanna ar leith i rith na bliana le himeachtaí ar nós príomhócáidí poiblí, na Nollag agus na Bliana Úire a chur san áireamh. Do thréimhse na Nollag agus na Bliana Úire 2000/01, baineadh feidhm as acmhainní breise agus cuireadh socruithe speisialta i bhfeidhm. Mhaoinigh na ceithre bhord sláinte ceantair breisacmhainní seirbhís chúraim othar le cuidiú le brúnna an gheimhridh. Cuidíonn na tionscnaimh seo uilig le hIontaobhas na Seirbhíse Otharcharr a chuspóir, na caighdeáin ar amanna freagartha aontaithe leis na ceithre bhord a bhaint amach, a chomhlíonadh.

(AQW 1337/00)

Ms de Brún: This information for the last five calendar years is detailed in the table below.

Mionléirítear an t-eolas seo do na cúig bliana caileandair seo caite sa tábla thíos.

(AQW 1342/00)

Ms de Brún: Information on the population of the area covered by Altnagelvin Hospital and Sperrin Lakeland Trust is not available.

Information on the ratio of beds to the populations of each of the health and social services boards and to the overall population is detailed in the table below. The allocation of beds reflects the need assessed by each board for additional bed capacity during the winter.

The higher figures for the Eastern Board reflect the regional specialties located there.

Níl aon eolas ar fáil ar an daonra sa limistéar a chlúdaíonn Otharlann Alt na nGealbhan agus Iontaobhas Loch-cheantar Speirín.

Tá eolas ar chóimheas leapacha le daonra de gach ceann de na boird sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta agus leis an daonra foriomlán á shonrú sa tábla thíos. Léiríonn dáileadh na leapacha an gá a mheas gach bord a bhí de dhíth ar thoilleadh breise leapa i rith an gheimhridh.

Léiríonn na figiúir is airde de Bhord Oirthir na sainghnéithe réigiúnacha aimsithe ansin.

(AQW 1344/00)

Ms de Brún: The additional £15 million that has been invested in providing additional services over the winter period, has been allocated to the health and social services boards as follows:

This has been used to finance a range of activities including:

• An extra 10 intensive care beds;
• Another 11 high dependency beds;
• Up to 300 additional medical beds during the winter months;
• Additional community nursing services;
• Around 1,000 extra community care packages;
• More flu vaccinations;
• Extra out-of-hours GP and pharmacy services.

Dáileadh an £15 mhilliún breise, a infheistíodh le seirbhísí breise thar tréimhse an gheimhridh a sholáthar, ar na boird sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta mar leanas:

Úsáideadh é seo le réimse gníomhaíochtaí a mhaoiniú lena n-áirítear:

• 10 leaba bhreise dianchúraim;
• 11 leaba eile ardspleáchais;
• Suas le 300 leaba bhreise míochaine le linn míonna an gheimhridh;
• Seirbhísí breise altranais phobail;
• Thart fá 1,000 beart breise cúraim phobail;
• Níos mó vacsaínithe fliú;
• Seirbhísí breise liachleachtóirí agus cógaslainne as uaireanta oibre.

(AQW 1352/00)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is detailed in the table below.

Mionléirítear an t-eolas a iarradh sa tábla thíos.

(AQW 1368/00)

Ms de Brún: Information in the form requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Níl an t-eolas ar fáil go réidh sa dóigh ar iarradh é agus níorbh fhéidir é a fháil ach ar chostas díréireach.

(AQW 1378/00)

Ms de Brún: My Department provides a framework for the inter-agency handling of child abuse, including physical abuse, in the publication entitled ‘Co-operating to Protect Children’. Where a child is considered by a multidisciplinary team of professionals to be at risk of abuse, a child protection plan is drawn up and the child’s name is placed on the child protection register to ensure that the plan is implemented and kept under review.

The guidance in ‘Co-operating to Protect Children’ is currently being revised in the light of experience to ensure that it remains fully appropriate and effective.

Cuireann mo Roinn creatlach ar fáil do láimhseáil idir-ghníomhaireachtaí ar mhí-úsáid páistí, lena n-áirítear mí-úsáid fhisiciúil, i bhfoilseachán faoin teideal ‘Co-operating to Protect Children.’ I gcás ina measann foireann ildisciplíneach gairmithe páiste a bheith i gcontúirt mí-úsáide, leagtar amach plean cosanta páiste agus cuirtear ainm an pháiste ar an chlár cosanta páistí lena chinntiú go gcuirtear an plean i bhfeidhm agus go gcoinnítear faoi athbhreithniú é.

Tá an treoir i ‘Co-operating to Protect Children’ faoi athbhreithniú faoi láthair de bharr taithí lena chinntiú go bhfanann sé lánfhóirsteanach agus lánéifeachtach.

(AQW 1385/00)

Ms de Brún: The level of total cholesterol, by itself, is a poor predictor of disease. Every effort should be made to identify those people at risk but who have not developed symptomatic coronary heart disease. The prescribing of medication is ultimately a matter for the clinical judgement of the clinician responsible for managing the care of the patient. Using a recognised coronary risk prediction chart for the primary prevention of coronary heart disease can assist clinical judgement.

Where appropriate, lipid-lowering drugs, including statins, should be prescribed. Treatment of cholesterol should be part of a holistic approach to risk factor intervention. The main ways of lowering population levels of risk factors for vascular disease include control of tobacco, reduction in fats, calories and salt in the diet, and encouragement of physical exercise.

Is olc an réamhaithriseoir ar ghalar a bheith ann leibhéal an cholaistéaróil iomláin leis féin. Is ceart gach iarracht a dhéanamh na daoine sin a aimsiú atá i bpriacal ach nár tháinig galar corónach croí siomtómach go fóill orthu. I ndeireadh na dála tá an réim cógas a fhorordaítear ag brath ar bhreith chliniciúil an chliniceora atá freagrach as cúram an othair a bhainistiú. Má bhaintear úsáid as cairt le haghaidh priacal aitheanta galar corónach a thuar chun cosc príomhúil a chur ar ghalar corónach croí, féadfaidh sin a bheith ina chuidiú nuair a dhéantar breith chliniciúil.

Nuair is cuí, is ceart drugaí a íslíonn lipidí, agus staitiní san áireamh, a fhorordú. Is ceart go mbeadh cóireáil in éadan colaistéaróil mar chuid de chur chuige iomlánaíoch i leith priacail a láimhseáil. Is iad na príomhdhóigheanna le líon na ndaoine a laghdú a bhfuil priacal galair shoithíoch orthu caitheamh tobac a rialú, saillte, calraí agus salann a laghdú san aiste bia agus cleachtadh fisiciúil a spreagadh.

(AQW 1386/00)

Ms de Brún: The national screening committee has approved a pilot project to consider the possible role of human papilloma virus testing in the cervical screening programme. The pilot is due to commence in March this year and is expected to run for one year. Following evaluation the national screening committee will make recommendations on whether or not such testing should be included in the cervical screening programme.

Thug coiste náisiúnta an scagtha cead tionscnamh píolótaíochta a dhéanamh le machnamh a dhéanamh ar an ról arbh fhéidir a bhaint as an tástáil don víreas daonna paipileoma sa chlár scagtha ceirbheacsach. Tá an tionscnamh píolótaíochta le tosú i Márta na bliana seo agus meastar go mairfidh sé bliain amháin. I ndiaidh a mheasúnaithe, molfaidh coiste náisiúnta an scagtha ar cheart do thástáil dá leithéid bheith san áireamh i gclár scagtha ceirbheacsach nó nár cheart.

(AQW 1388/00)

Ms de Brún: Last September, following extensive consultation, I launched a new strategy for reducing alcoholrelated harm. The strategy encourages responsible drinking, promotes effective treatment services, sets out proposals to protect individuals and communities from alcohol-related harm and announces the development of an information and research programme.

Work is currently under way to put in place the necessary structures to implement the strategy through co-ordinated action involving a wide range of organisations and agencies.

I Meán Fómhair na bliana anuraidh, i ndiaidh comhairliúcháin leathain, sheol mé straitéis úr leis an dochar a bhaineann le halcól a ísliú. Molann an straitéis ólachán ciallmhar, cothaíonn seirbhísí éifeachtacha cóireála, legann amach moltaí le daoine aonair chomh maith le comhphobail a chosaint ar an dochar a bhaineann le halcól agus fógraíonn forbairt cláir eolais agus taighde.

Tá obair ar siúl faoi láthair leis na struchtúir riachtanacha a chur in áit leis an straitéis a chur i bhfeidhm trí ghníomhaíocht chomhordaithe i gcomhar le réimse leathan eagraíochtaí agus gníomhaireachtaí.

(AQW 1389/00)

Ms de Brún: As Health Minister, I am responsible for the development and implementation of the Executive’s strategies on drug and alcohol misuse. Both of these are based on the broad assessment that drug or alcohol misuse is associated with a wide range of social problems.

Officials in my Department’s Drug Information and Research Unit are not aware of any scientific research into the impact of drug and alcohol abuse on levels of crime and disorder here. However, research commissioned by the Home Office has explored the link between drug misuse and criminal behaviour in England and Wales. One study, in a community-based clinic for drug misusers, found that 85% of 221 opiate users had been offending to help fund their drug use. Studies into under-age drinking have found a tendency for young people to engage in various forms of anti-social behaviour during or after drinking but have also concluded that it is not possible to quantify any causal connections between drinking and crime.

Mar Aire Sláinte, tá mé freagrach as straitéisí an Fheidhmeannais ar mhí-úsáid drugaí agus an Alcóil a fhorbairt agus a chur i gcrích. Tá an dá rud bunaithe ar an dearcadh leathan go bhfuil baint ann idir mí-úsáid drugaí nó alcóil agus réimse leathan fadhbanna sóisialta.

Ní feasach do na hoifigigh in Aonad Eolas agus Taighde Drugaí mo Roinne aon taighde eolaíoch a bheith ann maidir le tionchar mhí-úsáid drugaí agus an alcóil ar leibhéil choirpeachta ná an anoird anseo. Bíodh sin mar atá, d’fhiosraigh taighde a choimisiúnaigh An Roinn Gnóthaí Baile an nasc idir mí-úsáid dhrugaí agus iompar coirpeach i Sasana agus sa Bhreatain Bheag. Fuair staidéar amháin, a bhí bunaithe i gclinic phobal-bhunaithe do mhí-úsáideoirí drugaí, go raibh 85% de 221 úsáideoir codlaidíneach ag ciontú lena n-úsáid dhrugaí a mhaoiniú. Fuair staidéir ar an ólachán faoi aois go bhfuil claonadh ag daoine óga bheith páirteach i gcineálacha éagsúla iompair fhrithshóisialta le linn nó i ndiaidh an ólacháin, ach tháinig siad ar an chonclúid fosta nach féidir cainníocht a dhéanamh ar aon nascanna cúisí idir an ólachán agus an choirpeacht.

(AQW 1391/00)

Ms de Brún: Medication is one component of the management of patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. It is recommended that patients suspected of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease should be referred for specialist assessment prior to commence- ment of medicines for this disease. The purpose of this is to confirm the diagnosis and to ensure that appropriate arrangements for care are put in place for the safe prescribing and monitoring of the medicine, as well as ensuring that only patients who will derive maximum benefit are prescribed the specific medicines for Alzheimer’s disease.

The prescribing of medication is ultimately a matter for the clinical judgement of the clinician responsible for managing the care of the patient. Given the range of conditions involved and other therapies that might be prescribed, it is not possible to make an assessment of over-prescribing of drugs for people suffering from dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Gné amháin de bhainistiú othar a bhfuil néaltrú seanaoise de chineál Alzheimer orthu atá i réim cógas a fhorordú. Moltar go gcuirfear othair a shíltear go bhfuil galar Alzheimer orthu ar aghaidh le measúnú speisialtóra a fháil sula dtosóidh siad ar chógais a ghlacadh don ghalar sin. Is é an chúis atá leis seo go ndaingneofar an fáthmheas agus go gcinnteofar go ndéanfar na socruithe cuí cúraim sa dóigh go bhforordófar an cógas agus go ndéanfar faireachán air go sábháilte agus go gcinnteofar lena chois sin go bhforordófar na cógais shonracha in éadan ghalar Alzheimer do na hothair sin amháin is mó a bhainfidh leas astu.

I ndeireadh na dála, tá an réim cógas a fhorordaítear ag brath ar bhreith chliniciúil an chliniceora atá freagrach as cúram an othair a bhainistiú. Ós rud é go bhfuil réimse riochtaí i gceist agus teiripí eile a d’fhéadfaí a fhorordú, ní féidir measúnú a dhéanamh ar ró-fhorordú drugaí do dhaoine a bhfuil néaltrú agus galar Alzheimer san áireamh orthu.

(AQW 1392/00)

Ms de Brún: Research has indicated that cannabis use can have different psychical effects. On the one hand, there are clear adverse effects ranging from temporary distress, through transient psychosis, to the exacerbation of pre-existing mental illness. Regular use can lead to psychological dependence, increased heart rate and lowered blood pressure. Moreover, smoking cannabis, like smoking tobacco, will increase the rate of respiratory illness. On the other hand, there is also some indication of potential benefits of cannabis for the treatment of certain medical conditions.

The House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology addressed this issue and in its report entitled ‘Cannabis, the Scientific and Medical Evidence’, concluded that there was not enough rigorous scientific evidence to prove conclusively that cannabis itself has or has not medical value of any kind, though anecdotal evidence led it to the view that it does have genuine medical applications, especially in treating multiple sclerosis.

Further trials are under way into the therapeutic use of cannabis. Until the quality, safety and efficacy of a medicinal form of the drug have been scientifically established and a marketing authorisation issued, as is the requirement for all prospective new medicines, it would be inappropriate to comment further.

Taispeánann taighde go dtig le húsáid an channabais éifeachtaí éagsúla síceacha a bheith aici. Ar láimh amháin, tá drochéifeachtaí soiléire ann ag síneadh ón anacair luaineach, tríd an tsíocóis neamhbhuan, go dtí géarú meabhairghalair a bhí ann cheana. Tig le neamhspleáchas siceolaíoch, ráta croí níos gaiste agus brú fola níos ísle a bheith mar thoradh ar an úsáid rialta. Lena chois sin, méadóidh caitheamh an channabais, chomh maith le caitheamh an tobac, ráta na ngalar riospráide. Ar an láimh eile, tá comharthaí air chomh maith gurbh fhéidir leis an channabas dul chun sochair i gcóireáil riochtaí áirithe míochaine.

Thug Roghchoiste Theach na dTiarnaí ar an Eolaíocht agus an Teicneolaíocht faoin cheist seo agus ina dtuairisc dar teideal ‘An Cannabas, Fianaise na hEolaíochta agus an Mhíochaine’ tháinig siad ar an chonclúid nach raibh go leor fianaise crua eolaíochta ann le cruthú gan dabht go bhfuil nó nach bhfuil aon luach míochaine de chineál ar bith ag an channabas, cé go bhfuair siad an dearcadh ó fhianaise scéaltach go bhfuil fíorfheidhmeanna míochaine aici, go háirithe i gcás ilscléaróís.

Tá níos mó trialacha ar siúl ar úsáid theiripeach al Channabais. Go dtí go socraítear cáilíocht, sábháilteacht agus éifeachtacht fhoirm mhíochaine an druga de réir na heolaíochta agus go n-eisítear údarás margaíochta, mar atá riachtanach le hábhar cógais ar bith atá nua, ní bheadh sé fóirsteanach níos mó a rá.

(AQW 1393/00)

Ms de Brún: It is not possible to provide the information in the form requested. The table below provides details of the number of patients waiting for first outpatient appointments in the Ear, Nose and Throat specialty for WHSSB Trusts as at September 2000.

Ní féidir an t-eolas a chur ar fáil san fhoirm a iarradh. Tugann an tábla thíos sonraí ar líon na n-othar ag fanacht ar chéad choinní eisothair sa speisialtacht Cluaise, Sróine agus Scornaí d’Iontaobhais Bhord Shláinte agus sheirbhísí sóisialta an Iarthair mar a bhí i Meán Fómhair 2000.

(AQW 1394/00)

Ms de Brún: On 11 December 2000 I published a consultation paper entitled ‘Building the Way Forward in Primary Care’, which invites comments on proposals for new arrangements in primary care. My proposals envisage the creation of local health and social care groups in all areas, bringing together groups of primary care professionals to work with local communities to improve the delivery of services and to contribute to the commissioning of services. I am proposing that these groups should have strong input from local communities and from service users. Subject to the outcome of the consultation exercise, it is my intention to start implementing the new arrangements during the next financial year.

Since April 1997 my Department has supported a number of pilot projects, involving groups of primary care professionals, to test various models for arrangements in primary care. The pilot sites were chosen following the submission of expressions of interest by groups of primary care professionals. All the pilots have been, or are being, evaluated. Examining the extent of service user and community involvement at each pilot site was an integral part of the overall evaluation study and the evaluation findings have reported varying degrees of progress in this area. Most of the pilot groups have established task groups dedicated to developing user and community involvement. Copies of the first-year evaluation of the primary care commissioning groups pilots have been placed in the Assembly Library. Many of the lessons learned from the pilots have contributed to the proposals that I have published for consultation.

Ar an 11ú Nollaig 2000 d’fhoilsigh mé páipéar comhairleach dár teideal ‘Ag Tógáil an Bhealaigh chun Tosaigh i bPríomhchúram’, a iarrann tuairimí ar mholtaí do shocruithe nua i bpríomhchúram. Molann mo mholtaí cruthú grúpaí aitiúla sláinte agus cúraim shóisialta i ngach ceantar, ag tabhairt grúpaí de ghairmithe príomhchúraim le chéile le comhoibriú le pobail áitiúla chun soláthar seirbhísí a fheabhsú agus chun cuidiú le coimisiúnú seirbhísí. Tá mé ag moladh gur chóir do na grúpaí seo ionchur láidir bheith acu ó phobail áitiúla agus ó úsáideoirí seirbhísí. Ag brath ar thoradh an chleachtaidh chomhairligh, tá sé ar intinn agam cur i bhfeidhm na socruithe nua a thosú le linn na chéad bhliana airgeadais eile.

Ó Aibreán 1997, thacaigh mo Roinn le roinnt tionscadal píolóta lena mbaineann grúpaí de ghairmithe príomhchúraim, le creatlacha do shocruithe i bpríomhchúram a scrúdú. Roghnaíodh na suímh phíolóta i ndiaidh suime a chuir grúpaí de ghairmithe príomhchúraim iontu. Measadh nó tá na tionscadail phíolóta á meas. Bhí scrúdú méid na bainte a bhí ag úsáideoirí seirbhísí agus ag an phobal leis na suímh phíolóta mar chuid riachtanach den mheasúnacht iomlán agus léirigh torthaí na measúnachta céimeanna éagsúla de dhul chun cinn sa réimse seo. Bhunaigh an chuid is mó de na grúpaí píolóta tascghrúpaí tiomnaithe d’fhorbairt bhaint úsáideoirí agus an phobail leo. Cuireadh cóipeanna den chéad bhliain de mheasúnacht thionscadail phíolóta ghrúpaí coimisiúnaithe príomhchúraim i Leabharlann an Tionóil. Cuireadh a lán ceachtanna a foghlaimíodh ó na tionscadail phíolóta leis na moltaí a d’fhoilsigh mé do chomhairliú.

(AQW 1398/00)

Ms de Brún: My objective is to ensure arrangements for the delivery of services, which meet the needs of service users here. I am aware of a range of models for the delivery of health and social care, including those published by the World Health Organisation and the Department of Health in England. I shall be assessing their relevance and value for the situation here, as I continue to develop my proposals for the health and personal social services.

Is é is cuspóir domh socruithe do sholáthar seirbhísí a riarann ar riachtanais úsáideoirí anseo a chinntiú. Is feasach domh réimse samhlacha do sholáthar cúraim sláinte agus sóisialta a bheith ann, lena n-áirítear iad sin a foilsíodh ag an Eagraíocht Dhomhanda Sláinte agus ag an Roinn Sláinte i Sasana. Beidh mé ag measúnú ar cé chomh hábhartha luachmhar agus a bheadh siad anseo, de réir mar a leanaim ar aghaidh ag forbairt mo mholtaí do na seirbhísí sláinte pearsanta agus sóisialta.

(AQW 1399/00)

Ms de Brún: Currently, around 220 staff are employed to manage the funds of practices which belong to the GP fundholding scheme. The majority of these staff have existing posts within their practice and work only part of their time on fund management duties. Around 100 staff are employed solely on fund management work.

Recent guidance issued by my Department instructs health and social services boards to examine how staff likely to be affected by the ending of fundholding might be retained permanently in general practice. I will be providing additional resources for primary care to allow boards greater flexibility in managing the ending of fundholding.

My Department is exploring the possibility of extending a redeployment facility, which already exists within the HPSS, to include staff who have been employed in fundholding.

Faoi láthair, tá thart faoi 220 den fhoireann fostaithe leis na cistí cliantachta, ar leis an scéim cisteshealbhaíochta carthóireachta na ngnáthdhochtúirí iad, a stiúradh. Tá an mhórchuid den fhoireann seo agus poist eile acu ina gcliantachta agus ní oibríonn siad ach go páirt aimsire ar dhualgais a bhaineann le bainisteoireacht cistí. Tá thart faoi 100 den fhoireann ar obair bhainisteoireachta cistí amháin.

D’eisigh mo Roinn treoir ar na mallaibh, mar chomhairle do bhoird shláinte agus seirbhísí. Tá siad le hamharc ar an fhéidearthacht atá ann le hoibrithe, a dtiocfadh leo bheith thíos le deireadh na scéime cisteshealbhaíochta, a choinneáil go buan i gcliantacht ghinearálta. Beidh mé ag cur acmhainní breise ar fáil don chúram phríomhúil le tuilleadh solúbachta a thabhairt do bhoird agus iad ag riar dheireadh cisteshealbhaíochta.

Tá mo Roinn ag scrúdú na féidearthachta d’áis athchóirithe fhostaíochta a leathnú, rud atá ann cheana féin taobh istigh den SSSP, le foireann a bhí fostaithe sa scéim cisteshealbhaíochta.

(AQW 1403/00)

Ms de Brún: No patients within the Northern Health & Social Services Board area have been offered MRI scans in the South of Ireland. It is anticipated that the current backlog of scans will be cleared by the end of March 2001.

Níor tairgeadh scanta íomháú athshondais mhaighnéadaigh d’othar ar bith igceantar Bhord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Tuaiscirt i nDeisceart na hÉireann. Meastar go réiteofar an riaráiste reatha scanta faoi dheireadh mhí an Mhárta 2001.

(AQW 1404/00)

Ms de Brún: Information on the number and percentage of persons waiting for inpatient treatment who had been waiting for more than one year at 30 September 2000 is detailed in the table below.

Mionléirítear eolas ar líon agus ar chéatadán na ndaoine ag fanacht ar chóireáil othair chónaithigh, agus a bhí ag fanacht níos mó ná bliain amháin ag an 30ú Meán Fómhair 2000, sa tábla thíos.

(AQW 1405/00)

Ms de Brún: I have received no such representations.

Ní bhfuair mé uiríll ar bith dá leithéid.