Mr Fee asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the number of referrals to occupational therapy departments from the Housing Executive grants department, in each health and social services trust, which are outstanding; (b) the steps being taken to decrease the time taken for the occupational therapy departments to respond to referrals from the Housing Executive grants department; (c) the number of occupational therapists currently employed (i) full-time and (ii) part-time by each health and social services trust; and (d) her plans to increase the number of occupational therapists in each trust.

(AQW 1423/00)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): Information on the number of referrals to occupational therapy departments from the Housing Executive grants department which are outstanding is not collected centrally. I am considering the preliminary report of the joint Housing Executive/ Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety review of the housing adaptations service. This contains a number of recommendations designed to improve the service, including improved response times by occupational therapy departments.

The number of full-time and part-time occupational therapists employed by each health and social services trust is set out in the table below. This shows the position on 30 September 2000, the latest date for which figures are available. Proposals to increase the number of occupational therapists employed by health and social services trusts are under consideration and decisions will be taken as soon as possible.

Ní bhailítear eolas go lárnach ar líon na n-atreoruithe chuig ranna teiripe saothair ó roinn deontas an fheidhmeannais tithíochta atá gan réiteach. Tá mé ag déanamh machnaimh ar réamhthuairisc chomhathbhreithniú an Fheidhmeannais Títhíochta/na Roinne Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí ar an tseirbhís oiriúnaithe títhíochta. Inti seo tá roinnt moltaí leagtha amach leis an tseirbhís a fheabhsú, lena n-áirítear amanna freagartha feabhsaithe ag ranna teiripe saothair.

Leagtar amach líon na dteiripithe saothair lánaimseartha agus páirtaimseartha a fhostaíonn gach iontaobhas sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta sa tábla thíos. Léiríonn sé seo cúrsaí mar atá siad ar an 30ú Meán Fómhair 2000, an dáta is déanaí dá bhfuil figiúirí ar fáil. Tá machnamh á dhéanamh ar mholtaí le líon na dteiripithe saothair a fhostaíonn iontaobhais sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta a mhéadú agus déanfar cinntí a luaithe agus is féidir.

(AQW 1424/00)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is not available. Information on the number of individuals referred for assessment by the Housing Executive to occupational therapists is available for the years ending September 1997 to September 2000 and is detailed in the table below.

Níl an t-eolas a iarradh ar fáil. Tá eolas ar líon na ndaoine aonair a atreoraíodh le haghaidh measúnú ag an Fheidhmeannas Tithíochta chuig teiripithe saothair ar fáil do na blianta ag críochnú Meán Fómhair 1997 go Meán Fómhair 2000, agus mionléirítear sa tábla thíos é.

(AQW 1427/00)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is as follows:

It is not possible to provide a detailed breakdown of the additional staff associated with the additional beds in each trust. In general terms, however, each additional intensive care bed will on average require five to seven staff and each additional high dependency bed two to three staff.

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

Ní féidir miondealú a dhéanamh ar líon na foirne breise a bhaineann leis na leapacha breise i ngach iontaobhas. Ach i gcoitinne, beidh idir cuig agus seacht mball foirne ar an mheán de dhíth le freastal ar gach leaba dianchuraim bhreise agus idir dha agus trt bhall foirne le freastal ar gach leaba ardspleach bhreise.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the additional human and financial resources allocated to service the recently announced additional permanent intensive care and high dependency beds for each trust area.

(AQW 1428/00)

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to AQW 1427/00.

Tarraingím aird an Chomhalta ar an fhreagra a thug mé ar AQW 1427/00.

(AQW 1429/00)

Ms de Brún: Boards estimate that a total of £7^.29 million will be invested to support the introduction of the additional 291 beds, as follows:

It is not possible to specify in detail the human resources involved in supporting these additional beds, since they comprise not only new nursing staff but also extra nursing, medical and other support from existing resources. I can confirm, however, that in total an extra 130 staff have been recruited for this purpose.

Measann na boird go n-infheisteofar £7^.29m san iomlán mar thacaíocht maidir leis na 291 leaba bhreise a thabharfar isteach, mar a leanas:

Ní féidir na hacmhainní daonna a bheas i gceist le freastal ar na leapacha breise seo a shonrú go mionchruinn, na ní hé amháin go mbeidh baill foirne nua san áireamh ach beidh cúnamh breise altranais agus míochaine ag teacht ó acmhainní atá anois ann. Ach thig liom a dhearbhú gur earcaíodh 130 ball foirne breise san iomlán chun na críche sin.

(AQW 1431/00)

Ms de Brún: The proposals for a new nursing and midwifery council provide for the separate registration of midwives and the regulation of their practice.

Forálann na moltaí do chomhairle altranais agus chnáimhseachais nua do chlárú scartha ban cabhrach agus do rialú a gcleachtais.

(AQW 1434/00)

Ms de Brún: I have not yet decided on a strategy for the future development of the health and personal social services here. When decisions are made, the workforce implications for all the professions concerned will be considered.

Níl cinneadh déanta agam go fóill ar straitéis d’fhorbairt na seirbhísí sláinte sóisialta agus pearsanta sa todhchaí. Nuair a dhéanfar cinntí, cuirfear na himpleachtaí do fhórsa oibre na ngairmeacha uile i gceist san áireamh.

(AQW 1440/00)

Ms de Brún: In the last six months there were four occasions when the Royal Maternity Hospital was unable to accept a patient transfer request. This involved a total of eight antenatal mothers who were booked in to other hospitals for delivery. The neonatologist made arrangements with colleagues in other units to accept these mothers for delivery.

Bhí ceithre ócáid ann le linn na sé mhí seo caite nuair nach raibh an tOspidéal Máithreachais Ríoga ábalta glacadh le hiarraidh chun othair a aistriú. Bhí ocht máthair réidh le breith i gceist san iomlán a raibh leapacha luí seoil curtha in áirithe dóibh in ospidéil eile. Rinne an lia nua-naíochta socruithe lena chomhghleacaithe in aonaid eile go gcuirfeadh siad leapacha luí seoil ar fáil do na máithreacha sin.

Ms McWilliams asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of occasions in each of the last three years for which figures are available when expectant mothers admitted to the Royal Maternity Hospital needing neonatal services have had to be transferred to other hospitals due to lack of beds.

(AQW 1441/00)

Ms de Brún: In the last three years there has been one occasion, on 26 December 2000, when one expectant mother who was booked for delivery in the Lagan Valley hospital was admitted to the Royal Maternity Hospital and after assessment was transferred to the Ulster Hospital.

Le linn na dtrí bliana seo caite bhí ócáid amháin ann, ar an 26 Nollaig 2000, nuair a tharla, i gcás mná a bhí réidh le breith agus a raibh leaba luí seoil curtha in áirithe dí in Ospidéal Ghleann an Lagáin, gur glacadh isteach san Ospidéal Máithreachais Ríoga í agus i ndiaidh measúnú a dhéanamh uirthi aistríodh go dtí Ospidéal Uladh í.

(AQW 1442/00)

Ms de Brún: Prior to the merger with the Royal Maternity Hospital, 191 midwives were employed at the Jubilee Hospital. After the merger with the Royal Maternity Hospital, 171 of the 191 Jubilee midwives continued in their profession at the Royal Maternity Hospital. Therefore, 20 of the Jubilee midwives did not continue in their profession at the Royal Maternity Hospital.

Roimh an chumasc leis an Ospidéal Máithreachais Ríoga, bhí 191 chnáimhseach ar fostú in Ospidéal an Jubilee. I ndiaidh an chumaisc leis an Ospidéal Máithreachais Ríoga, lean 171 de 191 chnáimhseach an Jubilee ar aghaidh ina ngairm san Ospidéal Máithreachais Ríoga. Mar sin de, níor lean 20 de chnáimhseacha an Jubilee ar aghaidh ina ngairm san Ospidéal Máithreachais Ríoga.

(AQW 1450/00)

Ms de Brún: Fibromyalgia is rare in children. There are three doctors who specialise in the diagnosis of fibromyalgia in children, two of whom are Rheumatologists with special interest in children and the other is a paediatrician with a special interest in musculoskeletal conditions. By its nature, fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose and other medical or neurological conditions must first be excluded. There is no blood test or diagnostic examination available and in view of the multiple diverse symptoms there will always be a possibility of delays in diagnosis. In general clinical practice there is an awareness of this condition and every effort is made to diagnose as early as possible.

Is annamh a bhíonn fiobrómiailge i bpáistí. Tá triúr dochtúir ann a dhéanann speisialtóireacht ar fháithmheas fiobrómiailge i bpáistí. Réamaiteolaithe is ea beirt acu, a bhfuil suim ar leith acu i bpáistí, agus is leanbhlia é an duine eile a bhfuil suim ar leith aige i riochtaí cnámhra- mhatánacha. De réir a nádúir, tá sé deacair fiobrómiailge a fháithmheas agus caithfear riochtaí míochaine nó néareolaíocha eile a chur as an áireamh ar dtús. Níl tástáil fola nó scrúdú fáthmheasa ar fáil agus ó tharla go bhfuil ilairíonna éagsúla ann, is féidir go mbeidh moilleanna ann i gcónaí á fáithmheas. I gcleachtas cliniciúil ginearálta tá eolas ar an riocht seo agus déantar gach iarracht í a fháthmheas a luaithe agus is féidir.

(AQW 1451/00)

Ms de Brún: At 3 December 2000 ^__ the latest date for which information is available ^__ there were a total of 365 hospital beds in Sperrin Lakeland Trust: 211 in Erne Hospital and 154 in Tyrone County Hospital.

Ar an 3 lá de Nollaig 2000 ^__ an data ba déanaí a raibh eolas le fáil ^__ bhí 365 leaba otharlainne ar fad san Iontaobhas Speirín Tír na Lochanna, 211 in Otharlann na hÉirne agus 211 in Otharlann Chontae Thír Eoghain.

(AQW 1452/00)

Ms de Brún: The estimated full cost for a primary hip replacement operation performed during 2000-01 is approximately £3,300.

Measfar go raibh faoi thuairim £3,300 mar chostas iomlán ar obráid de phríomhathsholáthar corróige a rinneadh sa bhliain 2000-01.

(AQW 1453/00)

Ms de Brún: Domiciliary care services such as home help, night help, community nursing and other specialist services are available in all health and social services trust areas to elderly people who have been assessed as needing such services.

Tá seirbhísí chúram baile mar chúnamh baile, cúnamh oíche, altranas pobail agus seirbhísí sainiúla eile le fail I ngach limistéar d’iontaobhas SSS don sean ar measadh iad mar dhaoine a raibh na seirbhísí sin de dhíth orthu.

(AQW 1454/00)

Ms de Brún: Health and Social Services Boards have a duty to ensure that all people living in their areas have access to primary care services. A range of incentive payment schemes already exists to encourage practitioners to work in areas where there might otherwise be difficulties in accessing primary care services. These include the deprivation payments, rural practice payments, practice viability, dispensing doctors and essential small pharmacy schemes.

I recently published a major consultative paper entitled ‘Building the Way Forward in Primary Care’ and this has been widely circulated to interested parties, including MLAs. It identifies a number of priority areas for development, including the need to promote equity of access to primary care and to explore new ways of improving access to primary care services. The paper suggests a number of ways in which we might achieve those aims, including new models of teamworking, a locality-based approach to needs assessment and service delivery, and improved communications technology, use of information and out-of-hours cover. I have invited comments on the range of proposals by 2 March 2001, and I will consider all views that are expressed.

Tá dualgas ar bhoird SSS a dheimhniú go bhfuil teacht ar phríomhsheirbhísí cúraim ag gach duine atá ina chónaí ina limisteir. Tá réimse scéimeanna d’íocaíochta spreagúla ann cheana féin le dochtúirí a mhealladh chuig limistéir nach mbeadh, ar dhóigh éigin, teacht ar phríomhsheirbhísí cúraim. Sna scéimeanna seo, tá iocaíochtaí díthe, iocaíochtaí cliantachta tuaithe, inmharthanacht cliantachta, dochtúirí dála agus scéimeanna riachtanacha chógaslaine bige.

D’fhoilsigh mé ar na mallaibh mórpháipéar comhairleach dar teideal, ‘Ag Tógáil an Bhealaigh Chun Tosaigh I bPríomhchúram.’ Riaradh go forleathan é ar eagraíochta a mbeadh suim acu ann, Comhaltar san áireamh. Aimsíonn sé roinnt bunréimsí le haghaidh forbartha, ina measc an gá le cothromas a chothú I rochtain bhunchúraim, chomh maith le dóigheanna úra a scrúdú ar rochtain seirbhísí bunchúraim a fheabhsú. Molann an páipéar roinnt dóigheanna trína dtiocfadh linn, b’fhéidir, na haidhmeanna sin a bhaint amach, chomh maith le samhlacha úra d’obair as láimh a chéile, dul i gcomhar, ar bhunadh logánta, le measúnú díthe agus seacadú seirbhísí, agus teicneolaíocht teagmhála fheabhsaithe, úsáid eolais agur urrús i ndiaidh uaireanta. D’fhear mé fáilte roimh bharúileacha, data deiridh Márta 2001, ar an réimse de mholtaí agus déanfaidh mé, gach ceann acu a thomhas.

(AQW 1458/00)

Ms de Brún: I have not commissioned a formal inquiry into the retention of children’s organs here at this stage. I am still establishing the full facts concerning the retention of organs without informed consent and will take whatever steps are necessary. I am determined to move quickly to repair the damage done by former unacceptable practice and to ensure that such practice cannot recur. At this point I am ruling nothing out.

Níor choimisiúnaigh mé fiosrú foirmiúil ar choinneáil orgáin páistí anseo go fóill. Tá mé ag iarraidh na fíricí iomlána a aimsiú go fóill maidir leis na horgáin a coinníodh gan toiliú eolasach a bheith tugtha agus déanfaidh mé cibé beart is gá ina leith. Tá sé beartaithe agam gníomhú go gasta chun an dochar a rinneadh mar gheall ar sheanchleachtas nach raibh inghlactha a leigheas agus chun a chinntiú nach dtarlóidh a leithéid de chleachtas arís. Ag an phointe seo níl mé ag cur rud ar bith as an áireamh.

(AQW 1459/00)

Ms de Brún: I can confirm that I have initiated an investigation here to establish the facts surrounding the removal and retention of organs in the past as part of post-mortems. The information obtained as a result of that process will be considered as part of my overall assessment of how best to take forward this difficult and sensitive issue. I have not asked for, or received, any report relating to the issue of organ donation. Such donations are a separate issue and are covered by very clear guidelines.

Thig liom a dhearbhú gur chuir mé tús le himscrúdú anseo chun teacht ar na fíricí a bhain leis na horgáin a glacadh amach as coirp agus a coinníodh mar chuid den scrúdú iarbháis san am a chuaigh thart. Déanfar breithniú ar an eolas a thiocfaidh de bharr an phróisis sin mar chuid den mheasúnú fhoriomlán a dhéanfaidh mé ar an dóigh is fearr leis an cheist dheacair íogaireach seo a láimhseáil amach anseo. Níor iarr mé tuarascáil agus ní bhfuair mé ceann ar bith a bhaineann le deonú orgán mar cheist. Ceist eile ar fad atá i ndeonú orgán agus tá treoirlínte an-soiléir leagtha síos ina leith.

(AQW 1464/00)

Ms de Brún: I can confirm that mortuary facilities in local hospitals are adequate in terms of space and storage to meet the demands placed upon them.

Thig liom a dhearbhú go bhfuil áiseanna marbhlainne in otharlanna áitiúla sásúil i dtéarmaí spáis agus stórála leis na freagrachtaí a cuireadh orthu a chomhlíonadh.

(AQW 1466/00)

Ms de Brún: Patients receiving IVF treatment pay for this on a private basis, although drugs are prescribed by some general practitioners. The provision of sub-fertility services, including in vitro fertilisation, is at present being considered by a group established by the regional medical services consortium, which commissions regional services on behalf of the four health and social services boards. The group will advise me on how services for people experiencing fertility problems can be improved.

My Department, in liaison with boards and trusts will shortly be drawing up for consultation an impact assessment programme under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The need to carry out an impact assessment of this policy will be considered as part of this exercise.

Is ar bhonn phríobháideach a íocann othair as cóireáil TIV (IVF), cé go bhforordaíonn roinnt liachleachtóirí ginearálta na drugaí. Faoi láthair tá soláthar seirbhísí fothorthúlachta, agus toirchiú in vitrio san áireamh, á mheas ag grúpa atá bunaithe ag an chuibhreannas seirbhísí míochaine réigiúnacha a choimisiúnaíonn seirbhísí réigiúnacha thar ceann na gceithre bhord sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta. Cuirfidh an grúpa comhairle ar fáil dom faoi na dóigheanna ar féidir feabhas a chur ar sheirbhísí do dhaoine a bhfuil fadhbanna torthúlachta acu.

Beidh mj Roinn, i gcomhar le boird agus le hiontaobhais ag cur clár measúnaithe iarmharta le chéile le haghaidh comhlairle faoi mhír 75 d’Acht Thuaisceart Éireann 1998 gan mhoill. Déanfar machnamh ar an ghá le measúnú iarmharta a dhéanamh ar an pholasaí seo mar chuid den chleachtadh seo.

(AQW 1467/00)

Ms de Brún: The Sterile Technologies Inc. (NI) Ltd facility located at the Antrim Hospital site is a treatment plant that makes the clinical waste unrecognisable and safe before it is then disposed of, presently by land filling at a local licensed landfill site.

The facility comprises two treatment plants, each plant incorporating a shredder and a steam auger that treats and disinfects the waste. It has no discharges to drain and minimal emission to atmosphere. The treated waste is then bagged for transport to the landfill site. Although the treated waste is currently being landfilled, the treatment process enables around 75% of the treated waste to be recycled/recovered, mainly consisting of plastics, metals, glass, textiles and paper pulp material. The contractor intends to recycle the treated waste at an all-Ireland recycling facility and it is hoped that this facility will be located here.

Of the estimated 4,000 tonnes of clinical waste generated here by HPSS trusts and agencies, 90% to 95% is being treated using the facility. The remainder of the waste that has to be incinerated is transported to GB for incineration.

Is monarcha chóireála í an áis Theicneolaíochtaí Steiriúla. Teoranta (TÉ) suite ag láithreán Otharlainne Aontroma, agus déanann sí an dramhaíl chliniciúil do-aitheanta agus slán sula bhfaightear réidh léi ansin leis ag líonadh talún ag láithreán líonta talún áitiúil agus ceadúnaithe.

Istigh san áis tá dhá mhonarcha chóireála, le scríobán agus le tarathar gaile a chóireálann agus a dhíghalraíonn an dramhaíl i ngach ceann díobh. Níl silte ar bith le sileadh aici agus is beag na hastúcháin a théann aníos san atmaisféar. Cuirtear an dramhaíl chóireáilte ansin i málaí le hiompar go dtí an láithreán líonta talún. Cé go bhfuil an dramhaíl chóireáilte á líonadh i dtalamh faoi láthair, cuireann an próiseas cóireála ar chumas thart fá 75% den dramhaíl chóireáilte le bheith athchúrsáilte/ athghabháilte, ina bhfuil plaistigh, miotail, gloiní, teicstílí agus ábhar laín pháipéir den chuid is mó. Tá sé ar intinn ag an chonraitheoir an dramhaíl chóireáilte a athchúrsáil ag áis athchúrsáilte uile-Éireannach agus táthar ag súil go mbeidh an áis seo suite anseo.

Den 4,000 tonna measta de dhramhaíl chliniciúil ginte anseo ag Iontaobhais agus ag gníomhaireachtaí SSSS, tá 90% go 95% di á cóireáil ag úsáid na háise seo. Iompraítear an chuid eile den dramhaíl atá le dó chun na BM le bheith dóite.

(AQW 1478/00)

Ms de Brún: The allocation of resources to health and social services trusts is largely determined through service level agreements with health and social services boards and general practitioner fundholders.

Of the additional £14^.48 million made available in December monitoring, the boards were allocated £6^.5 million as follows:

The remaining money was earmarked for services that are centrally managed by the Department. These are scanners and special acute hospital services (£0^{.55 million),} capital (£3 million), clinical negligence claims (£3 million), family doctors (£1^.3 million) and GP registrars’ training costs (£0^.13 million).

Is iondúil go gcinntear dáileadh na seirbhísí ar iontaobhais sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta trí aontuithe ardleibhéal na seirbhíse le boird sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta agus le scarthóirí gnáthdhochtúra.

As an £14^{.48 milliún a cuireadh ar fáil i monatóireacht} Mhí na Nollag, dáileadh £6^.5 milliún ar na boird mar a leanas:

Cuireadh an chuid eile den airgead i leataobh do sheirbhísí a ndéantar bainistíocht lárnach orthu ag an Roinn. Is iad seo scanóirí agus géarsheirbhísí speisialta ospidéil (£0^.55 milliún), caipiteal (£3 mhilliún) éilimh fhaillí cliniciúla (£3 mhilliún), dochtúirí teaghlaigh (£1^.3 milliún) agus costais thraenála cláraitheoirí gnáthdhochtúra (£0^.13 milliún).

(AQW 1482/00)

Ms de Brún: Protecting young people from the harm resulting from illicit drug use is a very important priority and is being taken forward in a range of ways, including drug prevention and education within schools, public information campaigns and community-based education and awareness programmes.

Evaluation of the Health Promotion Agency’s public information campaign targeted at young people, has found that the campaign appears to have succeeded in influencing the attitude of young people towards drug taking by increasing knowledge about drugs and their harmful effects and promoting a more negative attitude towards drugs. Similarly, informal feedback on some community-based programmes for young people and parents, which were supported by the additional drug strategy resources, suggests that these programmes are succeeding in their aims, though full evaluation will be carried out later in the life of the programmes.

The Department of Education has issued comprehensive guidance to schools and youth clubs on developing drug education policies and dealing with drug-related incidents, and, following the allocation of the additional drug strategy funding, two full-time officers have been appointed to each of the education and library boards to address the development of drug education programmes.

Is tosaíocht an-tábhachtach í an chosaint do dhaoine, óga ón dochar a tharlaíonn as mí-úsáid druga. Tá sí a tabhairt ar aghaidh ar roinnt dóigheanna, mar chosc ar dhruga, chomh maith le heolas a scaipeadh fríd na scoileanna, feachtais eolais poiblí, cláir oideachais de bhunadh pobail agus cláir fheasa.

As measúnú ar fheabhsú eolais poiblí de Ghníomhaireacht Chothaithe Sláinte, a bhí dírithe ar dhaoine óga, fuarthas amach gur éirigh leis an fheachtas, de réir dealraimh, dul i bhfeidhm ar sheasamh dhaoine óga i dtaca le drugaí a ghlacadh, tré bhreis eolais faoina drugaí agus faoina dtionchar díobhálach, chomh maith le cur chun cinn seasamh diúltach do dhrugaí. Mar an gcéanna, as aiseolas neamhfhoirmiúil ag teacht ó roinnt cláir bhunadh pobail, dírithe ar dhaoine óga agus ar thuismitheoirí, cláir a fuair cuidiú ó bhreis seifteanna straitéis druga, maíonn an t-aiseolas go bhfuiltear ag éirí leis na cláir seo ina gcuid aidhmeanna, gidh go mbeidh meastóireacht iomlán déanta orthu níos moille, fad is a mhaireann na cláir.

D’eisigh an Roinn Oideachas treoir chuimsitheach do scoileanna agus do chumainn óige ar chuspóirí eolais druga agus ar an dainséar a ghabhann le drugaí, agus a bhuíochas ar dháileadh maoinithe breise ón straitéis druga, ainmníodh beirt oifigeach lán aimsire do gach ceann de na boird oideachais agus an chuspóir acu ná forbairt clár oideachais drugaí.

(AQW 1484/00)

Ms de Brún: In the financial year 1999-00 - the latest date for which information is available, - 2,930 hernia operations were carried out at local hospitals.

Sa bhliain airgeadais 1999-00 (an dáta is déanaí dá bhfuil eolas ar fáil), rinneadh 2,930 obráid mhaidhm sheicne in otharlanna áitiúla.

(AQW 1485/00)

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my response to AQW 1434/00.

Tarraingim aird an Teachta ar an fhreagra a thug mé ar AQW 1434/00.

(AQW 1493/00)

Ms de Brún: The information is not available in the form requested.

Níl an t-eolas ar fáil san fhoirm a iarradh.

(AQW 1494/00)

Ms de Brún: I am not aware of any occasions when hospital mortuaries here were unable to accept a corpse under normal circumstances. Due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding the Omagh bomb on 15 August 1998, the Tyrone County Hospital was unable to accept corpses due to a lack of available accommodation. However in this particular instance a temporary mortuary was established in line with the trust’s major incident plan.

Ní feasach domh ócáid ar bith nuair nach raibh marbhlanna ospidéil anseo in ann glacadh le marbhán faoi ghnáththosca. Mar gheall ar thosca eisceachtúla bhuamáil na hÓmaí ar an 15 Lúnasa 1998, ní raibh Otharlann Contae Thír Eoghain ábalta marbháin a ghlacadh de dheasca na heaspa cóiríochta a bhí ar fáil, ach sa chás áirithe seo áfach, bunaíodh marbhlann shealadach de réir plean an iontaobhais do tharluithe móra.

(AQW 1495/00)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is outside the remit of my Department.

Níl údarás ag mo Roinn san eolas a iarradh.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the steps she is taking to ensure a significant reduction in the level of physical and sexual child abuse and that sufficient funding is available to staff, and to monitor the process.

(AQW 1496/00)

Ms de Brún: My Department is taking various steps to improve safeguards for children.

The departmental guidance for professionals involved in child protection is contained in ‘Co-operating to Protect Children’, which is currently being revised in the light of experience. The new guidance will be published later this year.

In addition, my Department runs the Pre-employment Consultancy Service which allows employers and voluntary organisations to check the suitability of those applying to work with children. I will be bringing forward proposals for a protection of children and vulnerable adults bill, which will place this service on a statutory footing.

My Department is also represented on the joint working group on child protection established by the North/South Ministerial Council. This aims to develop a mechanism for the reciprocal identification of people considered to be unsuitable for working with children.

Health and social services boards received an additional £9^{.5 million this year for the development of all children’s} services including child protection measures.

Tá mo Roinn ag beartú roinnt dóigheanna le páistí a chosaint.

Tá an treoir roinne do ghairmithe a bhfuil teagmháil acu le cosaint páistí le fáil i ‘Comhoibriú i gCosaint Páistí’, atá ag dul faoi phróiseas athchoirithe faoi láthair, siocar chleactaidh. Foilseofar an treoir nua níos moille sa bhliain atá roimhainn.

Chomh maith leis sin, tá mo Roinn i mbun na Seirbhise Comhairliuchain Reamhfhostai ochtta a ligeann do fhostóirí agus d’eagraíochtaí deonacha oiriúnacht duine atá ag iarraidh dul a dh’obair le páistí a mheas. Beidh mé ag cur chun tosaigh moltaí le haghaidh Bille Cosaint do pháistí agus gosach leochaileacha, a chuirfidh an tseirbhís seo ar bhonn reachtúil.

Tá teachtaí ó mo Roinn ar an chomhghrúpa oibre ar chosaint pháistí a bhunaigh An Chomhailre Aireashta Thuaidh/Theas. Is í an aidhm atá leis so ná meicníocht a fhorbairt le haithint chómhalartach ar dhaoine a cheaptar mar neamhoiriúnach le bheith ag obair le páistí.

Fuair boird SHSS £9^.5 milliún breise i mbliana le haghaidh fhorbairt gach seirbhísí páistí agus seifteanna cosanta do pháistí san áireamh.

(AQW 1505/00)

Ms de Brún: I have asked my Department to set in motion a new consultation process regarding maternity services in Belfast. A team is being convened to look at the way forward with a view to publishing a new consultation document in the spring. This is a complex process and, while I recognise the importance of expediting the matter, my priority is to ensure that a robust consultation document is developed.

Tá mé i ndiaidh a iarraidh ar mo Roinnse tús a chur le próiseas nua comhairliúcháin maidir le seirbhísí máithreachais i mBéal Feirste. Tá foireann á tabhairt le chéile leis an bhealach chun tosaigh a scrúdú agus is é a bheas mar chuspóir acu doiciméad comhairliúcháin nua a fhoilsiú san earrach. Is próiseas casta é seo agus, cé go n-aithním an tábhacht a bhaineann le dlús a chur leis, is é an tosaíocht atá agam féin a chinntiú go n-ullmhófar doiciméad láidir comhairliúcháin.