Friday 4 May 2001
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

Mrs Nelis asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail how the board of the Odyssey Project is constituted and what process is involved.

(AQO 1339/00)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): Odyssey Trust Company Limited is a private charitable company limited by guarantee. Constitution of the board is governed by the company’s memorandum and articles of association and as such, is a matter for the board. Appointment of trustees is by ordinary resolution and the board may appoint a person who is willing to be a trustee, either to fill a vacancy or as an additional trustee.

The chairman of Odyssey Trust Company is currently in the process of restructuring the board to ensure that it has the necessary skills to reflect it’s role post opening. The chairman has employed PriceWaterhouseCoopers to assist in this exercise which is expected to be completed by 1st September 2001.

Mr Tierney asked the Minister of Education if conditions of employment for Home Tutors are consistent with European Union regulations in relation to holiday pay and sick pay.

(AQW 2540/00)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): As employers, education and library boards are responsible for ensuring that the terms and conditions of employment for home tutors comply with the Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, which relate to holiday pay and sick pay. My Department will be consulting boards about these and other related matters in connection with the employment of home tutors in the near future.

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of official school visits he has undertaken to, (a) the Irish Medium Sector, (b) the Integrated Sector, (c) the Maintained Sector and (d) the Controlled sector.

(AQW 2651/00)

Mr M McGuinness: As a result of invitations received, I have undertaken official visits to the following numbers of schools:

a. The Irish-Medium Sector = 9

b. The Integrated Sector = 4

c. The Maintained Sector = 38

d. The Controlled Sector = 8

Mr Kennedy asked the Minister of Education to confirm if the consultation document on a Common Funding Formula for Granted-Aided Schools is available in Ulster Scots and if so, (a) how much did it cost to produce in Ulster Scots, and (b) was the contract for translating it into Ulster Scots put out for tender and if so, who was the successful bidder or if not, what process was used to award the contract.

(AQW 2667/00)

Mr M McGuinness: There are currently no Ulster Scots Schools here and hence it was not considered necessary to produce the Consultation Document on a Common Funding Formula for Grant-Aided Schools in the Ulster Scots language.

Mr Maskey asked the Minister of Education to outline his plans to bring initial teacher training into line with current curriculum changes and the changes in education which may result from increased early years provision and post primary restructuring.

(AQO 1405/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Initial teacher training courses are designed by the higher education institutions to meet the requirements of our curriculum, including the needs of teachers wishing to specialise in early years or in post-primary subjects. The courses are kept under review by the training providers and adapted to meet changing requirements on which they are consulted by my Department.

Mr Wells asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail what plans the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland has to attract investment to the Rathfriland area.

(AQW 2575/00)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): IDB seeks to encourage new employment opportunities within existing companies and from new investors. Recent success has come particularly from the knowledge-based sectors such as telecommunications, software development and call centre operations. While companies operating in these knowledge- based sectors have concentrated on areas of large population, IDB has been seeking to achieve a wider spread of investment across Northern Ireland.

In doing so, IDB has been working with local councils both to support the councils’ own efforts and to encourage and agree a joint approach to the marketing of their areas to potential investors. A seminar for economic development officers from all councils was organised by IDB in September 2000 and attended by representatives of both Banbridge and Newry and Mourne District Councils. The objective of the seminar was to share experiences in marketing Northern Ireland and agree how IDB and councils can work together. Following the seminar, a template for an inward investment information database was developed by IDB and issued to all councils in November 2000. Follow-up by IDB will take place over the next few months. The Council Forum which I convened on 12 April addressed this very important issue of how IDB and LEDU, and the new agency, will work closely with the councils to take forward economic development.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the steps he is taking to increase energy production from renewable resources.

(AQW 2582/00)

Sir Reg Empey: I fully support the development of sustainable and renewable energy. The harnessing of renewable energy sources assists the diversification of Northern Ireland’s energy supplies and has an important role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Government has established an initial target of 45MW of renewables plant in Northern Ireland by the year 2005. The then Department of Economic Development, in pursuit of this objective, made two Non-Fossil Fuel Orders (NFFO) in 1994 and 1996 under which Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) is required to purchase some 32MW of renewable energy. In addition, a number of innovative renewable energy projects have been assisted under the EU funded Energy Demonstration Scheme and the EU INTERREG cross-border energy sub-programme. Furthermore, over 1,000 customers currently receive all or part of their electricity from renewable sources under Northern Ireland Electricity’s Eco Energy tariff scheme. The first large industrial customer, Interface Europe Ltd, Craigavon, has recently signed up to Eco Energy.

Recent assessments of the potential for renewables in Northern Ireland have indicated that, based on certain assumptions, some 7% of electricity consumption could be met by offshore wind energy by 2005 and that a further 7.6% could be met by other renewables by 2010.

My Department intends to consult interested parties in May 2001 on the future development of renewable energy sources in Northern Ireland. We will wish, in particular, to seek views on how Northern Ireland might best make a proportionate contribution to the revised UK target of 10% of electricity from renewables by 2010 and also on the possible replication of the recent Great Britain legislation on a renewables obligation which will place an obligation on suppliers to obtain a specified percentage of their supplies from renewable sources.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to outline the action he is taking to promote renewable energy.

(AQW 2588/00)

Sir Reg Empey: I would refer to my written answer to AQW No: 2582/00.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the steps he is taking to reduce energy costs.

(AQW 2643/00)

Sir Reg Empey: Responsibility for ensuring that prices paid by electricity and natural gas customers reflect the cost of production and distribution, rests with the independent Regulator. Similar regulatory arrangements do not apply in the already competitive oil and coal sectors where market forces determine the prices charged to customers.

My Department’s objective, which is fully in line with wider UK5 and EU energy policy, is to achieve a secure, diverse, competitive and efficient energy market, with maximum choice for consumers and, as I said in my statement to the Assembly on 5 March, achieving significant price reductions is a key element in meeting this objective.

Action taken or under way to reduce energy costs includes: the opening up of the electricity market two years ahead of EU requirements; the Regulator’s continuing discussions with the generators on reducing costs; the Regulator’s review of NIE’s Transmission & Distribution price controls; the allocation of the £60 million Government support package for electricity consumers; the commissioning of the electricity interconnector with Scotland in January 2002 thereby providing a new source of competitively priced electricity; the accelerated roll out of the natural gas programme in the Belfast licence area; the appraisal of applications for licences to take gas beyond the current licence area; the promotion by my Department of the more cost effective and environmentally friendly combined heat and power technology and the continuing campaign to promote greater energy efficiency.

The planned progressive development of an all island energy market within a European context will further increase choice and encourage downward pressure on prices.

Mr McClarty asked the Minister of the Environment to give his assessment of the potential environmental conflict between social and economic development needs and sustainability of the coastal zone.

(AQW 2664/00)

The Minister of the Environment (Mr Foster): Several Departments have responsibilities which can affect the coastal zone. These include the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department for Regional Development, as well as the Department of the Environment.

As regards my own responsibilities for coastal matters, my Department will, over the course of this financial year, be engaged in the preparation of development plans which will include almost all of our coastline. These plans provide the opportunity to address environmental considerations alongside the social and economic development needs in local areas. The plan process will provide for the involvement of elected representatives in consideration and resolution of the issues involved.

My Department will also take account of the Regional Development Strategy, being prepared by the Department for Regional Development, which will include planning policy guidance designed to protect the undeveloped coastline, especially from intense recreational and tourism pressures. The guidance will recognise the need to reconcile development and management pressures arising from commercial and leisure use with conservation of distinctive coastal habitats.

My Department will also have regard to a Regional Planning Policy Statement on The Coast which, I understand, the Department for Regional Development intends to prepare. I further understand that work on the RPPS is planned to start during 2002/2003.

Mr McClarty asked the Minister of the Environment to detail what assessment he has made in relation to the current condition of Northern Ireland’s coastal zone.

(AQW 2665/00)

Mr Foster: I have not made any overall assessment of the current condition of Northern Ireland’s coastal zone. The term "coastal zone" is usually interpreted as including coastal waters, intertidal areas and maritime land. Within that broad definition, several Departments have responsibilities that can impact on the zone. These include the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department for Regional Development, as well as the Department of the Environment.

My own responsibilities include coastal habitats, geological features and monuments. My Department has commissioned several surveys in recent years to identify areas of coastline that warrant designation for nature conservation and landscape purposes. These include surveys of intertidal and subtidal habitats. A major project to map the sea bed habitats of Strangford Lough Marine Nature Reserve has just commenced.

Approximately three-quarters of the coastline is now covered by one or more of the statutory nature conservation or landscape designations. These include Areas of Special Scientific Interest and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty under domestic legislation and Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas under EC Directives.

In addition the Northern Ireland Landscape Character Assessment, which I launched recently, provides a detailed record of all of Northern Ireland’s landscapes, including coastal areas. The assessments are based on local patterns of geology, land form, land use, cultural and ecological features.

During this financial year, my Department will be engaged in the preparation of development plans which will include almost all of our coastline. This will provide a further opportunity to assess the current condition of the coastal zone.

Mr McClarty asked the Minister of the Environment to detail his plans to establish a Northern Ireland Coastal Forum.

(AQW 2666/00)

Mr Foster: I refer the Member to my reply to Oral Question 527/00, as set out in the Official Report for 18 December 2000.

It remains my intention to keep the benefits of a Coastal Forum in mind for future budget rounds, subject to the agreement of other Ministers with responsibilities relevant to the coastal area.

Mr Fee asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel if he will consider abolishing compulsory retirement ages in the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

(AQW 2563/00)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr Durkan): The policy on age of retirement is currently under review and consideration of a range of business and equality issues is ongoing. The independent team reviewing appointment and promotion procedures to the Senior Civil Service will consider, within their terms of reference, the age of retirement as it affects the Senior Civil Service. The way forward will be considered in the light both of the Review Team’s findings and the on-going review.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail progress on his consultation with the Social Security Agency and the Training and Employment Agency in Strabane, since November 2000, with a view to providing accommodation for joint delivery of their services.

(AQW 2585/00)

Mr Durkan: The Social Security and Training and Employment Agencies (SSA/T & EA) are in the process of implementing a joint working initiative for jobseekers, which will enable them to deliver a joined-up job brokering and benefit service, from a single location, in the major towns across the province.

A roll-out programme of work has been drawn up and it is intended that the new joint working arrangements will be implemented in the first offices in February 2002 and that the roll-out will continue at the rate of one office per month until 2004.

The role of the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) is to provide office accommodation to meet the business needs of Departments. In the SSA/T & EA Joint Working partnership the Strabane office is number 23 in the roll-out programme of new offices, with a proposed start date of January 2002. Office Accommodation Branch in DFP has not to date received a business case or an accommodation brief from SSA/T & EA.

Mrs Nelis asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail his policy and possible costs for the early retirement of Civil Servants.

(AQW 2612/00)

Mr Durkan: The policy for the early retirement of staff before minimum retirement age is set out in the NICS Staff Handbook, Leaving the Service Part 5, chapters 3 and 4, a copy of which is available in the Library.

In relation to the possible costs, each individual case would depend on a number of variables, e.g., age, current salary and length of service. The calculation would be based on the formulae detailed in the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, a copy of which has been laid in the Library.

Further background information can be found in the attached Annex.

Annex A

Early retirement applies to staff aged 50-59. The categories of early retirement are:

(a) compulsory early retirement and redundancy;

(b) flexible early retirement;

(c) approved early retirement; and

(d) actuarially reduced retirement

The grounds on which early retirement in categories a to c above may be considered are:

(a) Compulsory early retirement - on grounds of limited efficiency, structure, redundancy;

(b) Flexible early retirement - on grounds of limited efficiency, limited postability and structure;

(c) Voluntary - to stimulate improvements in the effectiveness and efficiency of departments and to assist their manpower planning by enabling staff to retire early provided that management is absolutely satisfied in each case that the retirement will enhance departmental efficiency. There are two elements under this category. Under element (a) staff may apply if they are aged 50 or over with 5 years or more qualifying service. Under element (b) staff may apply if they are aged 55 and over with at least 25 years qualifying service.

Category (d), actuarially reduced retirement, is the only category under which staff have a right to retire. Such retirements are at no additional cost to the public purse. All other categories are subject to management invitation or veto and must be supported by a value for money business case. The cost of the early pension is met by the relevant Department. Staff leaving under the categories flexible early retirement, approved early retirement and actuarially reduced retirement do so willingly, and no element of compulsion is attached to these schemes.

In addition staff may be retired on medical grounds where the Occupational Health Service advises that the individual is unable to undertake the duties of his/her grade until retirement age.

Mrs Nelis asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel, in respect of the 2000/01 financial year, to outline (a) the level of underspend in each Department’s budget and (b) what programmes this money has been allocated to.

(AQW 2614/00)

Mr Durkan: Provisional Out-turn information for the financial year 2000-01 is not yet available and therefore details of Departmental underspends cannot be provided at this time.

Provisional Out-turn information from Departments is due with DFP in the coming weeks and I will subsequently be reporting the position to the Executive. Details of the Provisional Out-turn position are normally published in July. Decisions on how underspends carried forward into 2001-02 are allocated is a matter for the Executive. Normally such decisions are taken in the first Monitoring round, due in June.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail whether he plans to extend rate relief to village and rural houses on the same basis as village Post Offices.

(AQW 2625/00)

Mr Durkan: Existing legislation would not permit this and I have no plans to extend relief in this way. The Review of Rating Policy, which is currently underway, however will consider all current rate relief schemes. The extension to Domestic property in rural areas would be part of that consideration.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to outline what recent representations he has received from industry and business representatives concerning rates on commercial premises.

(AQW 2627/00)

Mr Durkan: I have received eleven representations from industry and business since 1 January 2001. These covered questions on the level of the Regional Rates and the availability of relief from rates.

Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail his plans to increase the proportion of Peace II funding, allocated to the constituency of East Antrim in comparison to that awarded under Peace I.

(AQO 1363/00)

Mr Durkan: The funding to be allocated under the Peace II Programme has been agreed by the Executive and the respective allocations for each priority and measure are contained in the operational programme which was formally agreed with by the European Commission on 22 March 2001. Details of the eligibility criteria for projects under each priority and measure will be contained in the Programme Complement which is currently being drawn up by the Special EU Programmes Body for agreement by the Programme Monitoring Committee. The distribution of funding under this Programme will, therefore, be determined by the extent to which project promoters are able to demonstrate how their projects contribute to the Programme’s overall objectives as well as to the relevant priority and measure level objectives. Whilst it is anticipated that all parts of Northern Ireland will benefit from funding under Peace II no pre-determined allocations of funding have been made to any of the eighteen constituencies in Northern Ireland.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail progress being made on investigations into the unauthorised retention of children’s organs at the Royal Victoria Hospital and will she consider a public inquiry into this matter.

(AQW 2572/00)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): On 22 March I announced the establishment of the Human Organs Inquiry chaired by John O’Hara QC. The Inquiry will cover all aspects of past and current post mortem policy and practice and will draw on whatever medical and other professional support it requires to discharge its duties. The Chief Medical Officer’s investigation of organ retention practice here, including the Royal Victoria Hospital, initiated in January, has been completed and all of the information obtained will be passed to the Human Organs Inquiry and published.

Ar an 22 Márta d’fhógair mé bunú an Fhiosrúcháin Orgáin Dhaonna le John O’Hara QC sa chathaoir air. Cumhdóidh an Fiosrúchán gach uile gné de pholasaí agus chleachtadh fiosrúcháin bháis reatha agus san am atá thart agus meallfaidh sé cibé tacaíocht mhíochaine agus ghairmiúil eile atá de dhíth air lena dhualgais a chomhlíonadh. Críochnaíodh fiosrúchán an Phríomh- Oifigigh ar chleachtadh choinneáil orgán anseo, Otharlann Ríoga Victeoiria san áireamh, a tosaíodh i Mí Eanáir, agus tabharfar an t-eolas uile a fuarthas don Fhiosrúchán Orgáin Dhaonna agus foilseofar é.

Mr Wells asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline her plans to reduce the average waiting time for admissions to Downe Hospital.

(AQW 2574/00)

Ms de Brún: I am concerned about reducing waiting times and waiting lists for treatment at all acute hospitals. In ‘Priorities For Action’, which I issued on 8 March, I set a target of reducing by 50% during the next year the number of those waiting more than 18 months, and the complete elimination of such long waits by March 2003. I also set a target for overall waiting lists to be reduced to 48,000 by March 2002, as a first step towards bringing the numbers down to 39,000 by March 2004. These reductions will have a direct impact on the length of time that people wait for treatment.

Tá mé buartha faoin laghdú in amanna agus i liostaí feithimh do chóireáil ag gach uile géarotharlann. In Tosaíochtaí Do Ghníomhú a d’eisigh mé ar an 8 Márta, leag mé sprioc síos le líon na ndaoine sin ag fanacht níos mó ná 18 mí a laghdú faoi 50% le linn na bliana seo chugainn, agus le deireadh iomlán a chur lena leithéid d’fheitheamh fada sin faoi Mhárta 2003. Leag mé sprioc eile síos fosta le liostaí feithimh san iomlán a laghdú go 48,000 faoi Mhárta 2002, mar an chéad chéim chuig laghdú na líonta go 39,000 faoi Mhárta 2004. Beidh éifeacht dhíreach ag na laghduithe seo ar an mhéid ama a fhanfaidh daoine ar chóireáil.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail any response she has made to the Government’s consultation paper "Fairer Charging Policies for Home Care and Other Non-Residential Social Services".

(AQW 2583/00)

Ms de Brún: This consultation paper has been issued by the Department of Health in England and does not apply here. However, I will wish to consider the implications of any guidance issued by the Department of Health and its relevance for services here.

D’eisigh An Roinn Sláinte i Sasana an páipéar comhairleach seo ach ní bhaineann sé leis an limistéar seo. Is mian liom machnamh a dhéanamh áfach ar impleachtaí treorach ar bith tugtha ag An Roinn Sláinte agus ar na himpleachtaí atá aici do sheirbhísí anseo.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to give her assessment of the current level of funding to residential homes to cover the cost of care of residents.

(AQW 2584/00)

Ms de Brún: The rates paid to residential homes here are comparable to those paid in similar areas in England, Scotland and Wales.

As I have previously indicated, a working group examined the funding structure for independent sector homes last year and made a number of recommendations that are currently being implemented by boards and trusts. This report recognised the increasing financial pressure on the sector and the boards and trusts will take this into account in seeking to agree increases in rates for places in residential and nursing homes for 2001-2002.

Is féidir comparáid a dhéanamh idir rátaí a íoctar do thithe cónaithe anseo agus na rátaí sin a íoctar i gceantair eile cosúil léi i Sasana, in Albain agus sa Bhreatain Bheag.

Mar a chuir mé in iúl roimhe sin, rinne grúpa oibre scrúdú ar an struchtúr maoinithe do thithe na hearnála neamhspleáiche anuraidh agus rinne sé roinnt moltaí atá á gcur i bhfeidhm ag Boird agus ag Iontaobhais faoi láthair. D’aithin an tuairisc seo an brú airgeadais, atá ag dul i méid, ar an earnáil agus cuirfidh Boird agus Iontaobhais é seo san áireamh agus iad ag iarraidh méaduithe i rátaí d’áiteanna i dtithe cónaithe agus banaltrachta sa bhliain 2001-2002 a chomhaontú.

Mr Tierney asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of paediatric intensive care beds with attendant nursing staff that are available in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 2597/00)

Ms de Brún: Currently there are six paediatric intensive care beds open here (seven when staffing levels permit). There are a total of 38.95 whole-time equivalent paediatric intensive care nurses with two whole-time equivalent support nursing auxiliaries.

Faoi láthair, tá sé leaba péidiatraiceacha dianchúraim ar fáil anseo (7 leaba ag brath ar líon na foirne). Tá 38.95 banaltra péidiatraiceacha dianchúraim coibhéise ama iomláin mar aon le 2 banaltra tacaíochta cúnta coibhéise ama iomláin ann san iomlán.

Mr Tierney asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the average cost per day for the care of a child in an intensive care bed.

(AQW 2598/00)

Ms de Brún: The average cost per day for the financial year 1999/00 was £1,685.

£1,685 ba ea an meánchostas in aghaidh an lae don bhliain airgeadais 1999/00.

Mr Tierney asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of paediatric intensive care beds being occupied by children awaiting transfer to home ventilation and what is the average waiting time for transfer to home ventilation.

(AQW 2600/00)

Ms de Brún: At 24 April 2001 there were two children awaiting home ventilation, one of whom had been waiting for approximately six months, the other eight months.

Ag an 24 Aibreán 2001 bhí beirt pháistí ag fanacht le haeráil bhaile, bhí páiste amháin ag fanacht le thart faoi sé mhí, agus an páiste eile ag fanacht le hocht mí.

Mr Tierney asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of intensive care beds in place but unavailable due to the lack of nursing staff.

(AQW 2601/00)

Ms de Brún: It is not possible to give a figure for the number of intensive care beds not available at any one time as this changes from day to day and from hour to hour.

At 9.00 am on 30 March 2001 (the last day of winter pressures monitoring) there were 2 intensive care/high dependency beds closed in hospitals here. The reasons why these beds were closed are not available.

Ní féidir figiúr a thabhairt ar mhéid na leapacha dianchúraim nach bhfuil ar fáil ag am ar leith mar go n-athraíonn sé seo ó lá go lá agus ó uair go huair.

Ar 9.00i.n. ar an 30 Márta 2001 (lá deireanach na monatóireachta ar bhrúnna geimhridh), bhí 2 leaba dianchúraim/ardspleáchais druidte in otharlanna anseo. Níl na fáthanna ar druideadh na leapacha seo ar fáil.

Mr Wells asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the average waiting time between General Practitioner referral and hospital consultant appointment for Downe Hospital and (b) the average waiting time between a consultant referral and hospital admission at Downe Hospital for the period January 2000 to February 2001.

(AQW 2603/00)

Ms de Brún: Details of waiting times for inpatient admissions and outpatient appointments are collected in time bands. It is therefore not possible to compute an average waiting time.

Numbers of completed waits for inpatient admission and first outpatient appointment for Downe Hospital for the quarter ending 31 December 2000 (the latest date for which information is available) are detailed in the tables below.

Cruinnítear sonraí ar amanna feithimh do ghlacadh isteach othar cónaitheach agus do choinní éisothar i mbandaí ama. Mar sin de, ní féidir meánam feithimh a áireamh.

Mionléirítear sna táblaí thíos méid an fheithimh le glacadh isteach othar cónaitheach, agus le céad choinne éisothar déanta in Otharlann An Dúin, sa ráithe ag críochnú an 31 Nollaig 2000 (an dáta is deireanaí atá eolas ar fáil).

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline her policy on the provision of "recombinant Factor VIII" for haemophiliacs and to state what guarantees there are for under 16’s and adults not affected by hepatitis/HIV in receiving "recombinant Factor VIII".

(AQW 2604/00)

Ms de Brún: My Department has been working with Health Boards to bring about as quickly as possible the phased introduction of recombinant products for all patients. Currently recombinant products are provided for children under 16 and any patients previously untreated with plasma products. Since recombinant Factor VIII is not derived from human blood this ensures that the possibility of contamination by HIV, hepatitis viruses or any other blood borne virus is virtually eliminated.

Bhí an Roinn s’agamsa ag obair le Boird Sláinte chun táirgí athchuingreacha a thabhairt isteach céim ar céim do gach uile othar a ghasta is féidir. Faoi láthair, soláthraítear táirgí athchuingreacha do pháistí faoi 16 agus d’othair ar bith nár cóireáladh roimhe sin le táirgí plasma. Mar nach dtagann Fachtóir athchuingreach VIII ó fhuil dhaonna, cinntíonn seo go ndíbrítear chóir a bheith féidearthacht an tsalaithe ó SEIF, víris heipitítis agus ó víreas fola ar bith eile.

Mr Maskey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the extra funding required to fulfil the bids submitted by her Department and to make a statement.

(AQW 2605/00)

Ms de Brún: The table below shows the extra amounts that would be needed to meet in full my Department’s spending review bids for the 2001-02 financial year:

The outcome of the spending review fell short of what is required to transform the HPSS so that it fully meets our needs. I will, of course, work to see that we continue to make the best use of the money we have, and to obtain additional resources. In fact, since the spending review was completed, the HPSS has been awarded a further £7·5m for the current financial year from the Executive Programme funds. All told, the first tranche of the Funds will be allocating to my Department an extra £42m across the three years to 2003-04. This money will enable us to take forward a range of developments that will go some way towards modernising the HPSS and making it more accessible to service users.

Léiríonn an tábla thíos na suimeanna a bheadh de dhíth le tairiscintí Athbhreithniú na Roinne ar Chaiteachas don bhliain airgeadais 2001-02 a sheasamh:

Theip ar thoradh an Athbhreithnithe ar Chaiteachas, a bhí de dhíth leis na SSSP a athrú sa dóigh go riarfadh sé go hiomlán ar ár riachtanais, a bhaint amach. Ar ndóigh, leanfaidh mé ar aghaidh le cinntiú go leanaimid ar aghaidh ag baint na húsáide is fearr as an airgead atá againn, agus le hacmhainní breise a fháil. Ó críochnaíodh an tAthbhreithniú ar Chaiteachas, is amhlaidh a tugadh £7·5m breise do na SSSP don bhliain airgeadais reatha ó Chistí Chlár an Fheidheannais. Agus sin uile ráite, sa chéad bhabhta de na Cistí, dáilfear £42m breise ar an Roinn s’agamsa ar feadh na dtrí bliana go 2003-04. Cuirfidh an t-airgead seo ar ár gcumas réimse forbairtí a chur chun cinn a chuideoidh na SSSP a chur in oiriúint don lá atá inniu agus a chuirfidh ar fáil níos mó d’úsáideoirí seirbhísí iad.

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