Friday 18 May 2001
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

Mr Adams asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the amount of travel expenses and subsistence allowances claimed by Trust Board Chief Executives, for the financial year 2000-01 by Trust Board area.

(AQW 2765/00)

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

Taispeántar an t-eolas a iarradh sa tábla thíos.

Ms McWilliams asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline (a) the current position in relation to the guidance Co-operating to Protect Children (b) will it be issued for consultation and, if so, when, and (c) will it be subject to Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

(AQW 2767/00)

Ms de Brún: The latest guidance now entitled ‘Co-operating to Safeguard Children’ is at final draft stage.

Extensive consultation with those involved in child protection has already been carried out. The first draft was issued widely for consultation to Boards, Trusts, representatives of professionals involved in child protection, voluntary organisations and other departments 18 months ago. Since then, consultation has continued with the four Area Child Protection Committees (ACPCs), which comprise voluntary and statutory agencies, until broad agreement was reached. The guidance is in fact addressed to the ACPCs and the final draft is currently with them for comment.

In relation to Section 75, the Department intends to issue the draft for consultation on equality issues in June.

Tá an treoir is déanaí, anois dar teideal ‘Ag Comhoibriú le Páistí a Choinneáil Slán’, ag an chéim dheireanach dréachta.

Rinneadh comhairliú leathan cheana féin leo siúd i mbun cosaint páistí. Seoladh an chéad dréacht do chomhairliú go forleathan chuig Boird, Iontaobhais, ionadaithe gairmithe i mbun cosaint páistí, eagraíochtaí deonacha agus chuig ranna eile 18 mí ó shin. Ó shin, lean an comhairliú ar aghaidh leis na ceithre Choiste Ceantair Chosaint Páistí (CCCPanna), a bhfuil gníomhaireachtaí deonacha agus reachtúla orthu, go dtí gur thángthas ar chomhaontú leathan. Is amhlaidh atá an treoir dírithe ar na CCCPanna agus tá an dréacht deireanach acu faoi láthair dá gcuid moltaí.

Maidir le Mír 75, tá sé ar intinn ag an Roinn an dréacht a fhoilsiú do chomhairliú ar cheisteanna comhionannais i Meitheamh.

Ms McWilliams asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy operations that have taken place for each of the following months: November 2000, December 2000, January 2001, February 2001 and March 2001.

(AQW 2768/00)

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

Mionléirítear an t-eolas seo sa tábla thíos.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to confirm (a) that a strategic development plan has been lodged by the Ulster Hospital Trust and (b) when a decision will be made by her regarding this plan.

(AQW 2772/00)

Ms de Brún: I can confirm that the Ulster Community and Hospitals HSS Trust has submitted a Strategic Development Plan for the Ulster Hospital. My Department is finalising its assessment of the Plan and when this has been completed I will consider the options available and announce my decision on the proposals as soon as possible.

Tig liom a dhearbhú gur chuir Iontaobhas SSS Phobal Uladh agus Otharlann Plean Straitéiseach Forbartha isteach d’Otharlann Uladh. Tá an Roinn s’agamsa ag cur na dlaoi mullaigh ar a measúnú ar an Phlean agus nuair atá seo déanta déanfaidh mé machnamh ar na roghanna a bheidh ar fáil agus fógróidh mé mo chinneadh a luaithe agus is féidir.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to confirm the incidence, per 100,000 of the population, of (a) diabetes (b) asthma (c) cancer (d) heart disease (e) stroke and (f) poisoning in each of the last three years.

(AQW 2773/00)

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

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

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if, pursuant to AQW 1679/00, she will confirm (a) that the Ulster Hospital has received the £1.48 million for the replacement of critical items of medical equipment and (b) how this relates to the general redevelopment plan for the Ulster Hospital.

(AQW 2775/00)

Ms de Brún: I can confirm that my Department approved capital funding of £1.48 million for replacement of critical items of medical equipment at the Ulster Hospital. The Trust was advised on 27 January 2001 that this additional funding was being made available immediately and that procurement could proceed.

Replacement of this equipment is the first phase in the Strategic Development Plan for the Ulster Hospital which has been submitted to my Department for approval.

Tig liom a dhearbhú gur cheadaigh an Roinn s’agamsa maoiniú caipitil £1.48 milliún do mhalartú ábhar fíorthábhachtach de threalamh míochaine ag Otharlann Uladh. Moladh don Iontaobhas ar an 27 Eanáir 2001 go raibh an maoiniú breise á chur ar fáil láithreach agus gurbh fhéidir leis an soláthar dul ar aghaidh.

Is é malartú an trealaimh seo an chéad chéim sa Phlean Straitéiseach Forbartha d’Otharlann Uladh a cuireadh isteach chuig an Roinn s’agamsa.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to confirm that £2 million was allocated to her Department, as outlined in Page 150 of the Programme for Government, to finalise and begin implementation of a strategic development plan to modernise the Ulster Hospital and to detail (a) how this money has been spent and (b) if any of this money will be given to the Ulster Hospital to cover its costs.

(AQW 2779/00)

Ms de Brún: I can confirm that my Department has identified £2 million for strategic redevelopment of the Ulster Hospital, in line with the Programme for Government.

The Ulster Community and Hospitals HSS Trust has submitted a Strategic Development Plan for the Ulster Hospital. My Department is finalising its assessment of the Plan. When this has been completed I will consider the options available and announce my decision on the proposals as soon as possible. The funding will be applied to the implementation of these proposals.

 Tig liom a dhearbhú gur chuir an Roinn s’agamsa £2 milliún i leataobh d’athchóiriú straitéiseach Otharlainne Uladh, de réir Clár um Rialtas.

Chuir Iontaobhas SSS Phobal Uladh agus Otharlann Plean Straitéiseach Forbartha d‘Otharlann Uladh isteach. Tá an Roinn s’agamsa ag cur na dlaoi mullaigh ar a measúnú ar an Phlean. Nuair a bheas seo déanta déanfaidh mé machnamh ar na roghanna a bheas ar fáil agus fógróidh mé mo chinneadh ar na moltaí a luaithe agus is féidir. Bainfidh an maoiniú le cur i gcrích na moltaí seo.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to explain (a) the difference in the figures set out in Executive Programme Funds, as outlined in correspondence of 12 March 2001 to the Chairperson of the Health, Social Services and Public Safety, relating to the Ulster Hospital and those set out by the Minister of Finance and Personnel on 2 March 2001 and (b) which programme she is following.

(AQW 2780/00)

Ms de Brún: The correspondence of 12 March was from one of my officials and, on my behalf, sought the HSSPS Committee’s views on the bids my Department intended to make for Executive Programme Funds. The Committee considered these bids at its meeting on 20 March.

In the event, the Executive did not meet my Department’s bids in full. The table below shows the bids made to the Infrastructure/Capital Renewal Fund for the first phase of the Ulster Hospital Redevelopment Programme for the years 2001/02 to 2003/04 and the final allocation announced by Mr Durkan on 2 April. The balance of the total cost of the proposed first phase is £12 million and, in the absence of any further additional allocation, will come from my Department’s capital budget.

Duine de mo chuid oifigeach a rinne an comhfhreagras ar an 12 Márta agus ar mo shon, d’iarr sé ar thuairimí an Choiste SSSSP ar na tairiscintí a bhí sé ar intinn ag an Roinn s’agamsa a dhéanamh ar Chistí Chlár an Fheidmeannais. Rinne an Coiste machnamh ar na tairiscintí seo ag cruinniú ar an 20 Márta.

Cibé ar bith, níor sheas an Feidhmeannas tairiscintí mo Roinne ina n-iomlán. Léiríonn an tábla thíos na tairiscinti déanta ar an Chiste Athnuachana Bonneagair/Caipitil don chéad chéim de Chlár Athchóirithe Otharlainne Uladh do na blianta 2001/02 go 2003/04 agus an dáileadh deireanach a d’fhógair an tUasal Mac Dhuarcáin ar an 2 Aibreán. £12 milliún is ea fuílleach chostas iomlán na chéad chéime molta, agus gan tuilleadh dáilte ar bith eile, gheobhfar an t-airgead eile ó bhuiséad caipitil mo Roinne.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to the £42 million Health Services boost announced on 4 April 2001, to confirm (a) an allocation of £10 million for the Ulster Hospital (b) if the Ulster Hospital has been officially advised in writing of this allocation (c) how the £22 million allocated in Executive Programme Funds will be spent and (d) if these monies are part of the Strategic Development Plan for the Ulster Hospital.

(AQW 2781/00)

Ms de Brún: My Department submitted a bid to the Executive Programme Funds for £22 million over the next three years to take forward much needed development at the Ulster Hospital site. In the event only £10 million was allocated in respect of this bid; the amounts being £0.5 million this year, £3 million next year and £6.5 million in 2003/04.

My Department is finalising its assessment of the Strategic Development Plan for the Ulster Hospital submitted by the Ulster Community and Hospitals HSS Trust. When that has been completed I will consider the options available and announce my decision on the proposals as soon as possible. The application of the funding will be considered in the light of the costs and timetable for the individual schemes which make up the redevelopment programme. My Department will then write formally to the Trust confirming the capital provision.

Chuir mo Roinn tairiscint £22 mhilliún faoi bhráid chlárchiste an Choiste Feidhmiúcháin thar na trí bliana seo chugainn le forbairt ar shuíomh an Ospidéil Uladh a chur ar aghaidh — forbairt a bhfuil géarghá léi. Ach níor leithroinneadh ach £10 milliún maidir leis an tairiscint seo; £0.5 mhilliún i mbliana, trí mhilliún don bhliain seo chugainn agus £6.5 mhilliún i 2003-04.

Tá an Roinn s’agamsa ag cur na dlaoi mullaigh ar a measúnú ar an Phlean Straitéiseach Forbartha d’Otharlann Uladh a chuir Iontaobhas SSS Phobal Uladh agus Otharlann isteach. Nuair a bheas seo déanta déanfaidh mé machnamh ar na roghanna a bheas ar fáil agus fógróidh mé mo chinneadh ar na moltaí a luaithe agus is féidir. Déanfar machnamh ar dháileadh an mhaoinithe ag cur san áireamh na gcostas agus an chlár ama do na scéimeanna indibhidiúla a chomhdhéanann an clár athchóirithe. Ansin, scríobhfaidh an Roinn s’agamsa chuig an Iontaobhas go foirmiúil ag cinntiú cur ar fáil an chaipitil.

Mrs Carson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what steps she is taking to address the lack of provision of services, which include Speech and Language, Occupational and Physiotherapy, as recommended by Senior Clinical Medical Officers or Consultant Community Paediatricians for pupils of special schools in the Southern Health and Social Services Board Area.

(AQW 2782/00)

Ms de Brún: My Department has established a joint working group with officials from the Department of Education to consider the support required by children with special educational needs and how this can best be provided. Meanwhile, the provision of therapeutic services for children in the Southern Board area is a matter for the Board in conjunction with local Trusts.

Bhunaigh an Roinn s’agamsa chomhghrúpa oibre le hoifigigh ón Roinn Oideachais le machnamh a dhéanamh ar an tacaíocht atá de dhíth ar pháistí le riachtanais speisialta oideachais agus ar an dóigh is fearr léi seo a sholáthar. Idir an dá linn, is ceist don Bhord in éineacht le hIontaobhais áitiúla é soláthar seirbhísí teiripeacha do pháistí i gceantar Bhord an Deiscirt.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the steps she is taking to address the increase in those diagnosed with bowel cancer.

(AQW 2790/00)

Ms de Brún: Virtually all patients with bowel cancer are now assessed and managed by multidisciplinary specialist teams for gastrointestinal cancer at the Cancer Centre in Belfast and at the Cancer Units in Altnagelvin, Craigavon, Antrim and the Ulster Hospital. Standard guidelines have been commissioned for all General Practitioners on the identification of potentially sinister symptoms and the need for urgent referral for investigation. By the end of 2002, such referrals should be seen within a maximum of two weeks - subject to the availability of the necessary specialist staff and equipment. Research is also currently under way about the possible role of screening as a way of preventing bowel cancer.

Measúnaíonn agus láimhseálann sainfhoirne ildhisciplíneacha chóir a bheith gach uile othar le hailse inne d’ailse ghastra-stéigeach ag an Ionad Ailse i mBéal Feirste agus ag na hIonaid Ailse in Alt na nGealbhán, i gCraigavon, Aontroim agus in Otharlann Uladh. Coimisiúnaíodh treoirlínte caighdeánacha do gach uile Gnáthdhochtúir ar aithint airíonna urchóideacha ionchasacha agus ar an ghá d’atreorú práinneach le haghaidh fiosraithe. Faoi dheireadh 2002, ba chóir do na daoine sin atreoraithe dul chuig dochtúir laistigh de dhá seachtaine ar a uasmhéad - faoi réir infhaighteacht na sainfhoirne agus an tsaintrealaimh atá riachtanach. Tá taighde á dhéanamh faoi láthair ar ról féideartha an scagtha mar dhóigh le hailse inne a chosc.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of people diagnosed with bowel cancer, by Health Board area, in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

(AQW 2791/00)

Ms de Brún: Information on the numbers of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer is available for the calendar years 1994 to 1996 and is detailed in the table below.

Tá eolas ar líon na ndaoine fáthmheasta le hailse colaidriseacháin do na blianta 1994 go 1996 ar fáil agus mionléirítear sa tábla thíos é.

Mr Berry asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail, by board area, the number of statutory residential nursing homes that are complying with the Health Technical Memorandum No 84.

(AQW 2813/00)

Ms de Brún: There are no statutory nursing homes here. The attached table provides details of statutory homes providing residential care and the numbers of these that comply with the Health Technical Memorandum No 84.

Níl tithe reachtúla banaltrachta ar bith anseo. Tugann an tábla atá faoi iamh sonraí ar thithe reachtúla ag soláthar cúraim chónaithigh agus ar an mhéid díobh siúd a ghéillíonn do Mheamram Teicniúil Sláinte Uimhir 84.

Mrs Carson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the action she intends to take to reduce the number of public bodies or quangos under the control of her Department.

(AQW 2825/00)

Ms de Brún: The Executive is currently considering the scope, nature, terms of reference and timing of the Review of Public Administration referred to in the Programme for Government. This Review encompasses all DHSSPS public bodies and any changes to those bodies will be made with reference to the terms of the Review.

Tá an Feidhmeannas ag déanamh machnaimh faoi láthair ar scóip, saghas, théarmaí tagartha agus ar uainiú an Athbhreithnithe ar Riarachán Poiblí, a ndéantar tagairt dó i gClár um Rialtas. Clúdaíonn an tAthbhreithniú seo forais phoiblí uile na RSSSSP agus déanfar athruithe ar na forais siúd ag déanamh tagartha do théarmaí an Athbhreithnithe.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to the Executive Committee’s Drug Strategy, to detail those bodies, groups or individuals (a) from whom submissions or representations have been sought (b) from whom submissions or representations have been received by the Ministerial group on drugs.

(AQW 2840/00)

Ms de Brún: The Ministerial Group on Drugs receives regular written reports from the Central Co-ordinating Group for Action Against Drugs, which comprises representatives from the Departments represented on the Ministerial Group as well as from the Prison Service, RUC, Customs and Excise, the Health Promotion Agency and the Drug Co-ordination Teams.

The Central Co-ordinating Group for Action Against Drugs has also submitted specific papers on the pending review of the Drug Co-ordination Teams and on proposed structures for implementing the Drug Strategy and the Strategy for Reducing Alcohol Related Harm. At the request of the Ministerial Group, papers on issues such as the projects funded in support of the Drug Strategy, treatment and related services, and a criminal justice perspective on the drug situation here have been submitted by the relevant Departments.

Arrangements are being made for Keith Hellawell, the UK Anti Drugs Co-ordinator to meet with the Ministerial Group in the near future and I have reported to the Group on drugs-related meetings that have taken place between my officials and their counterparts in the rest of Ireland, as well as in England, Scotland and Wales.

Faigheann an Grúpa Aireachta ar Dhrugaí tuairiscí rialta scríofa ón Lár-Ghrúpa Comhordaithe ar Bhearta in éadan Drugaí, a bhfuil ionadaithe ó Ranna, ón tSeirbhís Phríosúin, RUC, Chustam agus Mál, ón Ghníomhaireacht um Chur Chun Cinn Sláinte, ón Choiste ar Mhí-úsáid Drugaí agus ó Fhoirne Comhordaithe Drugaí air.

Chuir an Lár-Ghrúpa Comhordaithe ar Bhearta in éadan Drugaí páipéir ar leith isteach fosta ar athbhreithniú na bhFoirne Comhordaithe Drugaí atá le teacht agus ar struchtúir molta do chur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise Drugaí agus na Straitéise le haghaidh Laghdaithe sa Dochar Bainteach le hAlcól. Ar iarratas an Ghrúpa Aireachta, chuir na Ranna cuí páipéir isteach ar cheisteanna amhail na scéimeanna maoinithe i dtacaíocht na Straitéise Drugaí, cóireáil agus seirbhísí bainteach léi, agus dearcadh cirt choiriúil ar an riocht drugaí anseo.

Táthar ag socrú cruinniú idir Keith Hellawell, an comhordaitheoir frithdhrugaí sa RA agus an grúpa aireachta ar ball agus thuairiscigh mé don ghrúpa ar chruinnithe druga-bhainteacha a bhí ann idir mo chuid feidhmeannach agus a gcomhghleacaithe sa chuid eile d’Éirinn, chomh maith leo siúd i Sasana, Albain agus sa Bhreatain Bheag.

Mr Ford asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) when the next report on the Children’s Order by the Children’s Order Advisory Committee will be published and (b) what steps are being taken in conjunction with the Court Service to ensure that this document is published annually.

(AQW 2845/00)

Ms de Brún: The Children Order Advisory Committee has indicated that its next report will be available by August this year and it will cover the period from January 1998 to December 2000. As regards publishing an annual report, this matter has been raised with the Committee and it will be discussed at the next Committee meeting.

Chuir an Coiste Comhairleach ar an Ord Páistí in iúl go mbeadh a chéad tuairisc eile ar fáil faoi Lúnasa i mbliana agus cumhdóidh sí an tréimhse ó Eanáir 1998 go Nollaig 2000. Maidir le foilsiú tuairisce bliantúla áfach, tarraingíodh an cheist seo anuas leis an Choiste agus pléifear ag an chéad chruinniú eile den Choiste í.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail progress in the production of a framework for Northern Ireland towards a "Modern Apprenticeship in Engineering".

(AQW 2784/00)

The Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (Dr Farren): Five engineering Modern Apprenticeship frameworks have been developed in Northern Ireland since 1997 in consultation with the industry. The titles are Engineering Production, Technical Services, Electrical/Electronic Services, Engineering Maintenance and Electricity Distribution and Transmission Engineering. No further frameworks have been requested by the industry.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail any discussions he has had with industry and third-level Institutions with regard to graduate apprenticeships.

(AQW 2785/00)

Dr Farren: The Department has monitored closely the development of pilot graduate apprenticeships in Great Britain. The evaluation of these pilots suggest that Graduate Apprenticeships have considerable potential. Good practice to emerge from these first round of projects has been identified and is being used to draw up the criteria for the future development of GA frameworks. Based on the evaluation of the projects in Great Britain, the Department will be consulting with sectoral training organisations and third level colleges to assess possible interest in the introduction of a similar scheme in Northern Ireland.

Ms E Bell asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to confirm the current position of the Walsh Visa Programme; and to make a statement.

(AQW 2818/00)

Dr Farren: Following the review of the start up phase, the Programme has recommenced with the aim of helping 130 young people into jobs in the USA by November 2001. Following 8 weeks pre-departure training, the first group of 30 young people departed on 1 May to Boston and Pittsburgh.

Mrs Carson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail the action he intends to take to reduce the number of public bodies or quangos under the control of his Department.

(AQW 2869/00)

Dr Farren: I have been carrying out a review of advisory bodies and I shall be writing shortly to the Assembly Committee with my emerging conclusions.

<< Prev / Next >>