Friday 6 July 2001
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 2893/00, to detail what progress has been made by the joint working group.

(AQW 3359/00)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): Progress on the key issues identified by the joint working group is as follows:

Needs assessment My Department is preparing a questionnaire, designed to identify any individual unmet therapy need for issue to Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts prior to the start of the incoming school year. Information provided will be collated to produce a regional picture.

Annual School Census This is being taken forward by the Department of Education.

Reviewing the future role and remit of the Health and Social Services/Education and Library Boards Regional Review Group (RRG) Proposals are being developed by the joint working group and will be put to the RRG when it next meets in September.

Joint working Existing models of joint working in schools are being examined with a view to initiating one or two local pilot projects.

Parents’ survey This is being taken forward by the Department of Education.

Guidance to schools on dealing with medical needs This is being taken forward by the Department of Education.

Seo a leanas an dul chun cinn atá déanta ar na heochaircheisteanna aitheanta ag an chomhghrúpa oibre:

Measúnú Riachtanas Tá an Roinn s’agamsa ag ullmhú ceistiúcháin, leagtha amach le riachtanas ar bith do theiripe nár riaradh air a aithint, le heisiúint chuig Boird agus Iontaobhais Shláinte agus Sheirbhísí Sóisialta roimh thús na scoilbhliana úire. Baileofar eolas tugtha le léargas réigiúnach a thabhairt.

Daonáireamh Bliantúil Scoileanna Tá seo á dhéanamh ag an Roinn Oideachais.

Ag athbhreithniú róil agus freagrachtaí na Seirbhísí Sláinte agus Sóisialta/Ghrúpa Réigiúnach Athbhreithnithe na mBord Oideachais agus Leabharlainne (GRA) sa todhchaí. Tá moltaí á bhforbairt ag an chomhghrúpa oibre agus cuirfear faoi bhráid an GRA iad ag a chéad chruinniú eile i mí Mheán Fómhair.

Comhoibriú Tá na creatlacha comhoibrithe atá ann faoi láthair i scoileanna á scrúdú de gheall ar thoiseacht tionscadail phíolótaigh áitiúil nó dhó.

Suirbhé Tuismitheoirí Tá seo á dhéanamh ag an Roinn Oideachais.

Treoir do scoileanna ar dhéileáil le riachtanais leighis Tá seo á déanamh ag an Roinn Oideachais.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 2893/00, to detail the number of key issues identified by the joint working group.

(AQW 3360/00)

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to Question AQW 3359/00.

Luaim don Bhall an freagra a thug mé ar Cheist AQW 3359/00.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail her plans to address the high turnover of staff resultant from the stressful nature of the work in which social work staff in family and childcare programmes are engaged and as identified by the Western Area Child Protection Committee.

(AQW 3371/00)

Ms de Brún: In October 2000, the Foyle HSS Trust employed additional social workers and support staff to help deal with the pressures of work in relation to family and childcare programmes. In addition, the Western HSS Board commissioned an Independent Review in December 2000 to examine the Foyle Trust Family and Child Care Programme’s ability to meet its statutory functions. As a result of this Review, the Trust in conjunction with Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust and the Board are now at the stage of devising a rigorous prioritisation package for Family and Child Care, coupled with the development of a caseload weighting formula. It is expected that these developments will help address the pressures within the programme. My Department will be monitoring the outcome of this exercise.

I mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2000, d’fhostaigh Iontaobhas SSS an Fheabhail oibrithe breise sóisialta agus foireann bhreise tacaíochta chun cuidiú le déileáil le brúnna oibre ag baint le cláir teaghlaigh agus chúram leanaí. Ina theannta sin, choimisiúnaigh Bord SSS an Iarthair Athbhreithniú Neamhspleách i Nollaig 2000 le cumas Chlár Teaghlaigh agus Cúram Leanaí Iontaobhas an Fheabhail a fheidhmeanna reachtúla a chomhlíonadh a scrúdú. Mar thoradh ar an Athbhreithniú seo, tá an tIontaobhas i gcomhar le hIontaobhas Shliabh Speirín agus Thír na Lochanna ag cumadh pacáiste dhéin tosaíochta anois don Chlár Teaghlaigh agus Cúram Leanaí chomh maith le forbairt foirmle tomhas oibre. Táthar ag súil go rachaidh na forbairtí seo i gceann na mbrúnna laistigh den chlár. Beidh an Roinn s’agamsa ag déanamh monatóireachta ar thoradh an chleachtaidh seo.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail her plans for resource training initiatives in light of a rapidly changing agenda as new issues arise in relation to the personal social services training strategy, the establishment of a social care council and the whole equality and human rights agenda in the Northern Ireland context.

(AQW 3372/00)

Ms de Brún: Resourcing training initiatives is an ongoing process within my Department. The Social Services Inspectorate engages in an annual process with both statutory and voluntary sectors to agree plans for social services training and the associated resourcing to implement these. The Personal Social Services Training Strategy, which has recently been revised, has taken account of the advent of the Social Care Council and the need for improvements in the qualifications and competence of the whole social care workforce. The new Social Care Council includes within its responsibilities the duty of developing and promoting appropriate training. There will, therefore, be close links between the requirements of the Social Care Council in its function of registering and regulating the workforce and its functions of developing and promoting appropriate training.

My Department and its associated bodies have undertaken to ensure that the necessary resources are made available to meet our human rights and equality obligations. Training programmes are under way and we will report annually to the Equality Commission on the training completed.

Is próiseas atá ag dul ar aghaidh go fóill laistigh den Roinn s’agamsa é maoiniú tionscnamh oiliúna. Bíonn Foireann Chigireachta na Seirbhísí Sóisialta i mbun próisis bhliantúil leis na hearnálacha reachtúla agus deonacha chun pleananna d’oiliúint sheirbhísí sóisialta agus don mhaoiniú bainteach leo seo a chur i bhfeidhm a chomhaontú. Ghlac Straitéis Oiliúna na Seirbhísí Sóisialta Pearsanta, a athbhreithníodh ar na mallaibh, toiseacht na Comhairle Cúraim Shóisialta, agus an gá le feabhsuithe i gcáilíochtaí agus i gcumas na meithle iomláine oibre sóisialta, san áireamh. I measc cúraimí na Comhairle nua Cúraim Shóisialta tá forbairt agus cur chun cinn oiliúna cirte. Mar sin de, beidh dlúthnaisc ann idir riachtanais na Comhairle Cúraim Shóisialta ina cúram leis an mheitheal oibre a chlárú agus a rialú, agus a cúraimí i bhforbairt agus i gcur chun cinn oiliúna cirte.

Chuaigh an Roinn s’agamsa agus a comhfhorais i mbun oibre le cinntiú go gcuirfí na hacmhainní atá riachtanach le riar ar ár gcearta daonna agus lenár ndualgais chomhionannais a chomhlíonadh a chur ar fáil. Tá cláir oiliúna ar siúl agus tabharfaimid tuairisc go bliantúil don Choimisiún Comhionannais ar an oiliúint déanta.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail her plans to deal with "training overload" where it has become increasingly difficult to release staff for training in view of operational demands in the Western Health Board area.

(AQW 3373/00)

Ms de Brún: The Western Health and Social Services Board in common with other Health and Social Services Boards and relevant voluntary organisations began a substantial programme of training in the late 1990s following the introduction of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order and the substantive policies, procedures and guidance which flowed from this. This particular training programme was in addition to the existing training programmes to meet identified training needs across the full range of service provision in the Personal Social Services.

While it is clearly essential to ensure that staff are fully and properly trained, it is acknowledged that this has at times created the phenomenon of "training overload". The Board are aware of this and are taking a number of measures to alleviate it, including prioritising training needs, offering staff greater flexibility in choosing where and when to have their training and ensuring that the training courses are properly focused on the key training issues.

Thosaigh Bord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Iarthair, mar aon le Boird Shláinte agus Sheirbhísí Sóisialta agus eagraíochtaí deonacha cuí eile, clár substaintiúil oiliúna sna 1990í déanacha i ndiaidh tabhairt isteach an Oird Páistí (Tuaisceart Éireann) agus na bpolasaithe, treorach substaintiúla agus na ngnáthamh substaintiúil a tháinig as. Bhí an clár oiliúna áirithe seo mar bharr ar na cláir oiliúna atá ann faoi láthair le riar ar riachtanais aitheanta oiliúna ar fud an réimse iomláin soláthair sheirbhísí sna Seirbhísí Sóisialta Pearsanta.

Cé gur léir go bhfuil sé riachtanach le cinntiú go n-oiltear an fhoireann go hiomlán agus go ceart, glactar gurb í seo is cúis le "barraíocht oiliúna" uaireanta. Tá a fhios ag an Bhord uirthi seo agus tá siad ag déanamh roinnt beart léi seo a mhaolú, mar shampla, tosaíocht a thabhairt do riachtanais oiliúna, bheith níos solúbtha leis an fhoireann agus iad ag roghnú na háite agus na huaire ar mhain leo a n-oiliúint a dhéanamh agus ag cinntiú go ndíríonn na cúrsaí oiliúna ar na heochaircheisteanna oiliúna, mar is ceart.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to ensure that qualifying/awarding bodies include children’s services planning issues and child protection matters specifically in their curriculum for all caring professionals working in this area.

(AQW 3374/00)

Ms de Brún: I am committed to improving social work training. The Northern Ireland Social Care Council, which will assume responsibility for regulating professional social work training, will be established in October. In addition my Department issued a consultation paper ‘Reforming Professional Social Work Training’ in October 2000. The paper makes a number of proposals, one of which deals with the need for better curriculum, specification. Social work with children, including protection of children, would be regarded as an essential part of the curriculum.

My Department is also proposing improvements to post qualifying education and training to build on recent developments such as the post-qualifying award in child care. While assessment and planning in all aspects will be covered in the core curriculum, it is likely that children’s services planning with be dealt with in greater depth at post-qualifying level.

Tá mé geallta d’fheabhsú oiliúna oibre sóisialta. Bunófar Comhairle Chúraim Shóisialta Thuaisceart Éireann, a ghlacfaidh le freagracht as rialú oiliúna oibre gairmiúla sóisialta, i mí Dheireadh Fómhair. Ina theannta sin, chuir an Roinn s’agamsa páipéar comhairlithe ‘Ag Leasú Oiliúna Oibre Gairmiúla Sóisialta’ amach i nDeireadh Fómhair 2000. Molann an páipéar roinnt moltaí, ina measc ceann a dhéileálann leis an ghá le sonrú curaclaim níos fearr. Mheasfaí obair shóisialta le páistí, cosaint páistí san áireamh, mar chuid riachtanach den churaclam.

Tá an Roinn s’agamsa ag moladh feabhsuithe in oideachas agus in oiliúint iarcháilíochta le cur leis na forbairtí déanacha amhail an duais iarcháilíochta i gcúram leanaí. Cé go gcumhdófar measúnú agus pleanáil i ngach uile ghné sa phríomhchuraclam, is dócha go ndéileáilfear le pleanáil seirbhísí páistí níos mine ag leibhéal iarcháilithe.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to give her assessment of the "child care services in Northern Ireland in 2000 - a four board perspective" paper, specifically the argument that there have been significant funding deficits alongside increased areas of responsibility arising from the implementation of the Children Order.

(AQW 3375/00)

Ms de Brún: I accept the general point put forward in the Four Board Perspective Paper on Family and Child Care Services that expenditure on these services here in recent years has not compared favourably with that in England and Wales. I have made it clear to the Assembly Committee for Health Social Services and Public Safety on a number of occasions that I shall be doing all that I can to raise the present level of funding for family and child care services.

A good start in redressing the balance was made in 2000-01 during which my Department was able to make an extra £10 million available to the Health and Social Services Boards to continue with the development of children’s services. So far in 2001/02, a further £5.3 million has been secured. This includes £0·5 million to finance the cost of an additional 40 foster care places and £3·8 million extra for Sure Start, two aspects of children’s services which are addressed in the recommendations of the Four Board Paper.

My Department has also been successful with a number of bids to the Executive Programme and has secured a total of £15·5 million from various Programme Funds over the three years 2001-02 to 2003-04. Included in this sum is £9·3 million for improving residential child care services.

Finally, the issue of parity of resource allocations with England and Wales is being addressed at present through the Needs and Effectiveness Evaluation work commissioned by the Executive.

Glacaim leis an tuiscint ghinearálta i bPáipéar Peirspictíochta na gCeithre Bhord ar Sheirbhísí Cúram Teaghlaigh agus Leanaí nach raibh an caiteachas ar na seirbhísí seo sna blianta deireanacha ar chomhchéim leis an chaiteachas i Sasana agus sa Bhreatain Bheag. Chuir mé in iúl go soiléir don Choiste Sláinte, seirbhísí agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí an Tionóil go minic go ndéanfainn arbh fhéidir liom a dhéanamh leis an leibhéal maoinithe atá ann faoi láthair do sheirbhísí cúram teaghlaigh agus leanaí a ardú.

Cuireadh tús maith le cúrsaí a cheartú i 2000-01 nuair a bhí an Roinn s’agamsa ábalta £10 milliún breise a chur ar fáil do na Boird Shláinte agus Sheirbhísí Sóisialta le seirbhísí páistí a fhorbairt ar aghaidh. Fuarthas £5·3 milliún breise go dtí seo i 2001-02. Cuimsíonn seo £0·5 milliún le costas 40 áit bhreise chúram altrama a mhaoiniú agus £3·8 milliún breise do Sure Start, dhá ghné de sheirbhísí páistí a dtugtar fúthu i moltaí Pháipéar na gCeithre Bhord.

D’éirigh leis an roinnt tairiscintí a rinne an Roinn s’agamsa do Chlár an Fheidhmeannais agus fuair sí £15.5 milliún san iomlán ó Chistí éagsúla Cláir do na trí bliana 2001-02 go 2003-04. Cuimsítear £9·3 milliún d’fheabhsú seirbhísí cónaithe cúram leanaí sa tsuim seo.

Ar deireadh, táthar ag tabhairt faoi cheist dháileadh acmhainní ar chomhchéim le Sasana agus leis an Bhreatain Bheag faoi láthair trí obair an Mheasúnaithe Riachtanas agus Éifeachta coimisiúnaithe an Fheidhmeannais.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) which targets, as set out under objective 1 in the Programme for Government, have been achieved and (b) which targets are on line for achievement.

(AQW 3383/00)

Ms de Brún: The Programme for Government shows seven targets under Objective 1 for my Department. Of these, one target on fulfilling the Department’s statutory equality obligations has already been achieved. The remaining six targets have either been partly achieved or are on course to be achieved. These cover the financial arrangements for HPSS expenditure; strengthening performance management for the HPSS; putting in place a framework to raise quality of service; the development of New TSN Action Plans by HSS Boards, Trusts and Councils; agreement for a new strategy for the use of Information and Communication Technologies in the HPSS and implementation of the recommendations of the Capitation Formula Review Group

Léiríonn Clár um Rialtais seacht sprioc faoi Chuspóir 1 don Roinn s’agamsa. Díobh seo, cuireadh sprioc amháin ar chomhlíonadh dualgas reachtúil comhionannais na Roinne i gcrích cheana féin. Cuireadh cuid de na sé sprioc eile i gcrích nó ar bhealach a gcur i gcrích. Cumhdaíonn siad seo na socruithe airgeadais do chaiteachas na SSSP; neartú bainistíochta cleachtaidh do na SSSP; cur i bhfeidhm creatlaí le cáilíocht na seirbhíse a ardú; forbairt Gníomhphleananna Nua RSA ag Boird, Iontaobhais agus ag Comhairlí SSS; comhaontú do straitéis nua d’úsáid Teicneolaíochtaí Eolais agus Cumarsáide sna SSSP agus cur i bhfeidhm moltaí an Ghrúpa Athbhreithnithe ar Fhoirmle Cheannsraithe.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) which of the 36 recommendations made by the Health Committee Report "Inquiry into Residential and Secure Accommodation for Children in Northern Ireland" have been accepted and implemented and (b) the funding arrangement for their implementation.

(AQW 3384/00)

Ms de Brún: I wrote to the Chair of the Assembly’s Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 17 May 2001 with detailed comments on the 36 recommendations in the Report of the Inquiry into Residential and Secure Accommodation for Children.

A number of the recommendations have been addressed in the Report by the Children Matter Task Force on Phase 1 of its Regional Plan for the Development of Residential Child Care. A copy of this report was also sent to the Committee Chair in May. The report sets out proposals for the development of 22 new facilities which will provide 77 additional child care residential places and 70 places which will replace some of the present accommodation which is regarded as unsuitable or sub-standard. These are seen as the first steps towards an expansion of 155 places by the end of 2004-05.

Capital costs for the projects in the Phase 1 report will be met fully from a combination of my own Department’s resources and the funds obtained for the development of residential child care places from the Executive Programme’s Infrastructure Fund. This year’s additional revenue costs, about £300,000, will be met from the additional resources available for children’s services. I am hopeful that the revenue costs for the extensive development programme scheduled for 2002-03, estimated at about £2.8 million, can be secured. The Task Force will ensure that resources earmarked for residential services are appropriately applied.

A human resources sub-group of the Children Matter Task Force is addressing a number of the Committee’s recommendations in relation to staffing issues.

A preliminary examination of the use of secure accommodation including human rights issues was undertaken by the Social Services Inspectorate in January and a fuller inspection is planned for the autumn. The Task Force will be monitoring the use of secure accommodation and seeking to promote alternatives; one such facility opened in April.

My Department has also been consulting on proposals for new legislation to strengthen leaving and aftercare services.

Further recommendations in the Inquiry’s Report will be addressed as part of the Task Force’s work in developing Phase 2 of the Regional Plan. A number of the Committee’s recommendations, such as those relating to child and adolescent psychiatry, where funding has been secured for the provision of 10 extra beds, and the development of a strategic plan for children’s services, are being taken forward in the context of wider work in my Department.

Scríobh mé chuig Cathaoir Choiste Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí an Tionóil ar an 17 Bealtaine 2001, ag miontrácht ar na 36 moladh i dTuairisc an Fhiosrúcháin ar Chóiríocht Chónaithe agus Dhaingean do Pháistí.

Thug an Tascfhórsa Children Matter faoi roinnt de na moltaí sa Tuairisc ar Chéim 1 dá Phlean Réigiúnach d’Fhorbairt Chúram Cónaithe Páistí. Cuireadh cóip den tuairisc seo chuig Cathaoir an Choiste i mí na Bealtaine. Leagann an tuairisc moltaí amach do thógáil 22 áis nua a sholáthróidh 77 áit chúram cónaithe breise do pháistí agus 70 áit a ghlacfaidh ionad na roinnte cóiríochta atá ann faoi láthair a mheastar mífhóirsteanach nó fóchaighdeánach. Meastar iad seo mar an chéad chéim chuig méadú go 155 áit faoi dheireadh 2004-05.

Seasfar costais chaipitil do na tionscadail i gCéim 1 den Tuairisc go hiomlán ó acmhainní mo Roinne féin agus ó mhaoinithe faighte ó Chiste Bonneagair Chlár an Fheidhmeannais le haghaidh forbairt áiteanna cúram cónaithe páistí. Seasfar costais bhreise ioncaim na bliana seo, thart faoi £300,000, ó na hacmhainní breise ar fáil do sheirbhísí páistí. Tá súil agam gur féidir linn na costais ioncaim don chlár leathan forbartha socraithe do 2002/03, agus measta ar thart faoi £2·8 milliún, a fháil. Déanfaidh an Tascfhórsa cinnte go n-úsáidfear mar is ceart na hacmhainní curtha i leataobh do sheirbhísí cónaithe.

Tá fo-ghrúpa acmhainní daonna den Tascfhórsa Children Matter ag tabhairt faoi roinnt de mholtaí an Choiste maidir le ceisteanna foirne.

Rinne Foireann Chigireachta na Seirbhísí Sóisialta réamhscrúdú ar úsáid cóiríochta daingne móide ar cheisteanna cearta daonna i mí Eanáir, agus tá cigireacht níos iomláine socraithe don Fhómhar. Beidh an Tascfhórsa ag déanamh monatóireachta ar úsáid cóiríochta daingne agus ag iarraidh áiseanna eile a chur chun cinn; d’oscail a leithéid d’áis seo in Aibreán.

Bhí an Roinn s’agamsa ag dul i gcomhairle fosta ar mholtaí le haghaidh reachtaíochta nua chun seirbhísí imeachta agus iarchúraim a neartú.

Rachfar i gceann tuilleadh moltaí i dTuairisc an Fhiosrúcháin mar chuid d’obair an Tascfhórsa i bhforbairt Céime 2 den Phlean Réigiúnach. Tá roinnt de mholtaí an Choiste amhail iad siúd a bhaineann le síciatracht pháistí agus ógánach a bhfuarthas maoiniú le haghaidh soláthar 10 leaba breise di, agus a bhaineann le forbairt plean straitéise do sheirbhísí páistí, á gcur i bhfeidhm i gcomhthéacs oibre níos fairsinge sa Roinn s’agamsa.

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) what fertility treatments are available on the National Health Service in each Health Board in Northern Ireland (b) the waiting time for an initial fertility clinic consultation in each Health Service Board in Northern Ireland and (c) the waiting time for each type of fertility treatment in each Health Service Board in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 3385/00)

Ms de Brún: All four Health and Social Services Boards commission oral ovulation induction and ovulation induction by injection services; artificial insemination by husband/partner; and tubal surgery. In addition, the Eastern, Southern and Western Boards commission intra- uterine insemination and the Eastern, Northern and Southern Boards also provide reversal of female sterilisation services.

(b) The waiting time for initial consultations varies between approximately 2-4 months, depending on the consultant.

(c) This information is not routinely collected.

Coimisiúnaíonn na ceithre Bhord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta uile ionduchtú béil ubhsceite agus ionduchtú ubhsceite déanta ag seirbhísí insteallta, ionsíolrú saorga déanta ag fear céile nó ag ceile; agus máinliacht fheadánach. Ina theannta sin, coimisiúnaíonn Boird an Oirthir, an Deiscirt agus an Iarthair ionsíolrú iontra-bhroinne agus soláthraíonn Boird an Oirthir, an Tuaiscirt agus an Deiscirt seirbhísí le haimridiú ban a mhalartú.

(b) Athraíonn an t-am feithimh do chéad chomhairlithe ó 2 go 4 mí, ag brath ar an lia comhairleach.

(c) Ní bhailítear an t-eolas seo go rialta.

Mrs Nelis asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the steps she is taking to avoid the need for people in the Foyle constituency having to travel to Omagh for kidney dialysis; and to make a statement.

(AQW 3416/00)

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to AQW2990/00

Treoraím an Ball do mo fhreagra ar AQW2990/00

Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) when patients in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board will no longer have to pay for IVF medication and (b) an update on the new criteria for free IVF treatment.

(AQW 3418/00)

(a) I announced on 24 April that sub-fertility services, including in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, would be the subject of a consultation exercise later this year. In the meantime, an interim sub-fertility service is being developed and I hope that it will become operational later this year. It will provide a limited IVF service and patients eligible for it will have their fertility drugs prescribed by clinicians at the Regional Fertility Centre.

(b) I have announced today that the eligibility criteria for access to the interim service will be those recommended in the Advisory Report "Improving Sub-fertility Services in Northern Ireland" prepared by a Steering Group of the Regional Medical Services Consortium. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

(a) D’fhógair mé ar an 24 Aibreán go mbeadh seirbhísí fothorthúlachta, cóireáil toirchiú invítrea (TIV) san áireamh, faoi réir cleachtaidh chomhairlithe níos moille i mbliana. Idir an dá linn, tá seirbhís eatramhach fhothorthúlachta á forbairt agus tá súil agam go mbeidh sí i bhfeidhm níos moille i mbliana. Soláthróidh sí seirbhís theoranta TIV agus ordóidh dochtúirí san Ionad Réigiúnach Torthúlachta drugaí torthúlachta othar atá i dteideal na seirbhíse.

(b) D’fhógair mé inniu gurb iad na critéir theidil leis an tseirbhís eatramhach a fháil a mholfar sa Tuairisc Chomhairleach "Ag Feabhsú Seirbhísí Fothorthúlachta i dTuaisceart Éireann" ullmhaithe ag Grúpa Stiúrtha an Chuibhreannais Sheirbhísí Réigiúnacha Leighis. Cuireadh cóipeanna den tuairisc sa Leabharlann.

Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the number of patients that have been sent to hospitals outside Northern Ireland for operations (b) for what reasons and (c) at what cost.

(AQW 3419/00)

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

Níl eolas ar fáil go réidh san fhoirm iarrtha agus ní fhéadfaí é a fháil ach ar chostas díréireach.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 3211/00, to detail (a) whether the mobile chiropody service has resumed following the vehicle test which was to be carried out on 21 June and (b) what steps she will take to ensure that a mobile chiropody service is provided for the people of Greyabbey in the event that the vehicle is not roadworthy.

(AQW 3431/00)

Ms de Brún: The vehicle used to provide the mobile chiropody service passed the vehicle test on 21 June 2001. Since that date it has not been used to provide a mobile chiropody service as all patients requiring chiropody service have availed of the appointments offered in a range of clinical settings.

These patients will not require intervention from the Chiropody service until September 2001.

In the hope of improving Chiropody services to patients in the Greyabbey area, the Ulster Community and Hospitals HSS Trust is entering into negotiations with the Eastern Health & Social Services Board to relocate the service to a GP practice in the Greyabbey area.

D’éirigh leis an fheithicil, a úsáidtear leis an tseirbhís ghluaisteach chosliachta a sholáthar, sa scrúdú feithicle ar an 21 Meitheamh 2001. Níor úsáideadh í le seirbhís ghluaisteach chosliachta a sholáthar ón dáta sin mar go ndeachaigh gach uile othar a bhfuil seirbhís chosliachta de dhíth orthu chuig na coinní a socraíodh dóibh i réimse suíomh cliniciúil éagsúil.

Ní bheidh seirbhís Chosliachta de dhíth ar na hothair seo go dtí Meán Fómhair 2001.

Agus an dóchas ann go dtiocfaidh feabhas ar sheirbhísí Cosliachta ar fáil d’othair i gceantar na Mainistreach Léithe, tá Iontaobhas SSS Phobal Uladh agus Otharlann i mbun idirbheartaíochta le Bord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Oirthir leis an tseirbhís a athlonnú go clinic Gnáthdhochtúirí i gceantar na Mainistreach Léithe.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail DOE Planning Service’s imput, including its recommendations, to the Hayes Commission in regard to a location for an Acute Hospital in the South West.

(AQW 3433/00)

Ms de Brún: I understand that the Acute Hospitals Review Group had one meeting with the Planning Service of the Department of the Environment, about the general planning implications of a new hospital development in the South West. The Planning Service did not make any recommendations about the location of a new hospital.

Tuigim go raibh cruinniú amháin ag an Ghrúpa Athbhreithnithe ar Ghéarotharlanna le Seirbhís Pleanála na Roinne Comhshaoil faoi impleachtaí ginearálta pleanála tógáil otharlainne nua san Iardheisceart. Níor mhol an tSeirbhís Pleanála moltaí ar bith faoi láthair otharlainne nua.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 3150/00, to make it her policy to establish a central register of diabetes sufferers.

(AQW 3436/00)

Ms de Brún: Diabetes care is provided in primary care, in secondary care or both. However, current information and communication technology (ICT) arrangements do not facilitate the easy transfer and collation of this information to create a diabetic register. Work is underway on an ICT strategy for the Health and Social Services, which will improve communication systems between primary and secondary care and will provide an infrastructure to enable a composite view of patient care to be developed. Any further consideration of a central register of diabetes sufferers will have to await these developments.

Soláthraítear cúram diaibéitis i bpríomhchúram, i gcúram tánaisteach nó iontu araon. Ní réitíonn na socruithe reatha teicneolaíochta eolais agus cumarsáide (TEC) d’aistriú agus do bhailiú réidh eolais seo áfach chun clár diaibéiteach a chruthú. Tá obair ar siúl ar straitéis TEC do na Seirbhísí Sláinte agus Sóisialta, a fheabhseoidh córais chumarsáide idir príomhchúram agus cúram tánaisteach, agus a sholáthróidh bonneagar chun cur ar a gcumas léargas cumaisc de chúram othar a fhorbairt. Déanfar tuilleadh machnaimh ar bith eile ar lárchlár fulangaithe diaibéitis i ndiaidh na bhforbairtí seo.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the reasons for the closure of two wards at Tyrone County Hospital; and to make a statement.

(AQW 3562/00)

Ms de Brún: I am informed by Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Care Trust that eight medical beds were closed at Tyrone County Hospital with effect from 30 June 2001. These beds opened during the winter of 2000 to cope with the additional demand for hospital services. I am also informed that there will be a reduction of surgical beds, from 38 to 26, at Tyrone County Hospital.

It is the responsibility of Boards and Trusts to keep their services under constant review in light of demand. The demands are generally lower during the summer months, allowing services to be reduced and resources to be re-allocated later in the year, when demand for services tends to be higher.

Chuir Iontaobhas Cúram Sláinte agus Sóisialta Shliabh Speirín agus Thír na Lochanna in iúl dom gur druideadh ocht leaba leighis in Otharlann Chontae Thír Eoghain ar an 30 Meitheamh agus as sin amach. Cuireadh na leapacha seo ar fáil le linn an gheimhridh 2000 le déileáil leis an éileamh breise ar sheirbhísí otharlainne. Cuireadh in iúl dom fosta go mbeadh laghdú sna leapacha máinliachta, ó 38 go 26, in Otharlann Chontae Thír Eoghain.

Boird agus Iontaobhais atá freagrach as athbhreithniú rialta ar a gcuid seirbhísí de réir éilimh. Bíonn na héilimh níos lú le linn míonna an tsamhraidh de ghnáth, ag feiliúint do laghdú i seirbhísí agus d’athdháileadh acmhainní níos moille sa bhliain, nuair a bhíonn an t-éileamh níos airde de ghnáth.

Mr Ford asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) if she has recently agreed criteria with the four Boards in respect of the provision of IVF treatment in Northern Ireland (b) whether such criteria were discussed with the Human Rights Commission; and to make a statement.

(AQW 3588/00)

(a) I have announced today that the eligibility criteria for access to the interim service will be those recommended in the Advisory Report "Improving Sub-fertility Services in Northern Ireland" prepared by a Steering Group of the Regional Medical Services Consortium, which commissions services on behalf of the four Boards.

(b) No discussions have taken place with the Human Rights Commission. The criteria for access to sub- fertility services will be the subject of public consultation later this year.

(a) D’fhógair mé inniu gurb iad na critéir theidil leis an tseirbhís eatramhach a fháil a mholfar sa Tuairisc Chomhairleach "Ag Feabhsú Seirbhísí Fothorthúlachta i dTuaisceart Éireann" ullmhaithe ag Grúpa Stiúrtha an Chuibhreannais Sheirbhísí Réigiúnacha Leighis a choimisiúnaíonn seirbhísí thar ceann na gCeithre Bhord.

(b) Ní raibh caibidlí ar bith ann leis an Choimisiún Cearta Daonna. Beidh na critéir le seirbhísí fothorthúlachta a fháil faoi réir comhairlithe phoiblí níos moille i mbliana.

Ms McWilliams asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to introduce proposals which will give Union Learning Representatives official recognition that would afford them paid time off to perform their union duties as envisaged in the white paper "Opportunity for All in a World of Change".

(AQW 3454/00)

The Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (Dr Farren): I have asked my officials to keep close contact with officials in GB dealing with the ongoing public consultation there, and in light of the responses, to consider and bring forward appropriate proposals for Northern Ireland.

Ms McWilliams asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail how he intends to implement the recommendations in the white paper "Opportunity for All in a World of Change".

(AQW 3455/00)

Dr Farren: This White Paper is a wide-ranging and comprehensive review of the steps needed to secure economic success for the United Kingdom as a whole over the next decade. In Northern Ireland the key themes and actions are being taken forward under the Programme for Government and my Department’s new Strategic Plan.

Ms McWilliams asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to establish a Union Learning Fund for Northern Ireland and say whether the increase in funding available in England will be reflected in the Northern Ireland budget.

(AQW 3456/00)

Dr Farren: Encouraging more workplace learning is an important part of the strategy for lifelong learning. I wish to consider an inclusive approach that draws upon the experience gained from the Union Learning Fund, but also engages other relevant organisations as well as the trade union movement. The resources that can be directed to such an initiative will depend on all other priorities.

Ms E Bell asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail the current position in regard to the needs and effectiveness evaluation for training and vocational education needs; and to make a statement.

(AQO 1666/00)

Dr Farren: The Needs and Effectiveness Evaluation of Training and Vocational Education is still in the early stages. My Department has agreed terms of reference and a project plan with DFP and EPU. One part of the exercise is the preparation of a Needs Assessment by September that compares needs and provision locally with that in England. The other part is a series of programme evaluations over the next 12 to 18 months.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail (a) what changes he will implement to the road infrastructure to remove traffic congestion caused by traffic using the Strangford Lough ferry service (b) what assessment he has made of the volume of traffic using the ferry service for access to local tourist facilities and (c) will he make it his policy to ensure that the road infrastructure is adequate to cope with the increased volume of traffic.

(AQW 3341/00)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Campbell): My Department’s Roads Service has advised me that there is generally no traffic congestion associated with the operation of the ferry service between Portaferry and Strangford and it has therefore no plans to implement any road infrastructural improvements. Traffic queues do, however, occur during busy holiday periods such as Easter, July bank holidays and occasional summer weekends. During these busy periods, Roads Service staff will continue to direct vehicles queuing to use the ferry service into the marshalling areas at both Strangford and Portaferry.

While Roads Service keep records of vehicles and passengers that use the ferry service, it has not made any assessment of the volume of traffic using this ferry service for access to local tourist facilities. Roads Service will, of course, continue to monitor the situation to ensure that the road infrastructure is adequate to cope should there be any significant increase in traffic volumes.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail (a) his plans to enable ferries on Strangford Lough to operate in high winds in order to maintain a service to the local community and (b) why users are not notified when the ferry service is suspended.

(AQW 3342/00)

Mr Campbell: In operating the ferry service between Portaferry and Strangford, the safety of passengers and other lough users is of paramount importance to my Department’s Roads Service. The ferry vessels are licensed to sail in sheltered waters only and the licence requires that they may not sail when mean wave heights exceed 1.2 m. On occasions the ferry service is suspended by a combination of wind and tidal conditions, for example, where a strong southerly wind and a flood tide might prevent the vessels from docking at Portaferry.

When the service is suspended, local radio stations, schools and bus companies are notified. Where there is a prolonged suspension, signs are erected at designated locations on roads approaching Portaferry and Strangford. Outside normal office hours an answering machine service provides relevant information. Within the next year Roads Service hopes to provide an electronic messaging sign facility which will provide up to date information at the slipways and on selected approach routes.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to AQW 3120/00, to identify those developers that Road Service will contact.

(AQW 3353/00)

Mr Campbell: Mr Mervyn Hamilton and Mr Kieran Houston are the respective developers of the Hazelgrove and Dergvale developments in Castlederg.

For your information, my Department’s Roads Service has recently written to both developers to remind them of their obligations under the Private Streets (Northern Ireland) Order 1980 and to ask them to submit details of their programmes for completion of the works necessary to bring the private streets within their developments up to adoption standards.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to AQW 3140/00, to detail what steps Translink are taking to improve the appearance of the disused halt at Barn, Carrickfergus.

(AQW 3357/00)

Mr Campbell: Translink has advised that, as the disused halt at Barn, Carrickfergus has been sealed off and secured in safety terms and is not causing any problems in relation to the safe operation of rail services, it has no plans to carry out additional work there. The limited funds available for rail services are required for higher priority safety related work.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to AQW 3108/00, to detail what precautions are being taken to ensure staff and passengers are not subjected to physical attack.

(AQW 3358/00)

Mr Campbell: I would refer the member for East Antrim to my previous answer to AQW 3302/00 on this subject and stress that staff and public safety continues to be a priority for Translink. Translink is at present considering measures to enhance security for lone passengers at halts by installing CCTV and call points. Translink also work closely with the RUC, regular meetings take place at Chief Constable level and between local Translink station managers and district commanders.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Regional Development to make it his policy to introduce new simplified guidelines for the development of Rural Transport Schemes.

(AQW 3364/00)

Mr Campbell: When the Rural Transport Fund was introduced in 1998, clear and comprehensive guidelines were published to help Rural Community Transport Partnerships apply for funding. The procedures for the funding of rural transport schemes are necessarily robust to ensure that public expenditure is properly applied. However, I am always open to suggestions to improve Departmental processes and my officials will be consulting the Community Transport Association on what further refinements or simplifications can be made in the arrangements for funding partnerships.

Mr Fee asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the total length of each classification of road in each district council area.

(AQW 3393/00)

Mr Campbell: The information requested can be found in a joint Department for Regional Development/ Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency publication entitled, ‘Northern Ireland Transport Statistics 1999-2000’. Copies of this publication are available in the Assembly Library.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister for Social Development, pursuant to AQW 1158/00, to detail any progress towards a strategy for the regeneration of town centres.

(AQW 3379/00)

The Minister for Social Development (Mr Morrow): A strategy for the regeneration of town centres has been developed by officials, following widespread consultations with a range of interested parties. Further consultations will take place as soon as possible with appropriate Ministers, the DSD Committee, the Executive and, if appropriate, the Assembly. In accordance with the Department’s Equality Scheme an Equality Impact Assessment is being prepared and will involve consultations with other interested parties.

In accordance with the Department’s Corporate Plan it is hoped this process can be completed by the end of this calender year.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail the timescale for the "Living Over The Shop" (LOTS) initiative pilot project.

(AQW 3402/00)

Mr Morrow: The "Living Over The Shop" pilot project is due to end in March 2002. Following this it will be subject to an evaluation to determine its success.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to state how widely the "Living Over The Shop" initiative might be applied if the pilot project is assessed as appropriate.

(AQW 3403/00)

Mr Morrow: The aim of the "Living Over The Shop" pilot is to determine the potential for encouraging landlords to bring vacant properties above shop premises into use by raising awareness of the arrangements introduced in the last budget. If the pilot project is successful then the initiative could be applied widely throughout Northern Ireland.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail progress to date on his fundamental review of housing adaptations.

(AQW 3404/00)

Mr Morrow: The fundamental review of the housing adaptations service is being carried out jointly by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. The preliminary report on the review was released for consultation in February 2001 and the final date for comments was 31 March 2001. The comments have now been considered by the Steering Group for the review and, where appropriate, will be incorporated into a final report, which the Steering Group expects to produce in the Autumn. This report will include a full update on the implementation of the review’s recommendations and an action plan.

A number of action points set out in the review have already been or are being implemented. The assessment of applications for changes in heating for people with disabilities living in Housing Executive dwellings was transferred in March 2001 from the Health and Social Services Trusts to the Housing Executive, which is using a simplified assessment method. A total of nearly 2000 requests for change of heating have been handed over to the Housing Executive.

• The Housing Executive is also now able to carry out an extended range of minor works to its dwellings without the need for an Occupational Therapist’s recommendation.
• New information has been drafted to explain the adaptation service to all interested parties and it is proposed to develop a web site to provide information and advice for people requiring adaptations.
• A joint Information Technology proposal is being drafted to better manage the requests for adaptations and improve communication between the Health Trusts and the Housing Executive.
• A Housing Adaptations Liaison Officer has been appointed for a two year period by the Housing Executive and the DHSSPS to help implement the review recommendations.
• DHSSPS has taken steps to increase the number of Occupational Therapists in post in the Health Trusts, with the aim of reducing waiting lists for assessments for adaptations.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development, pursuant to AQW 3043/00, whether the comprehensive profiling exercise has commenced in relation to the building capacity in rural areas project and to outline his time-table for completion of the exercise.

(AQW 3405/00)

Mr Morrow: Mapping work has commenced to identify areas where existing community capacity may be low ie estates which have no direct community development support or activity in the last three years. It is anticipated that this exercise will be completed during the summer months at which time a more detailed selection will take place based on the indicators outlined in my reply to AQW 3043 and, as already indicated in AQW 3044, the first stage of local engagement, with District Councils and Rural Networks to develop partnerships, is expected to take place by the autumn.

Following this stage of the process it will be possible to develop a longer term timetable for the project.

Ms Morrice asked the Minister for Social Development to make it his policy to establish a Charities Commission to oversee the operation of charitable organisations given the recent events surrounding the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice.

(AQW 3409/00)

Mr Morrow: The Department for Social Development is presently monitoring developments in England and Wales and elsewhere with a view to deciding whether changes to the existing Northern Ireland charity legislation would be desirable. Any proposed changes will, of course, be the subject of public consultation as well as consultation with interested bodies. Given that the recent events surrounding the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice appear to be primarily employment-related, it is by no means obvious that the existence of a Northern Ireland Charity Commission would have had any effect on the course of events.

Ms Ramsey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail the number of people receiving Disability Living Allowance or related benefits as a result of rheumatoid arthritis.

(AQW 3439/00)

Mr Morrow: As at 31 May 2001 there were 28,013 people receiving Disability Living Allowance and 16,717 in receipt of Attendance Allowance for arthritic conditions. There are no separate figures for rehumatoid arthritis available.

Ms E Bell asked the Minister for Social Development to detail (a) what progress has been made in the welfare modernisation programme; (b) whether the findings will be made public; and to make a statement.

(AQO 1667/00)

Mr Morrow: The Welfare Reform & Modernisation Programme comprises a series of major change initiatives designed primarily to improve customer service. Progress to date includes:

• creating a partnership between the Social Security Agency and the Training & Employment Agency to provide a joined up benefit and job broking service for people claiming Jobseekers Allowance;
• implementing a "ONE" service, which combines welfare services provided by a number of Agencies; and
• establishing a partnership with a private sector consortium, to modernise benefits processing through improved Information Technology.

Progress will be reported against the success measures and targets set out in the Programme for Government and the Department’s Public Service Agreement. The Social Security Agency also publishes an annual report which details performance against Ministerial targets and progress in all business areas.

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