Friday 27 July 2001
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

Guidance given to Voluntary and Community Bodies regarding Grants

Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the guidance her Department and its NDPBs give to voluntary and community bodies, on accessing, using and accounting for grants from public monies.

(AQW 3500/00)

Ms de Brún: Guidance to voluntary and community groups in relation to grants is contained in DHSSPS: Grants for Voluntary and Community Organisations – Notes of Guidance for Applicants 2001/02 and Guidance on the Commissioning and Conduct of Evaluations of Voluntary Organisations by NI Government Departments. A copy of each document has been deposited in the Assembly Library.

Tá treoir do ghrúpaí deonacha agus pobail maidir le deontais i RSSSSP: Deontais d’Eagraíochtaí Deonacha agus Pobail – Nótaí Treorach d’Iarratasóirí 2001/02 agus i Treoir ar Choimisiúnú agus ar Iompar Measúnuithe ar Eagraíochtaí Deonacha ag Ranna Rialtais TÉ. Cuireadh cóip de gach cáipéis i Leabharlann an Tionóil.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail, by Trust, the percentage change between 30 March 2000 and 31 March 2001 in the number of persons awaiting inpatient treatment.

(AQW 3502/00)

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

Tá an t-eolas seo léirithe sa tábla thíos.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether the anti-smoking drug Zyban is available on the National Health Service and to detail the occurrence of negative side affects which have been reported.

(AQW 3532/00)

Ms de Brún: Zyban is available on the National Health Service. Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions are collected centrally for England, Scotland, Wales and here by the Medicines Control Agency. Up until 19 June 2001, a total of 6,110 reports have been received, of which 46 had a fatal outcome, one of which occurred here. The suspected adverse reactions are not necessarily caused by the drug and may relate to other factors such as nicotine withdrawal, other illnesses or other medicines taken concurrently.

Additional advice has been issued recently to the HPSS to highlight changes to the prescribing schedule of Zyban and to strengthen warnings for prescribers in order to minimise the risk of adverse effects.

Tá Zyban ar fáil ar an tSeirbhís Náisiúnta Sláinte. Bailítear tuairiscí ar fhrithghníomhartha dochracha measta drugaí go lárnach i Sasana, in Albain agus sa Bhreatain Bheag agus ag an Ghníomhaireacht um Stiúradh Drugaí anseo. Faoi 19 Meitheamh 2001, fuarthas 6,110 tuairisc san iomlán agus i 46 cás díobh fuair daoine bás, ina measc, duine amháin anseo. Ní gá gurb é an druga is cúis leis na frithghníomhartha dochracha measta agus is féidir go mbainfidh sé le fachtóirí eile amhail tarraingt siar nicitín, tinnis eile nó cógais eile caite ag an am céanna.

Tugadh comhairle bhreise do na SSSP ar na mallaibh, le béim a chur ar na hathruithe déanta ar sceideal ordaithe Zyban agus leis na rabhaidh tugtha don lucht ordaithe cógas a neartú leis an bhaol ó éifeachtaí dochracha a íoslaghdú.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail progress towards her priority for action target of a 20% reduction in numbers waiting for occupational therapy housing adaptation assessments in the Sperrin, Lakeland and Altnagelvin Group Trust areas.

(AQW 3538/00)

Ms de Brún: Implementation of the recommendations in the Preliminary Report of the joint Housing Executive/Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety review of the housing adaptations service commenced in March. Sperrin Lakeland and Foyle HSS Trusts are recruiting 2 additional occupational therapists each to be deployed on housing adaptation assessments.

Thosaigh cur i gcrích na moltaí i Réamhthuairisc Chomhathbhreithniú an Fheidhmeannais Tithíochta/na Roinne Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí ar an tseirbhís oiriúnuithe tithíochta i mí an Mhárta. Tá Iontaobhais SSS Shliabh Speirín agus Thír na Lochanna ag earcú 2 teiripí saothair breise le hobair a dhéanamh ar mheasúnuithe ar oiriúnú tithíochta.

Mr Adams asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the amount of personal expenses claimed by Health Trust Chief Executives by Trust Board area in each of the last four years for which figures are available.

(AQW 3540/00)

Ms de Brún: The amount accrued by way of personal expenses over the financial years 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00 and 2000/01 by the Chief Executive and funded by the Trust is shown in the table below.

Léirítear sa tábla thíos an méid a charn an Príomhfheimeannach trí chostais phearsanta thar na blianta airgeadais 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00 agus 2000/01 a mhaoinigh an tIontaobhas.

Mr Adams asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the amount of ‘out of pocket’ expenses claimed by Health Trust Chief Executives by Trust Board area in each of the last four years for which figures are available.

(AQW 3541/00)

Ms de Brún: Information on ‘out of pocket’ expenses is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

Níl eolas ar chostais phearsanta ar fáil go réidh agus níorbh fhéidir é a fháil ach ar chostais dhíréireacha.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether anti-cancer drugs, Eloxatin and Campto, are available on the National Health Service in Northern Ireland and to make it her policy that no unnecessary restrictions will apply regarding their use.

(AQW 3546/00)

Ms de Brún: Eloxatin and Campto are available for prescription by consultants to patients with colo-rectal cancer. There are no restrictions on their use.

Tá Eloxatin agus Campto ar fáil do dhochtúirí le hordú thar ceann othar le hailse cholaidriseacháin. Níl srian ar bith ar a n-úsáid.

Ms McWilliams asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she intends to increase and mainstream the annual funding for the Belfast Rape Crisis Centre to £300,000 per annum, the average cost for a population area of over 100,000.

(AQW 3556/00)

Ms de Brún: I have no plans at present to increase the core funding that the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety makes available to the Belfast Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre to £300,000 per annum.

Níl sé ar intinn agam i láthair na huaire an príomh-mhaoiniú a thugann an Roinn Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí d’Ionad Éignithe agus Mí-úsáid Gnéis Bhéal Feirste a mhéadú go £300,000 in aghaidh na bliana.

Rev Robert Coulter asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number and location of consultant posts, in all disciplines, that are currently vacant.

(AQW 3558/00)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is set out in the attached tables.

Tá an t-eolas aiarradh leagtha amach sna táblaí faoi iamh.

Rev Robert Coulter asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety why she felt that it was not necessary to consider input from Scotland and Wales in regard to the latest report from the Doctors and Dentists Review Board.

(AQW 3564/00)

Ms de Brún: At present my Department does not submit evidence to the Doctors and Dentists Review Body. Its recommendations are however implemented here to ensure parity of pay with the NHS in England, Scotland and Wales.

Faoi láthair, ní chuireann mo Roinn cruthú ar bith isteach chuig an Fhoras Athbhreithnithe Dochtúirí agus Fiaclóirí. Cuirtear a chuid moltaí i bhfeidhm anseo áfach le cinntiú go bhfuil an pá cothrom le pá na SNS i Sasana, in Albain agus sa Bhreatain Bheag.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to give her assessment of the financial implications for butchers shops’ as a result of the Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.

(AQW 3577/00)

Ms de Brún: The main compliance costs are associated with the introduction of a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) food safety management system, the provision of staff training and the annual payment of a licence fee.

Training in the setting up and operation of HACCP was provided free of charge to butchers by district councils, supported by funding from the Food Standards Agency. District councils also produced a HACCP introduction pack for use by butchers, with a nominal charge of £20.

The regulations require basic training for all persons handling meat in affected butchers’ shops and more advanced training for supervisors. Training costs run at £20 - £30 per person for a basic course and £100 per person for an intermediate course.

The annual cost of a licence will be £100 per shop for those premises that come within the licensing scheme.

Is iad na costais is mó a bhaineas leis na Rialacháin a chur I bhfeidhm ná córas shábháilteacht agus bhainistiú bia .i. pointe anailís ar bhaol agus stiúrtha chriticiúil (PABSC) a thabhairt isteach; le hoiliúint a chur ar fáil don fhoireann; agus le díol bliantúil tháille ceadúnais.

Sholáthair comhairlí ceantair oiliúint i mbunú agus i bhfeidhmiú PABSC saor in aisce do bhúistéirí, le tacaíocht mhaoinithe ón Ghníomhaireacht ar Chaighdeáin Bhia. Chum comhairlí ceantair pacáiste tionscnaimh PABSC do bhúistéirí le húsáid, ag cosaint £20 go hainmiúil.

Ordaíonn na Rialacháin bunoiliúint do gach duine a bhíonn ag láimhseáil feola i siopaí búistéirí ina bhfuarthas drochshábháilteacht bhia, agus oiliúint níos airde do mhaoir. Is é £20 - £30 costas na hoiliúna an duine do bhunchúrsa agus £100 an duine do mheánchúrsa.

Is é £100 an siopa do na háitribh siúd a théann faoin scéim cheadúnaithe an costas bliantúil ar cheadúnas.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) her assessment of the financial impact upon butchers shops of the Meat Preparations (Hygiene) Regulations (NI) 1997 (b) the advice she has issued to butchers premises and (c) the assistance she will give to traders whose diversification in the ongoing economic climate has resulted in being unable to meet the new standards required in the above regulations.

(AQW 3578/00)

Ms de Brún: I believe the Regulations you are referring to are the Minced Meat and Meat Preparations (Hygiene) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997. These Regulations are now the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency and the question has been transferred to me for reply.

The Regulations do not apply to premises producing or storing minced meat or meat preparations for direct sale from those premises to the final consumer and therefore should have no financial impact on butchers shops.

Creidim gurb iad na Rialacháin (Sláinteachas) ar Ullmhóidí Feola agus Feola Mionaithe (Tuaisceart Éireann) 1997 na Rialacháin dá bhfuil tú ag tagairt. Tá an Ghníomhaireacht um Chaighdeáin Bhia freagrach as na Rialacháin seo anois ach aistríodh an cheist agus freagróidh mé í.

Ní bhaineann na Rialacháin seo le háitribh atá ag déanamh, nó ag stóráil ullmhóidí feola nó feola mionaithe le haghaidh díola dhírigh ó na háitribh sin leis an tomhaltóir deireanach, agus mar sin de, níor chóir dóibh iarmhairt airgeadais bheith acu ar shiopaí búistéirí.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 3282/00, to detail how much funding for rheumatological drugs such as Remicade and Enbrel was allocated to patients within the constituency Strangford in 2000-01.

(AQW 3589/00)

Ms de Brún: Funding for Remicade and Enbrel is allocated by the Eastern Health and Social Services Board to Green Park Healthcare Trust for patients within the Eastern Board’s area. Details of funding allocated are not recorded on a constituency basis.

Dáileann Bord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Oirthir maoiniú ar Iontaobhas Cúraim Shláinte na Páirce Glaise do Remicade agus d’Embrel le haghaidh othar laistigh de limistéar Bhord an Oirthir. Ní chláraítear sonraí an mhaoinithe dáilte de réir dáilcheantair.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of patients who were given the drug Remicade in the EHSSB in 2000-01.

(AQW 3591/00)

Ms de Brún: Twelve patients were prescribed the drug Remicade in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board area in 2000/01.

Ordaíodh an druga Remicade do dhá othar déag i limistéar Bhord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Oirthir i 2000/01.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of people who are registered in Northern Ireland with learning disabilities in 1999-00 and 2000-01.

(AQW 3592/00)

Ms de Brún: This information is not available.

Níl an t-eolas seo ar fáil.

Mr McGrady asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail what efforts will be made to recruit additional qualified nurses in the Down Lisburn Trust area in order to make up the current shortfall; and to make a statement.

(AQW 3599/00)

Ms de Brún: Down Lisburn Trust has an active nurse recruitment policy. Advertisements are run on a regular basis and a fast-track induction process is available.

In regard to overall staffing levels, the Trust has recently submitted to the Eastern Health and Social Services Board a review of nurse staffing levels for consideration.

Over the past year the Trust has increased the number of nurses in both Lagan Valley and Downe Hospitals. This has resulted in 3 additional nurses in Accident and Emergency, 3 additional nurses in Theatre and 3 additional nurses in Surgery in Lagan Valley Hospital. In the Downe Hospital, there are 2 additional nurses in Accident and Emergency and 5 additional nurses in Theatre.

Tá polasaí gníomhach earcaíochta ag Iontaobhas an Dúin/Lios na gCearrbhach. Déantar fógraíocht rialta agus tá próiseas ionduchtaithe mhear ar fáil.

Maidir le leibhéil iomlána líon na foirne, chuir Bord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Oirthir athbhreithniú ar leibhéil líon na foirne isteach ar na mallaibh le haghaidh machnaimh.

Le bliain anuas, mhéadaigh an tIontaobhas líon na n-altraí in Otharlanna Ghleann an Lagáin agus an Dúin araon. Is é 3 altra breise sa Roinn Timpistí agus Éigeandála, 3 altra breise san Obrádlann agus 3 altra breise i Máinliacht in Otharlann Ghleann an Lagáin an toradh a bhí air seo. In Otharlann an Dúin, tá 2 altra breise sa Roinn Timpistí agus Éigeandála agus 5 altra breise san Obrádlann.

Mr McGrady asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail when the Carers Bill will be introduced in the Northern Ireland Assembly; and to make a statement.

(AQW 3600/00)

Ms de Brún: The Carers and Disabled Children Bill will go to the Executive in September and, subject to its approval, will be introduced in the Assembly in late September or early October.

This Bill proposes to give Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts the power to supply services to help carers to exercise their caring role. This will give carers access to an assessment in their own right even if the person cared for has refused an assessment for, or the provision of, community care services.

It also proposes to give Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts the power to make direct payments to carers (including 16- and 17-year-old carers) for the services that meet their own assessed needs; to people with parental responsibility for disabled children and to 16 and 17 year old disabled children for services that meet their own assessed needs.

It also proposes to give Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts the power to run short-term break voucher schemes, designed to offer flexibility in the timing of carers’ breaks and choice in the way services are delivered to the person cared for while his or her usual carer is taking a break.

Cuirfear an Bille Cúramóirt agus Páistí Míchumasacha faoi bhráid an Choiste Feidhmiúcháin i mí Mheán Fómhair agus, má bhíonn sé sásta leis, tionscnófar sa Tionól go mall i mí Mheán Fómhair nó go luath i mí Dheireadh Fómhair é.

Molann an Bille seo go dtabharfar an t-údarás do Bhoird agus d’Iontaobhais Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta seirbhísí a sholáthar d’fheighlithe le cuidiú leo a ndualgas cúraim a dhéanamh. Tabharfaidh seo a gceart féin d’fheighlithe measúnú a fháil fiú má dhiúltaigh an duine atá faoina c(h)úram measúnú le haghaidh nó soláthar seirbhísí cúraim phobail.

Molann sé fosta go dtabharfar an t-údarás do Bhoird agus d’Iontaobhais Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta íocaíochtaí díreacha a dhéanamh le feighlithe (feighlithe 16 agus 17 bliain san áireamh) ar sheirbhísí a riarann ar a riachtanais mheasúnaithe féin; le daoine a bhfuil freagracht tuismitheoirí acu as páistí míchumasacha, agus le páistí míchumasacha 16 agus 17 bliain ar sheirbhísí a riarann ar a riachtanais mheasúnaithe féin.

Molann sé fosta go dtabharfar an t-údarás do Bhoird agus d’Iontaobhais Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta scéimeanna dearbháin le haghaidh sosanna gearrthéarma a reáchtáil, leagtha amach le huainiú níos sochomhairlí i sosanna feighlithe a chur ar fáil, agus rogha a mholadh ar an dóigh a soláthraítear seirbhísí don duine atá faoi chúram agus a g(h)náthfheighlí ag tógáil sosa.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail her plans for gap funding in respect of those individuals with learning difficulties.

(AQW 3604/00)

Ms de Brún: The gap funding initiative was designed specifically to support the work of key voluntary and community groups that until recently have been supported under EU Structural Funds, and which face short-term funding difficulties until the next round of European money comes on stream, probably in the autumn.

Under PEACE I, the only community-based activity supported by my Department was in the area of childcare and, therefore, only community groups engaged in this activity are eligible for consideration under the gap funding arrangements.

Dearadh an tionscnamh don mhaoiniú idirthréimhseach le tacaíocht a thabhairt d’obair eochairghrúpaí deonacha agus pobail amháin a tacaíodh faoi Chistí Struchtúracha AE agus a mbeidh deachrachtaí maoinithe acu sa ghearrthéarma go dtí go mbeidh an chéad bhabhta eile d’airgead Eorpach ar fáil, san fhómhar is dócha.

Faoi PEACE I , ba é cúram leanaí an t-aon ghníomhaíocht phobalbhunaithe a thacaigh mo Roinn léi agus, mar sin, níl ach grúpaí pobail a dhéanann an ghníomhaíocht seo i dteideal do mhachnamh faoi shocruithe maoinithe idirthréimhsigh.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the final cost of the Acute Hospital Review; and (b) total payments to each individual member including travel and subsistence expenses.

(AQW 3612/00)

Ms de Brún: The costs of the Acute Hospitals Review, including payments to individual members, are still being processed. I shall write to the Member when the final costs are available.

Tá costais an Athbhreithnithe ar Ghéarotharlanna, íocaíochtaí do bhaill san áireamh, á bpróiseáil go fóill. Scríobhfaidh mé chuig an Chomhalta nuair a bheidh na costais dheireanacha ar fáil.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail whether she has sought funding for (a) a new maternity hospital; (b) cancer services including ICU beds; (c) the strategic development of the Ulster Hospital and to explain how each of these areas will be achieved if no bid was made.

(AQW 3614/00)

(a) I announced on 25 June a new consultation process to enable me to decide on the development of a new maternity facility in Belfast. I have asked for this work to be completed by April of next year. When I have decided the way forward at the end of that process, I will consider the need to bid for any funding required in the light of the cost and timetable for project, and the capital budget available to me.

(b) Additional resources have been obtained this year for the further development of cancer services, including recruitment and training of specialist staff, and for the increasing costs of drugs. The New Opportunities Fund has also provided funds for Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanners to support cancer services at the Antrim, Craigavon and the Ulster Hospitals. I have made a bid for an increase in my capital budget in-year for urgently-needed radiotherapy equipment at Belvoir Park Hospital.

No additional funding has been sought for ICU (Intensive Care Unit) beds since these were increased last year in line with my Chief Medical Officers’ recommendations.

The Belfast City Hospital Trust is currently revising its Business Case for a Regional Cancer Centre. When the Trust’s proposals have been agreed, I will look at the appropriate procurement path and funding issues, and what resources I may need to bid for.

(c) My Department has secured £10 million from Executive Programme Funds for investment between now and 2003/04 in the Ulster Hospital. In addition the Programme for Government has identified £2 million to meet immediate requirements. Additional resources have also been obtained from the New Opportunities Fund to provide an MRI unit at the hospital. The Ulster Community and Hospital Trust has submitted a Strategic Development Plan for the hospital. Once I have taken my decision on this, and the necessary business cases have been approved, I will bid for whatever resources are necessary to complete the work.

(a) D’fhógair mé ar 25 Meitheamh próiseas nua comhairlithe le cuidiú liom cinneadh a dhéanamh ar fhorbairt áise nua máithreachais i mBéal Feirste. D’iarr mé go gcríochnófaí an obair seo faoi Aibreán na bliana seo chugainn. Nuair a bheas cinneadh déanta agam ar an bhealach chun tosaigh ag deireadh an phróisis sin, déanfaidh mé machnamh ar an ghá le tairiscint a dhéanamh ar mhaoiniú ar bith atá de dhíth de réir chostas agus chlár ama an tionscadail, agus an bhuiséid chaiptil ar fáil dom.

(b) Fuarthas acmhainní breise i mbliana le haghaidh forbartha breise seirbhísí ailse, earcaíocht agus oiliúint foirne speisialtachta, agus an méadú i gcostais drugaí san áireamh. Chuir an Ciste Deiseana Nua maoinithe ar fáil do scanóirí Íomhánna Maighnéadacha Athshondais le tacú le seirbhísí ailse in Otharlanna Aontroma, Craigavon agus Uladh. Rinne mé tairiscint ar mhéadú i mo bhuiséad caipitil i mbliana do threalamh práinneach raiditeiripe in Otharlann Pháirc Belvoir.

Níor iarradh ar mhaoiniú breise do leapacha IDC (Ionad Dianchúraim) mar gur tháinig méadú orthu anuraidh faoi réir mholtaí mo Phríomh-Oifigigh Leighis.

Tá Iontaobhas Otharlann Chathair Bhéal Feirste ag leasú a Cháis Ghnó faoi láthair d’Ionad Réigiúnach Ailse. Nuair a bheas moltaí an Iontaobhais comhaontaithe, déanfaidh mé machnamh ar an bhealach chuí chun maoiniú a fháil, ar cheisteanna maoinithe agus ar na hacmhainní is gá go mbeidh orm tairiscint a dhéanamh orthu.

(c) Fuair mo Roinn £10 milliún ó Chistí Chlár an Fheidhmeannais le hinfheistiú idir anois agus 2003/04 in Otharlann Uladh. Ina theannta sin, fuarthas an Clár Rialtais £2 milliún le riar ar riachtanais láithreacha. Fuarthas maoinithe breise ó Chiste Deiseanna Nua le hionad ÍMA a sholáthar san otharlann. Chuir Iontaobhas Phobal agus Otharlann Uladh Plean Straitéiseach Forbartha isteach don otharlann. A luaithe agus a bheidh cinneadh déanta agam air seo agus a fhormheasfar na cásanna gnó dá bhfuil riachtanach, déanfaidh mé tairiscint ar cibé acmhainní a bheidh riachtanach leis an obair a chur i gcrích.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) whether the £10m given for the strategic development of the Ulster Hospital Trust is ringfenced until the remainder is available and (b) what steps has she taken to obtain the remaining balance to enable the development to go ahead.

(AQW 3616/00)

Ms de Brún: The £10 million allocated to my Department from Executive Programme Funds for the development of the Ulster Hospital has been set aside specifically for this purpose for investment between now and 2003/04. In addition the Programme for Government identified £2m to address urgent issues within the redevelopment, and the New Opportunities Fund has also made funds available to provide an MRI unit.

Once I have taken my decision on the Trust’s Strategic Development Plan for the hospital, and the necessary business cases have been forwarded, I will find whatever resources are necessary to complete the work.

Cuireadh i leataobh an £10 milliún a dáileadh ar mo Roinn ó Chistí Chlár an Fheidhmeannais d’fhorbairt Otharlann Uladh le hinfheistiú idir anois agus 2003/04 sa chuspóir ar leith seo. Ina theannta sin, fuair an Clár Rialtais £2m le dul i gceann ceisteanna práinneacha laistigh den athchóiriú, agus chuir an Ciste Deiseanna Nua maoinithe ar fáil le hionad ÍMA a sholáthar.

A luaithe agus a bheidh cinneadh déanta agam ar Phlean Straitéiseach Forbartha an Iontaobhais, agus a chuirfear na cásanna gnó dá bhfuil riachtanach isteach, gheobhaidh mé cibé acmhainní a bheidh riachtanach leis an obair a chur i gcrích.

Ms McWilliams asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the level of capital expenditure on hospitals in each of the last five years.

(AQW 3626/00)

Ms de Brún: The details requested are set out in the table below. The totals include the capital value of facilities procured through private finance agreements, amounts for major hospital projects, and estimates of the amounts of expenditure on acute hospital facilities out of the general capital distributed among Health and Social Services Trusts for investment in line with their local priorities.

Tá na sonraí iarrtha leagtha amach sa tábla thíos. Cuimsíonn na suimeanna luach caipitil na n-áiseanna faighte trí shocruithe príobháideacha airgeadais, suimeanna do phríomhthionscadail otharlainne, agus meastacháin ar shuimeanna an chaiteachais ar áiseanna géarotharlann ón chaipiteal ghinearálta dáilte ar fud Iontaobhas Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta le hinfheistiú de réir a dtosaíochtaí áitiúla.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety , pursuant to AQW 3562/00, to confirm that the reduction of surgical beds, from 38 to 26, at Tyrone County Hospital is "Temporary and the minimum necessary to maintain safe and high quality care" as stated in letter Ref. COR/325/2001 of 13 June 2001 to Omagh District Council and to indicate when the reduced capacity will be re-instated.

(AQW 3678/00)

Ms de Brún: The Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Services Trust will monitor bed requirements on a daily basis and it plans to review the position towards the end of August 2001 in order to ensure that the configuration of surgical beds beyond September meets the needs of the population. I am assured that these changes are temporary and the minimum necessary to maintain safe and high quality care.

Déanfaidh an tIontaobhas Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta Shliabh Speirín agus Thír na Lochanna monatóireacht ar riachtanais leapa ar bhonn laethúil agus tá sé beartaithe aige a sheasamh athbhreithniú faoi dheireadh mhí Lúnasa 2001 le cinntiú go bhfreastalóidh cumraíocht leapacha máinliachta níos moille anonn ná Meán Fómhair ar riachtanais an phobail. Gealladh domhsa go bhfuil na hathruithe seo sealadach agus ar an íosleibhéal atá riachtanach le cúram slán d’ardcháilíocht a choinneáil.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to the additional allocation of £6m in the June Monitoring round in respect of higher than forecast pay settlement, to detail to which management grade(s) the pay settlement refers and how much will be allocated to each board.

(AQW 3683/00)

Ms de Brún: HPSS pay awards for 2001-02 have averaged out at 0.5% more than was allowed for in the 2000 Spending Review. The extra money relates very largely, if not entirely, to settlements for doctors, nurses and other frontline staff. The money will be allocated to the service once I have made my final determination on the detailed distribution of all June monitoring bids.

Is é an meán do na harduithe pá faoi choinne 2001-02 0.5% thar mar a bhí ceadaithe san Athbhreithniú Caiteachais 2000. Baineann an t-airgead breise go mór mór, mura mbaineann sé go huile is go hiomlán, le socruithe pá do dhochtúirí, d’altraí agus d’fhoireann eile sa líne tosaigh. Leithroinnfear an t-airgead ar an tseirbhís nuair a dhéanfas mé mo chinneadh deireanach ar an dáileadh sonraíoch de gach tairscint monatóireachta mhí an Mheithimh.

Mr Fee asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) figures for each six-month period over the last five years, of (i) the number of people on the waiting list, and (ii) the average waiting time, for elective surgery in each Health Board area and (b) any steps that are being taken to reduce these waiting times.

(AQW 3684/00)

(a)(i)Information is not available in the form requested.

(ii) Information is not available in the form requested.

(b) The Framework for Action on Waiting Lists, which I issued in September last, set out a strategic context for action on waiting lists. As a result, Boards and Trusts have developed comprehensive action plans. Additional resources have also been provided and, in the current year, a total of £8 million is available for action on waiting lists.

(a) (i)Níl an t-eolas ar fáil ar an dóigh ar iarradh í.

(ii) Níl an t-eolas ar fáil ar an dóigh ar iarradh í.

(b) Leag an Chreatlach le hAghaidh Gnímh ar Liostaí Feithimh, a d’eisigh mé i Meán Fómhair anuraidh, comhthéacs straitéiseach síos le haghaidh gníomhaíochta ar liostaí feithimh. Mar thoradh air sin, d’fhorbair Boird agus Iontaobhais gníomhphleananna cuimsitheacha. Soláthraíodh acmhainní breise fosta agus i mbliana, tá £8 milliún san iomlán ar fáil le haghaidh gnímh ar liostaí feithimh.

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