(AQW 3630/00)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr Durkan): No specific equality and New TSN assessments were carried out in relation to the increase in the Regional Rates. Analyses were carried out for the Executive, however, on the Regional Rates as part of the Budget exercise to gauge both the effect of various percentage increases in rate poundages on the revenue raised and of obtaining a particular level of revenue on rate poundage increases.

Already, in working towards the 2002-3 budget, the Executive Position Report has been published. This was partly with a view to providing for fuller consultation on equality and New TSN considerations in relation to the Programme for Government and budget. In future work on the budget, the basic working assessment on the relationship between a percentage increase and revenue levels will be shared with the Committee for Finance and Personnel.

The comprehensive Review of Rating Policy, which is now underway, will include equality and New TSN assessments on the Regional Rates. These will be subject to full and open consultation and both the Finance and Personnel Committee and the Assembly will be kept informed of progress.

(AQW 3551/00)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): The information requested is set out in the attached tables.

The Staff Grade was introduced in 1989 to provide a range of services at an intermediate level of responsibility, in support of consultants. Staff grade practitioners make a valuable contribution to the care and treatment of patients and have played an important role in the development of services.

In order to encourage the greater use of these staff, the upper limit on the number of staff grade posts was removed in 1999. However, the creation of staff grade posts remains subject to Departmental approval.

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

Tugadh Rangú Foirne isteach i 1989 le réimse seirbhísí tacaíochta a sholáthar, ag meánleibhéal freagrachta, do lianna comhairleacha. Cuireann lianna comhairleacha rangaithe foirne go mór le cúram agus le cóireáil othar agus bhí ról tábhachtach acu i bhforbairt na seirbhísí.

Le níos mó úsáide as na foirne seo a spreagadh, athraíodh an teorainn is airde ar líon na bpost rangaithe foirne i 1999. Braitheann cruthú post rangaithe foirne ar fhormheas na Roinne.

(AQW 3590/00)

(a) The funding of treatment for severe inflammatory arthritis is based on the clinical needs of patients and the availability of resources.

(b) A range of medicines is prescribed for severe inflammatory arthritis. Patients receive these medicines according to clinical need. For a number of patients with severe and progressive rheumatoid arthritis who have not responded to existing drug therapies, anti TNF preparations may be considered appropriate. In determining who receives treatment with anti TNF medicines, priority is given to those who have been waiting longest, having taken account of the specific clinical needs of individuals, including those relevant to children.

(a) Tá maoiniú chóireáil na n-othar a bhfuil géar- airtríteas athlastaithe orthu bunaithe ar riachtanais chliniciúla na n-othar agus ar infhaighteacht acmhainní.

(b) Tá réimse cógas leagtha amach do ghéar-airtríteas athlastaithe. Faigheann othair na cógais seo de réir riachtanais cliniciúil. Do roinnt othar a bhfuil airtríteas géar agus réamatóideach forchéimnitheach orthu nach bhfreagraíonn do theiripí druga atá ann faoi láthair, is féidir ullmhúcháin frith-TNF a ghlacadh san áireamh bheith cuí. Tugtar tús áite dóibh siúd is faide ag fanacht, ag glacadh san áireamh riachtanais chliniciúla ar leith an duine aonair, iad siúd a bhaineann le páistí san áireamh, nuair atáthar ag cinntiú cé is cóir cóireál frith-TNF a chur orthu.