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Monday 29 October 2001 Drug Abuse Budgets : Last Three Years Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how much money has been spent on the treatment of drug abuse in each of the last three years. (AQW 373/01) Ms de Brún: The costs of treatment for drug abuse cannot be disaggregated from the general costs of treating individuals who have taken drugs and who seek medical treatment in GP surgeries and hospitals. The information requested is therefore not available. Ní féidir costais chóireáil mhí-úsáid drugaí a scaradh ó chostais ghinearálta chóireáil dhaoine aonair a thóg drugaí agus a iarrann ar chóireáil mhíochaine i gclinicí Gnáthdhochtúra agus in otharlanna. Mar sin de, níl an t-eolas iarrtha ar fáil. Ambulance Sub Station in Ards Peninsula Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans she has to provide a new Amublance Service sub-station in the Ards Peninsula and to state its location. (AQW 383/01) Ms de Brún: There are no plans at present for an ambulance sub-station on the Ards Peninsula. The Implementation Plan on the Strategic Review of the Ambulance Service does make proposals for additional ambulance locations to improve response times. However, decisions on exactly where these additional locations will be, will be determined by the level of resources available to implement the proposals and the availability of suitable sites. Comments on the Implementation Plan will be invited shortly from a wide range of interests. Níl sé meáite i láthair na huaire fo-stáisiún otharcharr a lonnú ar Leithinis na hAirde. Leagann an Plean Feidhmithe ar Athbhreithniú Straitéiseach na Seirbhíse Otharcharr moltaí amach do láithreacha breise otharcharr le hamanna freagartha a fheabhsú. Déanfar socruithe ar na háiteanna díreacha a mbeidh na láithreacha áfach de réir leibhéal na n-acmhainní ar fáil leis na moltaí a chur i bhfeidhm agus de réir infhaighteacht láithreán fóirsteanach. Iarrfar ar thráchtaí ar an Phlean Feidhmithe ar ball ó réimse leathan daoine a bhfuil suim acu ann. Ambulance Service HQ Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the level of expenditure spent on the new Ambulance Service headquarters. (AQW 384/01) Ms de Brún: The estimated cost of the new Ambulance Service Headquarters is £912,000 which includes £265,000 for equipment and £91,000 for fees. Is é £912,000 costas measta Cheannáras nua na Seirbhíse Otharcharr a chuimsíonn £265,000 do threalamh agus £91,000 do tháillí. Ambulance Service Mr John Fee asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety when she expects to complete the equality impact assessment on those proposals that have arisen from the Strategic Review of the Ambulance Service. (AQW 385/01) Ms de Brún: An initial equality impact assessment has been completed and will be issued shortly for comment with an implementation plan for taking forward the recommendations of the Strategic Review of Ambulance Services. Cuireadh measúnú tosaigh ar éifeacht an chomhionannais i gcrích agus eiseofar ar ball le haghaidh tráchta é mar aon le plean feidhmithe chun moltaí an Athbhreithnithe Straitéisigh ar Sheirbhísí Otharcharr a chur chun cinn. Number of Ambulance Purchasd in Last Five Years Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many new ambulances have been purchased in the last five years. (AQW 390/01) Ms de Brún: The Ambulance Service has purchased a total of 137 new vehicles over the past five years. Cheannaigh an tSeirbhís Otharcharr 137 feithicil nua san iomlán le cúig bliana anuas. Ambulances Currently in Use & Record of Breakdowns Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline (a) the average age of the ambulances currently in use and (b) how many ambulances have broken down on the way to call outs in each board area over the last three years. (AQW 391/01) Ms de Brún: The average age of the Ambulance Service fleet currently in use is four and a half years for Accident & Emergency vehicles and three and a half years for Patient Care Service vehicles. Over the past three years the number of ambulances which have broken down on their way to call outs, by Board area, is as follows: EHSSB 14 NHSSB 18 SHSSB 23 WHSSB 16 Is iad ceithre bliana go leith d'fheithiclí Timpistí agus Éigeandálaí agus trí bliana go leith d'fheithiclí Seirbhíse Cúraim Othar meánaoiseanna scuaidrín mór otharcharr na Seirbhíse Otharcharr in úsáid i láthair na huaire. Seo a leanas líon na n-otharcharr a bhris anuas agus iad ag freagairt ar ghlaonna, de réir cheantar an Bhoird le trí bliana anuas: BSSSO 14 BSSST 18 BSSSD 23 BSSSI 16 Bed Occupancy Tyrone County Hospital & Erne Hospital Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 3201/00, to explain the comparatively low bed occupancy rate at (i) Tyrone County Hospital and (ii) The Erne Hospital and to detail the current bed occupancy rates at each of these hospitals together with the current average rate. (AQW 399/01) Ms de Brún: The information AQW3201/00 was based on the 1999/2000 bed occupancy figures. Figures for 2000/01 are as follows. The current bed occupancy rates are: (i) Tyrone County Hospital - 75.5% (ii) Erne Hospital - 70.8% The current average bed occupancy rate is 81%. Fluctuations in clinical activity are a common occurrence. Recent figures indicate that bed occupancy rates at Tyrone County Hospital and the Erne Hospital are broadly in line with those in other rural hospitals.
Bhí an t-eolas in AQW 3201/00 bunaithe ar fhigiúirí d'úsáid leapacha. Seo a leanas na figiúirí do 2000/01. Seo na rátaí faoi láthair d'úsáid leapacha: (i) Otharlann Chontae Thír Eoghain - 75.5% (ii) Otharlann na hÉirne - 70.8% Is é 81% an meánráta faoi láthair d'úsáid leapacha. Gnáth-tharlú is ea athruithe i ngníomhaíocht chliniciúil. Léiríonn figiúirí déanacha go bhfuil rátaí d'úsáid leapacha in Otharlann Chontae Thír Eoghain agus in Otharlann na hÉirne go ginearálta de réir na rátaí sin in otharlanna tuaithe eile. Digital Hearing Aids Mr Mick Murphy asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety when will digital hearing aids become available through the Health Service. (AQW 404/01) Ms de Brún: I plan to make digital hearing aids available as soon as the necessary funding can be secured. As an initial step, my Department has submitted a bid to the Executive Programme Funds. Tá sé ar intinn agam áiseanna digiteacha éisteachta a chur ar fáil a luaithe agus is féidir an maoiniú riachtanach a fháil. Mar an chéad chéim, rinne an Roinn s'agamsa tairiscint do Chistí Chlár an Fheidhmeannais. Operational Surplus or Deficit of Each HSS Trust Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail any deficit or surplus that exists in each Community Health and Social Services Trust in this financial year. (AQW 406/01) Ms de Brún: The reported financial positions of Community Health and Social Services Trusts and integrated Trusts offering acute and community services, as at the end of August for the year to date are as follows:
All Trusts are aware of their requirement to break even by the end of the financial year and are working to achieve this. Seo a leanas riochtaí tuairiscithe airgeadais Iontaobhas Sláinte Pobail agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Iontaobhas imeasctha a sholáthraíonn géarsheirbhísí agus seirbhísí pobail, ag deireadh mhí Lúnasa na bliana seo:
Is eol do na hIontaobhas uilig an dualgas atá orthu teacht ar chothromaíocht airgid ag deireadh na bliana airgeadais agus tá siad ag obair leis seo a bhaint amach. Digital Hearing Aids Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the cost of providing analogue hearing aids and if she has any plans to pilot digital hearing aids whose cost has dramatically reduced during the last 18 months. (AQW 408/01) Ms de Brún: I refer the member to my answer to question AQW 404/01. The cost of providing an analogue hearing aid ranges from £60 to £200. Luaim don Bhall an freagra a thug mé ar AQW 404/01. Tá an costas le háis analóige éisteachta a sholáthar sa réimse ó £60 go £200. Number of Children Adopted 95-00 Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of children who were successfully adopted in 1999-00 and how this compares with the previous five years. (AQW 411/01) Ms de Brún: In the calendar year 2000 the courts notified the Registrar General of 172 adoption orders. The figures for the previous five years are as follows: 1999 144 1998 121 1997 150 1996 169 1995 163 Sa bhliain 2000 chuir na cúirteanna 172 ord uchtaithe in iúl don Chláraitheoir Ghinearálta. Seo a leanas na figiúirí do na cúig bliana roimh ré: 1999 144 1998 121 1997 150 1996 169 1995 163 Foster Parents : Vetting Regulations Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the measures which she has taken to ensure that sex offenders cannot register to become foster parents. (AQW 414/01) Ms de Brún: Regulation 3 of the Foster Placement (Children) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 requires responsible authorities to obtain information on, and consider, a range of factors set out in Schedule 1 to the regulations in order to determine whether an applicant can be considered suitable to be a foster parent and whether his household is suited to the placement of a child. The factors include the applicant's previous criminal convictions, if any, and those of other adult members of his household. Such checks should be repeated at least every three years. Iarrann Rialachán 3 de Rialacháin (Tuaisceart Éireann) um Fhagáil Páistí Faoi Chúram Altrama 1996, ar na húdaráis fhreagracha eolas a fháil agus machnamh a dhéanamh ar réimse fachtóirí leagtha amach i Sceideal 1 de na rialacháin chun cinneadh a dhéanamh ar cé acu is féidir iarrthóir a mheas mar fóirsteanach le bheith ina t(h)uismitheoir altrama nó nach féidir agus ar cé acu atá a t(h)eaghlach fóirsteanach le páiste a fhágáil faoina c(h)úram nó nach bhfuil. I measc na bhfachtóirí tá ciontuithe coiriúla roimh ré an iarrthóra má bhí ceann ar bith ann, agus ciontuithe coiriúla duine fásta ar bith eile dá t(h)eaghlach. Ba chóir a leithéid de scrúduithe a athdhéanamh gach trí bliana. Autistic Children Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the number of children diagnosed with autism, (b) the services currently available for autistic children (c) her assessment of the autism drug Secretin and (d) if Secretin is currently available in Northern Ireland. (AQW 416/01) Ms de Brún: (a) The information requested is not available. (b) The information requested is not collected centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. (c) Secretin is not licensed for use in autism and is not, at present, considered mainstream therapy for this condition. The evidence base for use of Secretin in autism is, at present, small and more research is needed to demonstrate its effectiveness. (d) Secretin is not available within the HPSS for the treatment of autism, as it is not licensed for use in this condition. (a) Níl an t-eolas iarrtha ar fáil. (b) Ní bhailítear an t-eolas iarrtha go lárnach agus ní fhéadfaí é a sholáthar ach ar chostas dhíréireach. (c) Níl Secretin faoi cheadúnas le húsáid i gcóireáil uathachais, agus faoi láthair, ní mheastar mar an ghnáth-theiripe don riocht seo é. Tá an cruthú d'úsáid Secretin i gcóireáil uathachais beag faoi láthair agus tá níos mó taighde de dhíth lena éifeachtacht a thaispeáint. (d) Níl seicréitin ar fáil taobh istigh den na SSSSP mar chóireáil in éadan uathachais, ós rud é nach bhfuil sí céadúnaithe le haghaidh an reachta seo. Languages of Departments Publications Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) those languages in which her Department currently publishes information and (b) to explain why the Department's web site does not include Ulster Scots as one of these languages. (AQW 417/01) Ms de Brún: My Department currently makes key documents available in large print, Braille, audiocassette, Irish and Chinese and has supplied translations in other minority languages and Ulster Scots. With the exception of the name of the Department which appears in English and Irish, the bulk of the material on my Department's website is in English and there are no plans at present to routinely include translations into other languages. At present the website also displays the flu immunisation leaflet in Urdu, Cantonese and Irish. Cuireann an Roinn s'agamsa eochair-cháipéisí ar fáil i gcló mór, i mBraille, ar téip, i nGaeilge agus i Sínis faoi láthair agus rinne sí aistriúcháin díobh i dteangacha mionlach eitneach eile agus in Ultais. Seachas ainm na Roinne atá i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla air, tá an chuid is mó ar líonláithreán mo Roinne i mBéarla agus níl sé meáite faoi láthair aistriúcháin i dteangacha eile a chur ar fáil. Faoi láthair tá an bhilleog ar imdhíonta fliú in Urdúis, Cantoinis agus i nGaeilge ar an líonlaíthreán chomh maith. Institute for Mental Health Studies Ms Monica McWilliams asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to make a statement on her proposals for an Institute for Mental Health Studies. (AQW 418/01) Ms de Brún: Proposals for the establishment of an all Ireland Institute for Mental Health Studies have been put forward and these are currently being studied by officials of my Department and the Department of Health and Children. Cuireadh moltaí do bhunú Institiúide uile-Éireannaí um Staidéar ar Shláinte Meabhrach chun cinn agus tá siad seo á scrúdú ag oifigigh mo Roinne agus na Roinne Sláinte agus Páistí. Digital Hearing Aids Mr Seamus Close asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she plans to make digital hearing aids available free through the health service. (AQW 426/01) Ms de Brún: I refer the member to my answer to question AQW 404/01. Luaim don Bhall an freagra a thug mé ar AQW 404/01. Digital Hearing Aids Mr Paul Berry asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans are in place to ensure digital hearing aids will be provided through the Health Service. (AQW 436/01) Ms de Brún: I refer the member to my answer to question AQW 404/01. Luaim don Bhall an freagra a thug mé ar AQW 404/01. Breast Cancer Statistics Over Past Five Years Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the number of patients who are currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer and those who have been treated for breast cancer over the past five years. (AQW 441/01) Ms de Brún: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, the following table gives the incidence of female breast cancer for the most recent 5 year period. Table 1: Female breast cancer incidence 1993 - 1997
Ní bhailítear an t-eolas iarrtha go lárnach. Tugann an tábla seo a leanas áfach teagmhas na hailse cíche i mná don tréimhse 5 bliana is déanaí. Tábla 1: Teagmhas na hailse cíche i mná 1993 - 1997
Child Protection Register Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of children who currently appear on a child protection register and how this figure compares with the previous five years. (AQW 450/01) Ms de Brún: The latest date for which figures are available is 31 March 2001. At that time there were 1414 children on the child protection register here compared to 1400 at the same date in 1997. This represents an increase of 1% over a five year period. The complete set of figures for years 1997 to 2001 are given in the table below.
1Data is at 31 March for each year Is é 31 Márta 2001 an dáta is déanaí a bhfuil figiúrí ar fáil dó. Ag an am sin bhí 1414 páiste ar chlár cosaint páistí anseo i gcomparáid le 1400 ar an dáta céanna in 1997. Léiríonn sé méadú 1% thar thréimshe cúig bliana. Tugtar tacar iomlán figiúr do na blianta 1997 go dtí 2001 sa tábla thíos.
1Ag 31 Márta atá na sonraí do gach bliain Drug and Alcohol Strategy Team Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail her initiatives to tackle the increasing drug problem in Northern Ireland. (AQW 451/01) Ms de Brún: In terms of administrative action, my Department has created a dedicated Drug and Alcohol Strategy Team to strengthen our capacity to tackle the important related problems of drug and alcohol misuse. In February, we appointed the first Drug and Alcohol Strategy Co-ordinator, Jo Daykin. She leads the Team and is driving forward action across Departments and agencies to implement the 1999 Drug Strategy and the more recent Alcohol Strategy. In May, the Executive Committee adopted a model for the joint implementation of the two Strategies. In line with that model, six Working Groups have been established, covering treatment, prevention, community participation, information, social legislation, and criminal justice issues. Their membership is drawn from the statutory, community, and voluntary sectors. We have also devoted substantial additional resources to tackling drug misuse. Since 1999, over £4.5 million extra, on top of existing baselines, has been allocated to 36 projects on the ground to help deliver the aims of the Drug Strategy. They include education and awareness raising in schools, rehabilitation, harm reduction, and improved treatment services. Full details have been placed in the Library. A further £6.23m will be allocated to drug misuse programmes by Executive Departments over the coming two years. Discussions are now under way to determine how this additional injection of funds can be deployed most effectively. I dtéarmaí ghníomh riaracháin tá Foireann Straitéis Drugaí agus Alcóil sainiúil chun neartú a dhéanamh ar ár gcumas tabhairt faoi na fadhbanna gaolmhara a bhaineann le mí-úsáid drugaí agus alcóil cruthaithe ag mo Roinn. I bhFeabhra cheapamar an chéad chomhordaitheoir Straitéis Drugaí agus Alcóil, Jo Daykin. Tá sí i gceannas na Foirne agus tá sí i mbun gnímh a chur chun cinn ar fud Ranna agus gníomhaireachtaí chun Straitéis Drugaí 1999 agus ina dhiaidh sin Straitéis Alcóil a chur i bhfeidhm. Sa Bhealtaine ghlac an Coiste Feidhmiúcháin le samhail do chomhfheidhmiú an dá Straitéis. Ag teacht leis an tsamhail sin bunaíodh sé Ghrúpa Oibre ag clúdach cóireála, coisc, rannpháirtíocht pobail, eolais, reachtaíocht shóisialta agus saincheisteanna dlí choiriúil. Tá a gcuid comhaltais tógtha as na hearnálacha reachtúla, pobail agus deonacha. Tá acmhainní breise substaintiúla dírithe againn ar thabhairt faoi mhí-úsáid drugaí. Ó 1999 i leith leithroinneadh breis is £4.5 milliún eile, os cionn na mbonnlínte a bhí ann, ar 36 tionscadal ar an talamh chun cuidiú le haidhmeanna na Straitéise Drugaí a bhaint amach. Áirítear orthu sin oideachas agus cur le tuiscint sna scoileanna, athshlánú, laghdú dochair agus seirbhísí cóireála feabhsaithe. Tá na sonraí iomlána ar fáil sa Leabharlann. Leithroinnfidh Ranna Feidhmeannais £6.23m eile chuig cláir mhí-úsáide drugaí sa dá bhliain amach romhainn. Tá plé ar bun faoi láthair chun a chinneadh caidé an tslí is éifeachtaí le leas a bhaint as na na cistí breise sin. Testicular Cancer Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of patients who (a) are currently undergoing treatment for testicular cancer and (b) have had treatment for testicular cancer over the past five years. (AQW 458/01) Ms de Brún: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, the following table gives the incidence of testicular cancer for the most recent 5 year period. Table 1: Testicular cancer incidence 1995 - 1999
Ní bhailítear an t-eolas iarrtha go lárnach. Tugann an tábla seo a leanas áfach teagmhas na hailse uiríche don tréimhse 5 bliana is déanaí. Tábla 1: Teagmhas na hailse uiríche 1995 - 1999
Digital Hearing Aids Mr Mervyn Carrick asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she has any plans to provide free digital hearing aids through the Health Service. (AQW 466/01) Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to question AQW 404/01. Tarraingím aird an Chomhalta ar an fhreagra a thug mé ar AQW 404/01. Digital Hearing Aids Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what steps is she taking to provide digital hearing aids through the Health Service. (AQW 473/01) Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to question AQW 404/01. Tarraingím aird an Chomhalta ar an fhreagra a thug mé ar AQW 404/01. TOPREGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Unemployment in West Tyrone Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister for Regional Development what plans he has to help those individuals living in deprived areas of West Tyrone into work. (AQW 363/01) The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Campbell): The full range of my Department's programmes and services is available to help individuals in West Tyrone find work. The JobCentres in Omagh and Strabane provide a comprehensive job-broking and advisory service; while Jobskills, Worktrack and the New Deal and Focus for Work initiatives are available to help people train and prepare for employment. TOP |