(AQW 3344/01)

Ms de Brún: Neither the Research and Development Office nor the Department have funded any research into Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder.

Níor thug an Oifig Taighde agus Forbartha ná an Roinn maoiniú ar aon thaighde i leith Mí-ord Easnamh Airde Hipirghníomhaíochta.

(AQW 3345/01)

Ms de Brún: There are currently 23 Sure Start programmes operating here. In July 2000, 15 Sure Start projects were approved for funding. However, as there were still some highly disadvantaged areas with no Sure Start projects, I made an additional £1.8 million available for April 2001 to allow the creation of a number of new projects. I asked the Childcare Partnerships to identify areas where they wished to see additional Sure Start projects and support applicants in those areas to submit suitable proposals. A further 8 projects were subsequently approved for funding.

The introduction of the second round of projects completed the allocation of all of the funding available for the Sure Start programme.

Faoi láthair tá 23 clár Sure Start ag obair anseo. In Iúil 2000, ceadaíodh maoiniú do 15 tionscadal Sure Start agus chuir mise £1.8 milliún breise ar fáil d’Aibreán 2001 le go mbeifí ábalta roinnt tionscadal nua a chruthú. D’iarr mé ar Chompháirtíochtaí Cúraim Leanaí réimsí a aithint inár mhaith leo breis tionscadal Sure Start a fheiceáil iontu agus tacaíocht a thabhairt d’iarratasóirí sna réimsí sin chun moltaí oiriúnacha a chur ar aghaidh. Ceadaíodh maoiniú do 8 tionscadal eile ina dhiaidh sin.

Cuireadh críoch leis an leithdháileadh ar an maoiniú ar fad a bhí ar fáil don chlár Sure Start leis an dara babhta tionscadail.

(AQW 3346/01)

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to AQW 3242/01.

Treoraím an Ball do mo fhreagra a thug mé ar AQW 3242/01.

(AQW 3357/01)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is not available.

Níl fáil ar an eolas a iarradh.

(AQW 3366/01)

Ms de Brún: My Department’s Priorities for Action 2002/03 requires Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts to develop the range of therapy provision to reduce waiting times for children and adult services. Some of the additional funding allocated to Boards to develop community services in 2002/03 will be available for this purpose.

In addition, a current review of the health and social services workforce is being undertaken by my Department, which will identify training, recruitment and retention issues to be addressed within the various therapeutic professions.

Éilíonn Tosaíochtaí do Ghníomh 2002/03 mo Roinnse go bhforbródh Iontaobhais agus Boird Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sláinte réimse soláthar teiripí do sheirbhísí daoine fásta agus leanaí. Beidh roinnt den mhaoiniú breise a leithdháileadh do Bhoird chun seirbhísí pobail a fhorbairt i 2002/03 ar fáil dó seo.

Chomh maith leis sin, tá athbhreithniú á dhéanamh faoi láthair ag mo Roinnse ar an líon lucht oibre sna seirbhísí sóisialta agus sláinte agus aithneofar ceisteanna oiliúna, earcaíochta agus coinneála nach mór a phlé laistigh de na gairmí teiripeacha.

(AQW 3418/01)

Ms de Brún: The Craigavon Area Hospital Trust, has recently had an independent assessment of the Hyperbaric Unit carried out and is awaiting a report on the facility. My Department, in conjunction with the Southern HSS Board and Trust, will consider the findings carefully once they are available.

Bhí measúnú neamhspleách déanta ar an Aonad Hipearbarach ag Iontaobhas Otharlainne Cheantar Craigavon agus tá sé ag fanacht ar thuairisc ar an áis. Déanfaidh an Roinn s’agam i gcomhair le Bord agus le hIontaobhas SSS an Deiscirt machnamh ar na torthaí go cúramach agus iad ar fáil.

(AQW 3438/01)

Ms de Brún: The current membership of the PSI Working Group is as follows:

Ms. Linda Barclay
Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland

Ms. Mary Black
North and West Belfast Health Action Zone

Mr John Breen
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Ms. Tanya Hughes
Ballybeen Peer Education Project

Dr Caroline Hunter
Brook Belfast

Ms Ann Linstrom
Westcare Business Services

Dr Miriam McCarthy (Chair)
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Dr Carolyn Mason
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Mrs. Pat Osborne
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Ms Mary Potter
Department of Education

Dr Audrey Simpson
fpaNI (formerly known as the Family Planning Association, Northern Ireland)

Seo a leanas baill reatha an Ghrúpa Oibre PSI:

An Iníon Linda Barclay
An Ghníomhaireacht um Chur Chun Cinn Sláinte i dTuaisceart Éireann

An Iníon Mary Black
Crios Gnímh Bhéal Feirste Thuaidh agus Thiar ar Shláinte

An tUasal John Breen
An Roinn Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí

An Iníon Tanya Hughes
Scéim Chomhghleacaithe Oideachais Bhaile Bín

An Dr. Caroline Hunter
Brook Bhéal Feirste

An Iníon Ann Linstrom
Seirbhísí Gnó Westcare

An Dr. Miriam McCarthy (Cathaoirleach)
An Roinn Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí

An Dr. Carolyn Mason
An Roinn Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí

Pat Bean Osborne
An Roinn Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí

An Iníon Mary Potter
An Roinn Oideachais

An Dr. Audrey Simpson
cptTÉ (Cumann Pleanála Teaghlaigh, Tuaisceart Éireann mar a tugadh air)

(AQW 3441/01)

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

Níl an t-eolas ar fáil ar an dóigh iarrtha.

(AQW 3442/01)

Ms de Brún: Eligibility criteria for the provision of sub-fertility treatment, under the interim arrangements that I announced in October 2001, are as follows:

• Couples should have no children living with them;

• Couples should have had fewer than four previous unsuccessful treatment cycles;

• The woman should be under 38 years of age; and

• There must be a medical reason for the sub-fertility, lasting for over three years.

Seo a leanas na critéir intofachta do sholáthar cóireála fothorthúlachta, faoi na socruithe idirthréimhsiúla a d’fhógair mé i nDeireadh Fómhair 2001.

• Níor chóir do lánúineacha páistí bheith ina gcónaí leo;

• Ba chóir do lánúineacha níos lú ná ceithre shraith mírathúla cóireála bheith déanta acu roimh ré;

• Ba chóir don bhean bheith níos óige ná 38 bliain d’aois; agus

• Ní mór cúis mhíochaine bheith ann don chóireáil fhothorthúlachta, a mhaireann níos mó ná trí bliana.

(AQW 3449/01)

Ms de Brún: I can confirm that the number of anti-depressant drugs items dispensed on Health Service prescriptions increased from 706,451 in the calendar year 1997, to 1,096,255 in 2001.

Tig liom dearbhú gur mhéadaigh líon na bhfrithdhúlagrán dáilte mar oidis na Seirbhíse Sláinte ó 706,451 sa bhliain 1997, go 1,096,255 sa bhliain 2001.

(AQW 3450/01)

Ms de Brún: Care and services in the community are provided to older people on the basis of an individual assessment of need. Proper assessment of need and good case management are the cornerstones of high quality care.

HSS Trusts are required, under assessment and care management arrangements, to undertake individual needs-based assessments for community care services.

Boards and Trusts are expected to set criteria which will reflect local priorities and available resources. Where the Trust has assessed a person’s needs they will discuss the options available, which may involve residential or nursing home care, or domiciliary care to enable the individual to remain in their own accommodation or a similar tenure.

The assessment procedure should reflect the nature of the individuals needs so that people with complex health and social care needs, including the need for residential or nursing home care, will require a comprehensive, usually multidisciplinary assessment, whereas others may only require a prompt response to an immediate practical need. This assessment of need should take place before any decisions are taken about services.

Individuals and their carers should be involved fully in the assessment and account must be taken of their own assessment of their needs and the type of support they would prefer to receive. However, while preferences will be taken into account, it is perhaps inevitable that in some instances some people will not receive exactly the type and level of service they might wish.

Cuirtear cúram agus seirbhísí sa phobal ar fáil do dhaoine níos sine bunaithe ar mheasúnú indibhidiúil riachtanas. Is iad measúnú ceart riachtanas agus bainistiú maith cáis dúshraith cúraim d’ardchaighdeán.

Ní foláir d’Iontaobhais SSS, faoi shocruithe measúnaithe agus bainistithe cúraim, tabhairt faoi mheasúnuithe indibhidiúla bunaithe ar riachtanais do sheirbhísí cúram pobail. Táthar ag súil go leagfaidh Boird agus Iontaobhais critéir síos a bheidh ag teacht le tosaíochtaí áitiúla agus le háiseanna atá ar fáil. Nuair a bhíonn measúnú déanta ag an Iontaobhas ar riachtanais duine pléifidh siad na roghanna atá ann, d’fhéadfadh cúram teach cónaithe nó cúram teach altranais bheith i gceist ansin, nó cúram baile le cur ar chumas an duine aonair fanacht ina lóistín féin nó ina mhacasamhail de thionacht.

Ba chóir don phróiseas measúnaithe bheith ag fóirstean do chineál riachtanas an duine aonair sa dóigh go mbeidh measúnú cuimsitheach, de ghnáth measúnú ildhisciplíneach, de dhíth ar dhaoine a bhfuil riachtanais chasta sláinte agus cúraim shóisialta orthu, lena n-áirítear an gá le cúram cónaithe nó cúram teach altranais, cé nach mbeidh de dhíth ar dhaoine eile ach aisfhreagairt ghasta ar riachtanas láithreach praiticiúil. Ba chóir don mheasúnú riachtanais seo tarlú sula ndéantar socruithe ar bith faoi sheirbhísí.

Ba chóir go mbeadh aonáin agus a gcúramóirí iomlán páirteach sa mheasúnú agus ní mór a measúnú féin ar a riachtanais agus an cineál tacaíochta a b’fhearr leo a fháil a chur san áireamh. Cé go gcuirfear roghanna san áireamh, áfach, féadtar go dtarlóidh sé i gcásanna áirithe nach bhfaighidh roinnt daoine go díreach cineál agus leibhéal na seirbhíse a bhfuil siad ag dúil leo.

(AQW 3470/01)

Ms de Brún: This information is not available.

Níl fáil ar an eolas a iarradh.

(AQW 3471/01)

Ms de Brún: A training programme will be developed in partnership with the Department of Education. This will also take account of the recommendations in the report of the Task Group on the Education of Children and Young People with Autism, launched by the Minister for Education on 7 May. The Department for Education has issued the report for consultation, the aim being to hold a conference for policy makers and service providers in the Autumn on implementing its recommendations.

Meanwhile, my Department is co-operating in a Department of Education project to produce an Autism awareness raising video for parents and a CDROM for teachers.

Forbrófar clár traenála i gcomhar leis an Roinn Oideachais. Cuirfidh sé san áireamh na moltaí i dtuairisc an Tascghrúpa ar Oideachas Páistí agus Ogánaigh le hUathachas, a sheol an tAire Oideachais ar an 7 Bealtaine. D’eisigh an Roinn Oideachais an Tuairisc le haghaidh comhairlithe, agus tá sé mar aidhm aici comhdháil a reáchtáil do dhéantóirí polasaithe agus soláthróirí seirbhíse san Fhómhar ar a moltaí a chur i bhfeidhm.

Idir an dá linn, tá mo Roinn ag comhoibriú i dtionscadal an Bhoird Oideachais le físeán a ardaíonn feasacht Uathachais a sholáthar do thuismitheoirí agus CD ROM do mhúinteoirí.

(AQO 1387/01)

Ms de Brún: Estimated numbers of deaths attributable to smoking related illnesses for the years 1998, 1999 and 2000 (the latest year for which information is available) are detailed in the table below.

Léirítear sa tábla thíos na huimhreacha measta básanna mar gheall ar ghalair bainte le caitheamh tobac sna blianta 1998, 1999 agus 2000 ( an bhliain is déanaí a bhfuil an t-eolas ar fáil di).

(AQW 3482/01)

Ms de Brún: Information on the costs of providing hospice services is not collected by my Department, as these services are provided on a voluntary basis by a number of different organisations. My Department provides funding towards the central administration costs of the NI Hospice. A grant of £109,930 has been allocated in the current financial year.

Ní bhailíonn mo Roinn eolas ar na costais a bhaineann le soláthar seirbhísí ospáise, mar go soláthraíonn roinnt eagras éagsúil na seirbhísí seo go deonach. Tugann mo Roinn maoiniú le haghaidh costais lárnacha riaracháin Ospís TÉ. Dáileadh deontas £109,930 uirthi sa bhliain reatha airgeadais.

(AQW 3485/01)

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my response to AQW 3482/01.

Treoraím an Ball do mo fhreagra a thug mé ar AQW 3482/01.

(AQW 3498/01)

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.

(AQW 3499/01)

Ms de Brún: Each Board area is allocated resources to cover general administration. The amount which should be used to service the existing complaints procedures, is not specified. Under current Directions and Guidelines however, Boards are required to make the necessary arrangements to provide for the complaints procedures. This includes the appointment of complaints officers to administer the procedures and Non-Executive Directors to act as convenors at the review stage.

Dáiltear acmhainní ar gach Bordcheantar le riarachán ginearálta a chlúdach. Ní thugtar mionchuntas ar an méid a ba chóir a úsáid leis na gnáthaimh láithreacha ghearán a fheidhmiú. Faoi Threoracha agus Threoirlínte i láthair na huaire áfach, tá ar Bhoird na socruithe riachtanacha a dhéanamh leis na gnáthaimh ghearán a fheidhmiú. Cuimsíonn siad seo ceapadh oifigeach gearán leis an gnáthaimh a riar agus ceapadh Stiúrthóirí Neamh-Fheidhmeannacha le hoibriú mar thionólaithe ag an chéim athbhreithnithe.

(AQW 3501/01)

Ms de Brún: There are 149 people currently on the occupational therapy general community waiting list at Daisy Hill Hospital. Newry and Mourne Health and Social Services Trust has indicated that the earliest referral date on the waiting list is 7 March 2002.

Tá 149 duine ar liosta feithimh teiripe saothair an phobail ghinearálta ag Otharlann Daisy Hill faoi láthair. Thug Iontaobhas SSS an Iúir agus Mhúrn le fios gurb é 7 Márta 2002 an dáta atreoraithe is luaithe ar an liosta feithimh.

(AQW 3502/01)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is not available.

Níl fáil ar an eolas a iarradh.

(AQW 3503/01)

Ms de Brún: This information requested is not available.

Níl fáil ar an eolas a iarradh.

(AQW 3504/01)

Ms de Brún: This information requested is not available.

Níl fáil ar an eolas a iarradh.

(AQW 3505/01)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is not available.

Níl fáil ar an eolas a iarradh.

(AQW 3517/01)

(a) I have no plans to celebrate this event.

(b) All Departments, including DHSSPS, have been awarded the additional Bank Holiday set for Monday 3 June.

(a) Níl aon phleananna agam chun an imeacht seo a cheiliúradh.

(b) Tá an tSaoire Bainc breise atá leagha amach don Luan 3 Meitheamh tugtha do gach Roinn lena n-áirítear an DHSSPS.

(AQW 3519/01)

Ms de Brún: This information is not collected centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Ní chruinnítear an t-eolas seo go lárnach agus níorbh fhéidir é a fháil ach ar chostas díréireach.

(AQW 3520/01)

Ms de Brún: Information on patients waiting for first outpatient appointments is collected on the basis of 3 monthly intervals. At 31 December 2001 (the latest date for which information is currently available) there were 73,298 people waiting for first outpatient appointment for 3 months or more. At 31 March 1997, the figure was 21,801.

Bailítear eolas ar othair ag fanacht ar a gcéad choinní éisothair gach ráithe. Ar 31 Nollaig 2001 (an dáta is déanaí a bhfuil eolas ar fáil faoi láthair) bhí 73,298 duine ann ag fanacht ar a gcéad choinne éisothair ar feadh 3 mí nó níos faide. Ar 31 Márta 1997, 21,801 duine ba ea an figiúr.

(AQW 3521/01)

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.

(AQW 3527/01)

Ms de Brún: There were 19 children under the age of one year placed for adoption in the financial year 2001-2002, 15 in 2000-2001, 15 in 1999-2000, 5 in 1998-1999 and 9 in 1997-1998.

Bhí 19 páiste faoi aon bhliain d’aois curtha ar an chlár le haghaidh uchtaithe sa bhliain airgeadais 2001-2002, 15 i 2000-2001, 15 i 1999-2000, 5 i 1998-1999 agus 9 i 1997-1998.

(AQW 3532/01)

Ms de Brún: The current HPSS Complaints Procedures are set out in The Health and Personal Social Services Complaints Procedures Directions (Northern Ireland) 1996 and in "Complaints Listening.Acting.Improving: Guidance on Implementation of the HPSS Complaints Procedure March 1996 and Guidance on Handling HPSS Complaints April 2000. Under these procedures service users are encouraged to make a complaint to the staff in the Trust or GP Practice dealing directly with them. All written complaints must receive a substantive written reply from the Trust’s Chief Executive within 20 days or from the GP Practice within 10 days.

If the complainant is still dissatisfied, he/she may ask for a review of the complaint by an Independent Review Panel. The Board convenor will decide if a review is warranted and if so, an independent lay panel will be appointed to investigate the complaint. Independent clinical assessors assist panels in the investigation of clinical matters. A complainant who remains dissatisfied with the outcome of the review can take the complaint to the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints (the Ombudsman).

Tá Gnáthaimh láithreacha Ghearán na SSSP leagtha amach i The Health and Personal Social Services Complaints Procedures Directions (Northern Ireland) 1996 and in "Complaints Listening.Acting.Improving: Guidance on Implementation of the HPSS Complaints Procedure March 1996 and Guidance on Handling HPSS Complaints April 2000. Faoi na gnáthaimh seo moltar d’úsáideoirí seirbhísí gearán a dhéanamh leis an fhoireann san Iontaobhas nó sa Chleachtadh GD atá ag déileáil go díreach leo. Ní mór do Phríomh-Fheidhmeannach an Iontaobhais nó don Chleachtadh GD freagra mion scríofa a thabhairt do gach uile ghearán scríofa laistigh de 20 lá, agus laistigh de 10 lá faoi seach.

Muna bhfuil an gearánaí sásta go fóill, is féidir leis/léi iarraidh go ndéanfaidh Painéal Neamhspleách Athbhreithnithe athbhreithniú ar an ghearán. Cinnfidh tionólaí an Bhoird má bhíonn athbhreithniú de dhíth agus má bhíonn, ceapfar painéal neamhspleách tuata leis an ghearán a fhiosrú. Cuidíonn measúnóirí neamhspleácha cliniciúla le painéil i bhfiosrú cúrsaí cliniciúla. Is féidir le gearánaí nach bhfuil sásta go fóill i ndiaidh toradh an athbhreithnithe an gearán a dhéanamh le Coimsinéir Thuaisceart Éireann um Ghearáin (Cosantóir an Phobail).

(AQW 3533/01)

Ms de Brún: The following staff are employed in investigating complaints. The whole time equivalent (wte)¹ is shown against each entry as some staff have other duties as well. In addition each of the Trusts listed below will have administrative and secretarial staff who, as part of their duties, will undertake tasks related to the investigation of complaints.

Seo a leanas na hoibrithe atá fostaithe le gearáin a fhiosrú. Tá an choibhéis lánaimseartha (cla)^{1 a bhaineann} le gach oibrí idir lúibíní mar go bhfuil dualgais eile ar roinnt oibrithe chomh maith. Ina theannta sin, beidh oibrithe riaracháin agus rúnaíochta ag gach Iontaobhas liostáilte thíos, a dhéanfaidh tascanna bainteach le fiosrú gearán mar chuid dá ndualgais oibre.

(AQW 3555/01)

Ms de Brún: Pay awards from 1 April 2002 announced for NHS staff will be awarded to similar groups of staff employed in the Health and Personal Social Services.

Bronnfar duaiseanna pá ó 1 Aibreán 2002 a fógraíodh le haghaidh fhoireann na SSN ar ghrúpaí den chineál céanna foirne fostaithe sna Seirbhísí Sláinte agus Sóisialta Pearsanta.

(AQW 3556/01)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is not available.

Níl fáil ar an eolas a iarradh.

(AQO 1370/01)

Ms de Brún: There is no specified population figure that can be regarded as the optimum for a major acute hospital and the Acute Hospitals Review Group did not recommend a specific catchment size. In England, some professional bodies have recommended between 450,000 and 500,000 to provide a full range of facilities and acute specialities, although they recognise that, in practice, most acute hospitals will continue to serve populations of around 200,00 – 300, 000. In planning acute services, other issues would need to be taken into account, including the needs and circumstances of rural populations.

Níl aon fhigiúr sonraithe daonra is féidir a mheas ina uasfhigiúr do mhór-ospidéal géarchúraim, agus níor mhol Grúpa Athbhreithnithe na-Ospidéal Géarchúraim méid ceantair sonrach. I Sasana, mhol roinnt foras gairimiúil daonra idir 450,000 agus 500,000 le réimse iomlán áiseanna agus speisialtóireachtaí géarchúraim a sholáthar, cé go n-aithníonn siad, dáiríre, go bhfreastalaíonn ospidéil ghéarchúraim ar dhaonraí de thart ar 200,000 agus 300,000. Agus seirbhísí géarchúraim á bpleanáil, caithfidh ceisteanna eile a chur san áireamh, lena n-áirítear riachtanais agus cúinsí daonraí tuaithe.

(AQW 3584/01)

Ms de Brún: The Answers to the Questions referred to were issued on Tuesday 14 May.

Eisíodh freagraí na gCeisteanna ar tagraíodh dóibh Dé Máirt 14 Bealtaine.

(AQW 3585/01)

Ms de Brún: Information is available on the average number of places in residential homes for elderly people at 31 March 1997 and 31 March 2001 (the latest date for which information is available) and is detailed in the table below.

Tá eolas ar fáil ar mheánlíon na n-áiteanna ar fáil do sheandaoine i dtithe cónaithe ar 31 Márta 1997 agus ar 31 Márta 2001 (an dáta is déanaí dá bhfuil eolas ar fáil) agus tá sé léirithe go mion sa tábla thíos.

(AQW 3586/01)

Ms de Brún: None. The most recent available research found no clear evidence that laser therapy was effective as an aid to smoking cessation.

Cruthúnas ar bith. Fuair amach an taighde is déanaí atá ar fáil nach raibh cruthúnas soiléir ann go raibh teiripe léasair éifeachtach mar áis le héirí as caitheamh tobac.

(AQW 3588/01)

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.