(AQW 3874/01)

Ms de Brún: The numbers of paramedics employed as at 28 May 2002 in each Ambulance Service Division and the optimum numbers required are shown in the table below. The variance in the figures has arisen primarily as a result of a shortfall in the training budget. However, additional resources provided for staff training will enable the Ambulance Service to substantially address this skill mix imbalance in the current year by training 36 Emergency Medical Technicians [EMTs] as paramedics.

Tá líon na bparaimhíochaineoirí fostaithe faoi 28 Bealtaine 2002 i ngach Rannóg na Seirbhíse Otharcharr agus an líon is fearr atá de dhíth léirithe sa tábla thíos. D’eascair an difear sna figiúirí go príomha ón easnamh sa bhuiséad oiliúna. Cuirfidh na hacmhainní breise soláthraithe don fhoireann ar chumas na Seirbhíse Otharcharr áfach le tabhairt faoin éagothromaíocht seo i leibhéal na scileanna sa bhliain reatha trí 36 Teicneoir Éigeandála Míochaine [TÉManna] a oiliúint mar pharaimhíochaineoirí.

(AQW 3875/01)

Ms de Brún: Data on ambulance call outs is collected at station level. The information provided below relates to activity and performance from 1 January 2002 to 30 April 2002 at the two stations, which primarily cover the South Belfast area, Templemore Avenue and Knockbracken. The target response times for the Ambulance Service in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board area are to respond to 50% of emergency calls within 8 minutes and to respond to 95% of emergency calls within 18 minutes.

Tá dáta ar scairteanna amach otharchairr bailithe ag an staisiún. Baineann an t-eolas a soláthraíodh le gníomhaíocht agus feidhmiúchán ó 1 Eanáir 2002 go 30 Aibreán 2002 ag an dá stáisiún a chlúdaíonn ceantar Bhéal Feirste Theas, Ascaill an Teampaill Mhóir agus Knockbracken go príomha. Is é an spriocaga freagartha don tSeirbhís Otharchairr i mBordcheantar Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Oirthir ná go bhfreagrófar ar 50% de scairteanna éigeandála laistigh de 8 bomaite agus go bhfreagrófar ar 95% de scairteanna éigeandála laistigh de 18 bomaite.

(AQW 3876/01)

Ms de Brún: My Department will seek to ensure that it complies fully with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. To this end, an Information Manager has been appointed to oversee corporate Freedom of Information and Data Protection matters. This includes preparation of the Publication Scheme in time to meet the November 2002 deadline.

Féachfaidh mo Roinn chuige le cinntiú go gcomhlíonfaidh sí forálacha an Achta um Shaoirse Eolais ina n-iomlán. Leis seo a dhéanamh, ceapadh Bainisteoir Eolais le cúrsaí a bhaineann le Saoirse chorparáideach Eolais agus le Cosaint Sonraí a stiúradh. Ina measc tá ullmhú tráthúil Scéime Foilsitheoireachta roimh an spriocdháta i Samhain 2002.

(AQW 3877/01)

Ms de Brún: There are no plans currently to commission research into ADHD. The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety funds research largely through the HPSS Research & Development (R&D) fund which is managed by the Research and Development Office for the HPSS to implement the HPSS R&D strategy. In common with other NHS R&D Strategies it is neither disease specific nor disease driven.

The Research and Development Office has established a Child Health and Welfare Recognised Research Group (RRG) which has committed almost £1.8 million for research into child health and welfare. At present there are no specific research projects directly related to the question.

Níl sé beartaithe taighde ar NEAH a choimisiúnú. Maoiníonn an Roinn Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí taighde den chuid is mó trí chiste Taighde agus Forbartha (T&F) na SSSP atá stiúrtha ag Oifig Taighde agus Forbartha na SSSP le straitéis T&F na SSSP a chur i bhfeidhm. Cosúil le Straitéisí T&F eile na SNS níl sí socruithe de réir sainghalair nó galair ar leith.

Bhunaigh an Oifig Taighde agus Forbartha Grúpa Aitheanta Taighde ar Shláinte agus ar Leas Páistí (GAT) a gheall £1.8 miliún do thaighde ar shláinte agus ar leas páistí. Faoi láthair, níl tionscadail taighde ar leith bainteach go díreach leis an cheist.

(AQW 3883/01)

Ms de Brún: The stability and effectiveness of placements are fundamental to the long term well being of children in care and the Programme for Government gives priority to the development, by March 2003, of a strategy to promote stability and security for looked after children through permanency planning and adoption.

Children’s Services Plans, which establish the framework for the delivery of services within each HSS Board, should include objectives and targets for securing the permanent placement of looked-after children. In addition, I plan to strengthen the range of placement options available through implementation of the Children Matter Task Force’s plans for residential care, improved recruitment and retention of foster carers and increased emphasis on adoption as a means of securing permanency.

I am committed to increasing, by March 2003, the number of residential care places by 52 above the level at July 2001 in order to reduce the short-fall in existing provision. HSS Boards and Trusts are required to consolidate and improve fostering services by meeting the Foster Care Standards relating to care planning, support for carers and management structures. With a view to having at least 4% of looked after children adopted, HSS Boards and Trusts are also required to implement the recommendations of the recent Social Services Inspectorate Reports.

Tá seasmhacht agus éifeachtacht na socruithe ríthábhachtach do leas fadtéarmach páistí i gcúram agus tugann an Clár um Rialtas tosaíocht d’fhorbairt straitéise, faoi Mhárta 2003, le seasmhacht agus sábháilteacht a chur chun cinn do pháistí faoi chúram trí phleanáil bhuan agus trí uchtú.

Ba chóir cuspóirí agus spriocanna le socrú buan a chinntiú do pháistí i gcúram bheith sna Pleananna Seirbhísí Páistí, a chumann an chreatlach do sholáthar seirbhísí laistigh de gach Bord SSS. Ina theannta sin, tá sé ar intinn agam réimse na roghanna socraithe ar fáil a neartú trí phleananna an Tascfhórsa Ní Cuma Faoi Pháistí do chúram cónaithe a chur i bhfeidhm, trí fheabhsú in earcaíocht agus i gcoinneáil feighlithe altrama agus trí níos mó béime a chur ar uchtú mar mheán le socrú buan a chinntiú.

Tá me geallta do mhéadú i líon na n-áiteanna cúraim chónaithe faoi Mhárta 2003, sin 52 áit níos mó ná an leibhéal in Iúil 2001, chun an t-easnamh sa soláthar faoi láthair a laghdú. Tá ar Bhoird agus ar Iontaobhais SSS seirbhísí altrama a neartú agus a fheabhsú trí Chaighdeáin Chúraim Altrama i dtaca le pleanáil cúraim, tacaíocht d’fheighlithe agus le struchtúir bhainistíochta a chomhlíonadh. Agus an toil ann le 4% ar a laghad de pháistí faoi chúram a uchtú, tá ar Bhoird agus ar Iontaobhais SSS moltaí Thuairiscí déanacha Fhoireann Chigireachta na Seirbhísí Sóisialta a chur i bhfeidhm chomh maith.

(AQW 3884/01)

Ms de Brún: Research is on-going to revise the funding formulae for the allocation of revenue resources to the four Health and Social Services Boards. Two of the current five projects being undertaken are scheduled for completion by end July but it will be at least the end of the year before the other projects are finished. Following completion of the research, there will be a quality assurance process, which is expected to include peer review, an Equality Impact Assessment and public consultation, before implementation can be made.

Tá taighde ag dul ar aghaidh leis na foirmlí maoinithe úsáidte le hacmhainní a dháileadh ar na ceithre Bhord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta a leasú. Tá dhá cheann de na ceithre thionscadal a bhfuiltear ag tabhairt fúthu le bheith críochnaithe faoi dheireadh mhí Iúil ach ag deireadh na bliana ar a laghad a chríochnófar na tionscadail eile. I ndiaidh chríochnú an taighde, beidh próiseas dearbhú cáilíochta ann ina mbeidh athbhreithniú ar na comhghleacaithe, Measúnú Tionchair ar Chomhionannas agus comhairliú poiblí, atáthar ag súil, sular féidir é a chur i bhfeidhm.

(AQW 3905/01)

Ms de Brún: I am aware of the difficulties with the paediatric pathology service at the Royal Victoria Hospital. I am advised that measures for providing a service across all Board areas are currently being urgently considered.

Tá na deacrachtaí leis an tseirbhís phéidiatraiceach phaiteolaíochta in Otharlann Ríoga Victeoiria ar eolas agam. Cuireadh in iúl dom go bhfuil machnamh práinneach á dhéanamh i láthair na huaire ar na bearta le seirbhís a sholáthar ar fud na mBordcheantar go léir.

(AQW 3906/01)

Ms de Brún: The business case for the provision of an Integrated Primary Health and Social Care Centre in Kilkeel was subjected to a detailed scrutiny by my Department and found to be satisfactory. As the cost of the project is above the delegated limit for DHSSPS approval, the business case was referred to the Department of Finance and Personnel, which approved it on 29 January 2002.

Rinne mo Roinn mionscrúdú ar an chás gnó do sholáthar Ionad Imeasctha Príomhchúraim agus Cúraim Shóisialta i gCill Chaoil agus chinn sí go raibh sé sásúil go leor. Mar go bhfuil costas na scéime níos mó ná an chailc thiomnaithe d’fhormheas na RSSSSP, cuireadh an cás gnó faoi bhráid na Roinne Airgeadais agus Pearsanra, a bhí a fhormheas ar 29 Eanáir 2002.

(AQW 3911/01)

Ms de Brún: My Department has had no consultation with nor received any advice directly from the University of York relating to hospital provision.

Ní raibh an Roinn s’agam i gcomhairle le, nó níl comhairle dhíreach faighte aici ó Ollscoil Eabhraic bainteach le soláthar otharlainne.

(AQW 3912/01)

Ms de Brún: This information requested is not available.

Níl fáil ar an eolas a iarradh.

(AQW 3913/01)

Ms de Brún: The number of operating theatres by hospital is provided in the table below.

Source: KH02 return

Information on the number of hours theatres are in use is not collected centrally.

Tugtar líon na n-obrádlann de réir otharlainne sa tábla thíos.

Foinse: KH02 tuairisceán

Ní bhailítear eolas go lárnach ar líon na n-uaireanta ina bhfuil obrádlanna in úsáid.

(AQW 3914/01)

Ms de Brún: Information on patients waiting for inpatient admission to the surgical specialities for quarter ending March 2002 (the latest date for which information is available) is detailed in Table 1 below.

Tá eolas ar othair ag fanacht le dul isteach sna speisialtachtaí máinliachta mar othair chónaitheacha don ráithe dar chríoch Márta 2002 (an dáta is déanaí dá bhfuil eolas ar fáil) léirithe i dTábla 1 thíos.

(AQW 3918/01)

Ms de Brún: I have considered carefully the responses received from all sources, including the professional and other bodies which responded to the pre-consultation on the Acute Hospitals Review Group report. My Department’s professional advisory groups have also provided information and advice.

Tá dianmhachnamh déanta agam ar gach freagra a fuarthas ó gach foinse, na comhlachtaí gairmiúla agus comhlachtaí eile a thug freagra ar an tuairisc réamhchomhairliúcháin an Ghrúpa Athbhreithnithe ar Ghéarotharlanna. Thug grúpaí gairmiúla comhairleacha na Roinne s’agam eolas agus comhairle chomh maith.

(AQW 3919/01)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is given in the table below:

Tugtar an t-eolas iarrtha sa tábla thíos:

(AQW 3929/01)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is not available.

Níl fáil ar an eolas a iarradh.

(AQW 3932/01)

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 3934/01)

Ms de Brún: Health Board expenditure on combating tobacco use cannot be separately identified from overall expenditure on promoting healthy lifestyles. However, the resources made available by my Department in each of the last three years to facilitate the development of comprehensive smoking cessation services in each Health Board area are as follows:

Ní féidir an t-airgead caite le tabhairt faoi thobac a scaradh ón airgead iomlán caite le stíleanna sláintiúla beatha a chur chun cinn. Seo a leanas áfach na hacmhainní curtha ar fáil ag mo Roinn i ngach bliain de na trí bliana deireanacha chun forbairt seirbhísí cuimsitheacha staonadh ó chaitheamh tobac a éascú i ngach ceantar Boird Sláinte.

(AQW 3937/01)

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 3938/01)

Ms de Brún: Whilst the incidence of delayed discharges usually peaks over a winter period it is increasingly a sign of the year round pressure on both the acute and community sector. The provisional figures for the end of March 2002 show there were 353 care managed patients remaining in hospitals after the date that they were deemed medically fit for discharge, representing a decrease of 3% from 364 at the end of February 2002. The provisional figures for March show that in the seven months from September 2001 to March 2002 the number of patients classified as delayed discharges had dropped by 104 (23%).

I have allocated additional funding of £19.1m for community care services this year. Part of that money will be invested in utilising the appropriate range of HPSS skills to support an additional 1000 people in settings in the community, which facilitate a return to independence and reduce the need for long-term residential and nursing home care. Priority is to be given to minimising delayed discharge, reducing waiting lists in the community and to the restoration of domiciliary care as a realistic alternative to institutional care.

The First Report of the Community Care Review was published on 22 April. This Report identified a range of innovative and good practice schemes in place in Trusts, designed to reduce admissions to hospital, to facilitate faster, safe discharges and to provide hospital at home services. My Department is now preparing a database of good practices accessible by Board and Trust staff to help replicate the principles of such practices across Trusts.

Cé go mbíonn líon na ndaoine scaoilte amach go mall ar a mhéad i rith tréimhse an Gheimhridh de ghnáth, is mór an comhartha é ar an bhrú ar an earnáil ghéarotharlainne agus phobail araon an bhliain ar fad. Léiríonn na figiúirí sealadacha do dheireadh mhí an Mhárta 2002 go raibh 353 othar cúramstiúrtha ag fanacht go fóill in otharlanna i ndiaidh an dáta ar fáthmheasadh iad mar folláin go leor le scaoileadh amach, is ionann sin agus laghdú 3% ó 364 othar ag deireadh mhí Feabhra 2002. Léiríonn na figiúirí sealadacha do mhí an Mhárta gur tháinig laghdú 104 (23%) i líon na n-othar rangaithe mar scaoilte amach go mall sna seacht mí ó Mheán Fómhair 2001 go Márta 2002.

Dháil mé maoiniú breise de £19.1m ar sheirbhísí cúraim phobail i mbliana. Infheisteofar cuid den airgead sin in úsáid an réimse chuí de scileanna na SSSP chun tacú le 1000 duine breise i suímh sa phobal, a éascaíonn an filleadh ar ais go neamhspleáchas agus a laghdaíonn an gá le cúram fadtéarmach cónaithe agus tí altranais. Tá tosaíocht le tabhairt d’íosmhéadú i scaoileadh amach mall, do laghdú i liostaí feithimh sa phobal agus d’aiseag cúraim baile mar rogha réadúil eile in áit cúraim institiúide.

Foilsíodh an Chéad Tuairisc den Athbhreithniú ar Chúram Pobail ar 22 Aibreán. D’aimsigh an Tuairisc seo réimse scéimeanna nuála agus dea-chleachtas i bhfeidhm in Iontaobhais, leagtha amach le glacadh isteach daoine in otharlanna a laghdú, le héascú níos gasta a dhéanamh, le daoine a scaoileadh amach go slán sábháilte agus le níos mó seirbhísí otharlann sa bhaile a sholáthar. Tá mo Roinn ag ullmhú bunachar sonraí dea-chleachtas anois is féidir le hoibrithe Boird agus Iontaobhais a úsáid chun cuidiú le prionsabail a leithéid de dhea-chleachtais a athdhéanamh ar fud na nIontaobhas.