(AQW 3956/01)

Ms de Brún: The number of recorded assaults both physical and verbal is detailed in the table below:

Tá líon na n-ionsaithe fisiceacha agus béil cláraithe léirithe sa tábla thíos:

(AQW 3961/01)

Ms de Brún: On the date in question an ambulance from Castlederg responded to the incident referred to because the two emergency ambulances covering the Enniskillen area were at that time deployed on other calls, one of which was a patient transfer to a Belfast hospital. The Ambulance Service considers that emergency cover in the Fermanagh area could be enhanced by the introduction of an intermediate care vehicle in Enniskillen, suitably staffed and equipped to undertake patient transfers. A proposal to that effect has been prepared for consideration by the Western Health and Social Services Board.

Ar an dáta i gceist chuaigh otharcharr ó Chaisleán na Deirge chuig an teagmhas ar tagraíodh dó toisc go raibh an dá otharcharr éigeandála ag clúdach cheantar Inis Ceithleann ag freastal ar scairteanna eile, ceann amháin acu le hothar a aistriú go hotharlann i mBéal Feirste. Measann an tSeirbhís Otharchairr gur féidir cur le clúdach éigeandála i gceantar Fhear Meanach trí thabhairt isteach feithicil cúraim idirmheánaigh in Inis Ceithleann, le foireann agus áiseanna cuí le tabhairt faoi aistriú othar. Rinneadh réidh moladh á rá sin le haghaidh mhacnamh Bhord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Iarthair.

(AQW 3971/01)

Ms de Brún: As part of their basic training, to become qualified, student nurses have the option to take modules in cancer or palliative care. Qualified nurses may also choose, as part of their continuing professional development, to take further specialised training in oncology or haematology. Moreover, nursing staff form part of the multidisciplinary team involved in the treatment of cancer, and it is not always possible to quantify the proportion of their time devoted to cancer patients. The Question is therefore being answered in terms of the number of nurses who hold specialist practice qualifications in cancer or palliative care and this information is given in the table below.

Mar chuid dá mbunoiliúint, le bheith cáilithe, bíonn sé de rogha ag altraí atá ina mic léinn modúil ailse nó cúraim mhaolaithigh a dhéanamh. Féadann altraí cáilithe, mar chuid dá bhforbairt leanúnach ghairmiúil, sainoiliúint bhreise a ghlacadh san oinceolaíocht nó sa haemaiteolaíocht. Lena chois sin, bíonn altraí mar chuid denfhoireann ildisciplíneach a bhaineann le cóir leighis a chur arailse agus ní i gcónaí is féidir céatadán an ama a chaitear le hothair le hailse a chuntas. Léirítear freagra na ceiste mar sin i dtéarmaí líon na n-altraí a bhfuil cáilíochtaí sainchleachtais acu san ailse nó i gcúram maolaitheach agus tugtar an t-eolas seo sa tábla thíos.

(AQW 3976/01)

Ms de Brún: The number of patients remaining in hospital after the date on which they are deemed medically fit for discharge has been rising in parallel with the increased volume of patients presenting for hospital treatment. Although no figures are available for 1998, the figures have risen from 249 at February 1999 to 364 at February 2002.

The health and social services have been actively seeking ways of addressing this problem, and the number of delayed discharges has dropped by 23 per cent between September 2001 and March 2002. A number of measures designed to reduce admissions to hospital, to facilitate faster, safe discharges and to provide hospital at home schemes were identified in the First Report of the Community Care Review, and these are being circulated to Trusts for consideration and implementation.

I have also allocated additional funding of £19.1m for community care services this year. This will be used, amongst other things, to provide an additional 1,000 care packages in the community. Priority is also 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 hospitalisation and other institutional care.

Bhí líon na n-othar ag fanacht in otharlanna i ndiaidh an dáta a fáthmheasadh iad mar folláin go leor le scaoileadh amach ag méadú comhthreomhar ar an mhéadú i líon na n-othar ag fáil cóireála otharlainne. Cé nach bhfuil figiúirí ar fáil do 1998, mhéadaigh na figiúirí ó 249 i mí Feabhra 1999 go 364 i mí Feabhra 2002.

Bhí na seirbhísí sláinte agus sóisiata gníomhach ag iarraidh dóigheanna a aimsiú le tabhairt faoin fhadhb seo agus laghdaigh líon na ndaoine scaoilte amach go mall faoi 23 faoin gcéad idir Meán Fómhair 2001 agus Márta 2002. Aimsíodh roinnt beart sa Chéad Tuairisc den Athbhreithniú ar Chúram Pobail leagtha amach leis an ghlacadh isteach in otharlanna a laghdú, le héascaíocht níos gaiste a dhéanamh, le daoine a scaoileadh amach go slán sábháilte agus le scéimeanna otharlann sa bhaile a sholáthar agus tá siad seo á scaipeadh ar fud na nIontaobhas le haghaidh machnaimh agus chur i bhfeidhm.

Dháil mé maoiniú breise de £19.1m ar sheirbhísí cúraim phobail i mbliana chomh maith. Úsáidfear an maoiniú seo, i measc rudaí eile, le 1000 pacáiste breise cúraim a sholáthar sa phobal. Tá tosaíocht le tabhairt chomh maith 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.

(AQW 3981/01)

Ms de Brún: The Food Standards Agency here has responsibility for food safety and standards and related public health protection matters.

The Food Standards Agency’s Northern Ireland Advisory Committee was established under the Food Standards Act 1999 for the purpose of giving independent advice and information to the Agency about matters concerned with its functions (including in particular matters affecting or otherwise relating to here). The Act requires the Agency to take account of such advice or information, whether or not given at the Agency’s request.

The Advisory Committee comprises nine members and a Chairperson, and its first meeting was held in September 2000. The Committee has held fifteen meetings, four of which have been open meetings attended by members of the public. The open meetings were held in Belfast, Derry, Enniskillen and Cookstown.

Some of the issues on which the Committee has advised are:

• food labelling;

• review of BSE controls;

• GM foods;

• BSE and sheep;

• organic foods;

• food borne illness; and

• nutrition in schools.

Tá an Ghníomhaireacht Caighdeáin Bhia anseo freagrach as sábháilteacht agus as caighdeáin bhia agus as cúrsaí bainteach le cosaint sláinte poiblí.

Bunaíodh Coiste Comhairleach Thuaisceart Éireann na Gníomhaireachta Caighdeain Bhia de réir Acht Caighdeáin Bhia 1999 chun comhairle agus eolas neamhspleách a thabhairt don Ghníomhaireacht faoi chúrsaí bainteach lena cúraimí (go háirithe faoi chúrsaí a bhfuil tionchar acu ar nó a bhaineann leis an áit seo). Éilíonn an tAcht ar an Ghníomhaireacht a leithéid den chomhairle agus den eolas seo a chur san áireamh, bíodh sin tugtha ar iarratas na Gníomhaireachta nó ná bíodh.

Ar an Choiste Chomhairleach tá naoi mball agus Cathaoirleach, agus bhí a chéad chruinniú tionólta i Meán Fómhair 2000. Bhí cúig chruinniú déag ag an Choiste, ar fhreastail daoine den phobal ar cheithre cinn díobh ar chruinnithe oscailte iad. Bhí na cruinnithe oscailte tionólta i mBéal Feirste, i nDoire, in Inis Ceithleann agus sa Chorr Chríochach.

Seo a leanas cuid de na ceisteanna ar thug an Coiste comhairle orthu:

• lipéadú bia;

• athbhreithniú ar rialacháin BSE;

• bianna GM;

• BSE agus caoirigh;

• bianna orgánacha;

• tinneas ó bhia; agus

• cothú i scoileanna.

(AQW 3993/01)

Ms de Brún: There have been no negotiations here with the Fire Brigades Union in relation to increases in fire-fighters pay. The level of fire-fighters pay is determined through the National Joint Council for Local Authorities’ Fire Brigades.

Ní raibh idirbheartaíocht ar bith anseo le Cumann na mBriogáidí Dóiteáin i dtaca le méaduithe i bpá chomhraiceoirí dóiteáin. Tá leibhéal phá chomhraiceoirí dóiteáin socraithe tríd an Chomhchoiste Náisiúnta um Briogáidí Dóiteáin Údarás Áitiúil.

(AQW 4004/01)

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to AQW 3829/01.

Treoraím an Ball do mo fhreagra a thug mé ar AQW 3829/01.

(AQW 4008/01)

Ms de Brún: There are no beds specifically earmarked for the treatment of such eating disorders.

Níl leapacha ar leith curtha ar leataobh do chóireál neamhord ite mar seo.

(AQW 4016/01)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is detailed in the following tables.

Tá an t-eolas iarrtha mionléirithe sna táblaí thíos.

(AQW 4023/01)

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

(a) (b) Figures for 2001/2002 are not yet available. Occupancy rates of over 100% are due to patients leaving the facility and the vacant bed being occupied by another patient on the same day.

(c) Charges for Privately Funded Residents

(d) Actual Running Costs Per Bed

Tá an t-eolas a iarradh léirithe sa tabla thíos.

(a) (b) Níl figiúirí do 2001/2002 ar fáil go fóill. Is de thoradh ar othair ag imeacht ón áis agus go dtéann othar eile isteach sa leaba fholamh ar an lá céanna is cúis le rátaí úsáide thar 100%.

(c) Taillí Do Chonaitheoirí Maoinithe Go Príobháideach

(d) Costais Reatha Iarbhíre gach Leaba