(AQW 78/02)

Ms de Brún: Information on the numbers of individuals who use hearing aids is not collected centrally.

Ní chruinnítear eolas go lárnach ar líon na ndaoine aonaracha a chaitheann áiseanna éisteachta.

(AQW 79/02)

Ms de Brún: It is not possible to quantify the number of people using digital hearing aids as they may be purchased privately.

As digital hearing aids are not available through the Health Service here, there are no waiting lists.

Ní féidir líon na ndaoine a cheannaíonn áiseanna éisteachta digiteacha a áireamh mar is féidir iad a cheannacht go príobháideach.

Níl liostaí feithimh anseo, os rud é nach bhfuil áiseanna éisteachta digiteacha ar fáil tríd an tSeirbhís Sláinte anseo.

(AQW 80/02)

Ms de Brún: No specific funding allocation has been made for those with hearing difficulties

Ní dhearna dáileadh ar leith maoinithe dóibh siúd le deacrachtaí éisteachta.

(AQW 81/02)

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to AQW 13/02.

Treoraím an Ball do mo fhreagra a thug mé ar AQW 13/02.

(AQW 83/02)

Ms de Brún: Eight staff employed by Homefirst Community Trust have been issued with final warnings in respect of employment related issues in the two year period ended 31.8.02. My Department does not hold such details centrally and a comparison with other trusts could only be made at a disproportionate cost.

Tugadh foláirimh dheiridh d’ochtar den fhoireann atá fostaithe ag Iontaobhas Pobail Homefirst maidir le ceisteanna a bhaineann le fostaíocht sa tréimhse dhá bhliain dar chríoch 31.8.02. Níl mionsonraí den sórt sin ag mo Roinnse go lárnach agus ní fhéadfaí comparáid a dhéanamh ach sa chás go bhfaighfí na figiúirí d’Iontaobhais eile ina gceann agus ina gceann ar chostas díréireach.

(AQW 88/02)

Ms de Brún: A feasibility study into the costs and benefits of a dedicated helicopter emergency medical service for the island of Ireland is currently underway. The study will produce options for the locations of such a service. The proportion of costs, which would fall to my Department will be determined in the course of the development of these options. The feasibility study should be completed by the end of the year.

Tá staidéar féidearthachta sa siúl faoi láthair ar na costais agus ar na buntáistí a bhaineann le seirbhís dhírithe héileacaptair liachta éigeandála a chur ar fáil d’oileán na hÉireann. Cuirfidh an staidéar roghanna ar fáil le haghaidh suímh dá leithéid de sheirbhís. Cinnteofar céatadán na gcostas, a bheadh le híoc ag an Roinn s’agam, le linn forbairt na roghanna seo. Ba chóir go mbeadh an staidéar féidearthachta curtha i gcrích faoi dheireadh na bliana.

(AQW 94/02)

Ms de Brún: I have no plans to establish the task force proposed.

Níl pleananna ar bith agam an tascfhórsa atá molta a bhunú.

(AQW 105/02)

(a) The information requested is set out in the table below.

(b) Information requested is not available.

(a) Léirítear sa tábla thíos an t-eolas a iarradh.

b) Níl eolas a iarradh ar fáil.

(AQO 114/02)

Ms de Brún: As of 30 June 2002, there were 113 patients from the Southern Health and Social Services Board and 69 patients from the Western Health and Social Services Board on the waiting list for cardiac surgery.

Faoi mar a bhí an 30 Meitheamh 2002, bhí 113 othar ó Bhord Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sláinte an Deiscirt agus 69 othar ó Bhord Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sláinte an Iarthair ar liostaí feithimh do mháinliacht chairdiach.

(AQO 83/02)

Ms de Brún: In relation to the prescribing of homeopathic medicine, individual GPs are free to prescribe any treatment which they consider appropriate for an individual patient. This includes homeopathic medicine.

I dtaca le hoideas míochaine hoiméapaití a ordú de, tá liachleachtóirí in ann cóireáil ar bith a mholadh a shíleann siad a bheadh fóirstineach don othar. Cuimsíonn seo míochaine hoiméapaiteach.

(AQO 116/02)

Ms de Brún: The Eastern Health and Social Services Board plans to develop proposals to address the locality equity issue in the Down Lisburn area, and, following a period of public consultation, the strategy produced should begin to be implemented from April 2003. Work will begin shortly to recalculate the locality equity results at District Council level as soon as the 2001 Census of Population estimates are published. The Board is also seeking to confirm the accuracy of the underlying statistical analysis and to examine the expenditure on Family Practitioner Services to confirm the validity of the position in respect of the population of Down Lisburn Area. I am keen to ensure that resources at local level are distributed on an equitable basis and I have asked my officials to maintain close contact with the Eastern HSS Board on this matter.

Tá sé i gceist ag Bord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Oirthir tograí a fhorbairt chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar cheist an chothromais áitiúil i limistéar an Dúin Lios na gCearrbhach, agus, tar éis tréimhse de chomhchomhairle phoiblí, ba chóir go dtosfaí ag cur na straitéise a cuireadh ar fáil i bhfeidhm ó Aibreán 2003. Cuirfear tús le hobair go luath ar thorthaí cothromas an cheantair ag leibhéal Comhairle Ceantair a athríomh a luaithe is a bheidh meastacháin Dhaonáireamh 2001 foilsithe. Tá an Bord ag féachaint le cruinneas na hanailíse staitistiúla bunúsaí a dheimhniú agus iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar chaiteachas na Seirbhísí Cleachtóra Teaghlaigh chun bailíocht an tseasaimh maidir le daonra cheantar an Dúin Lios na gCearrbhach a dheimhniú. Táim ag déanamh mo mhíle dícheall lena chinntiú go scaiptear na hacmhainní ag leibhéal áitiúil ar bhonn cothrom agus tá iarrtha agam ar m’oifigigh dlúth-theagmháil a choimeád le Bord SSS an Oirthir ar an ábhar seo.

(AQO 11/02)

Ms de Brún: With your permission, Mr Speaker, I shall take questions 10 and 11 together, since they both relate to the Mid-Ulster Hospital. Under the proposals set out in my consultation paper, ‘Developing Better Services’, the Mid-Ulster Hospital will be developed as a Local Hospital, networking with acute hospitals and local primary and community care to provide services that do not need to be delivered in a large acute hospital. Final decisions will be made following the completion of the current consultation process.

I have made it clear that, until longer-term decisions are made, I expect every effort to be made to maintain existing services at all our acute hospitals, including the Mid-Ulster.

Le do chead, a Cheann Comhairle, tógfaidh mé ceisteanna 10 agus 11 le chéile, mar go mbaineann siad araon le hOspidéal Uladh Láir. Faoi na moltaí atá leagtha amach i mo pháipéar comhchomhairle, Developing Better Services, beidh Ospidéal Uladh Láir forbartha mar Ospidéal Áitiúil, ag cruthú líonra le ospidéil géarchúraim agus cúram áitiúil príomhúil agus pobail chun seirbhísí a sholáthar nach gá a sheachadadh in ospidéal mór géarchúraim. Déanfar na cinntí deiridh tar éis an próiseas comhchomhairlithe reatha a thabhairt chun críche.

Tá sé luaite go soiléir agam, nó go ndéantar cinntí ar thréimhse níos faide, go bhfuilim ag súil go ndéanfar gach iarracht na seirbhísí atá cheana ag ár n-ospidéil géarchúraim, lena n-áirítear Ospidéal Uladh Láir, a choinneáil.

(AQO 82/02)

Ms de Brún: With your permission, Mr Speaker, I shall take questions 10 and 11 together, since they both relate to the Mid-Ulster Hospital. Under the proposals set out in my consultation paper, ‘Developing Better Services’, the Mid-Ulster Hospital will be developed as a local hospital, networking with acute hospitals and local primary and community care to provide services that do not need to be delivered in a large acute hospital. Final decisions will be made following the completion of the current consultation process.

I have made it clear that, until longer-term decisions are made, I expect every effort to be made to maintain existing services at all our acute hospitals, including the Mid-Ulster.

Le do chead, a Cheann Comhairle, tógfaidh mé ceisteanna 10 agus 11 le chéile, mar go mbaineann siad araon le hOspidéal Uladh Láir. Faoi na moltaí atá leagtha amach i mo pháipéar comhchomhairle, ‘Developing Better Services’, beidh Ospidéal Uladh Láir forbartha mar Ospidéal Áitiúil, ag cruthú líonra le ospidéil géarchúraim agus cúram áitiúil príomhúil agus pobail chun seirbhísí a sholáthar nach gá a sheachadadh in ospidéal mór géarchúraim. Déanfar na cinntí deiridh tar éis an próiseas comhchomhairlithe reatha a thabhairt chun críche.

Tá sé luaite go soiléir agam, nó go ndéantar cinntí ar thréimhse níos faide, go bhfuilim ag súil go ndéanfar gach iarracht na seirbhísí atá cheana ag ár n-ospidéil géarchúraim, lena n-áirítear Ospidéal Uladh Láir, a choinneáil.

(AQO 24/02)

Ms de Brún: The 15 new local health and social care groups have all been formally established. The groups have held their inaugural meetings and have appointed interim chairs. They will elect substantive chairs by the end of September. GPs have not taken up the posts available for them, but apart from these posts, there are only a small number of management board vacancies, including the manager posts, and I expect these to be filled during September.

A learning and development programme has been developed for the groups and will roll out over the coming months. Groups have already received induction training.

Further guidance was issued by my Department on 13 August dealing with the budgetary responsibilities of the groups and I have allocated substantial additional resources in the current year for primary care development. The groups are now in position to develop their agenda for the planning and delivery of primary and community care services.

Bunaíodh na 15 Ghrúpa Cúraim Sóisialta agus Sláinte Áitiúil go foirmiúil. Thionóil na Grúpaí a gcuid cruinnithe bliantúla agus tá Cathaoirligh Eatramhacha ceaptha acu. Toghfaidh siad Caothairligh lárnacha faoi dheireadh Mhéan Fómhair. Níor ghlac gnáthdhochtúirí leis na poist atá ar fáil dóibh, ach seachas na poist sin, níl ach líon beag folúntas Boird Bainistíochta ann, lena n-áirítear poist Bhainisteora, agus táim ag súil go mbeidh siad sin líonta le linn Meán Fómhair.

Tá clár forbartha agus foghlama forbartha do na Grúpaí agus cuirfear i bhfeidhm é de réir a chéile sna míonna atá ag teacht. Tá Oiliúint Induchtúcháin faighte ag grúpaí cheana féin.

D’eisigh mo Roinn breis treorach ar an 13 Lúnasa a bhain le freagrachtaí buiséid na nGrúpaí agus tá acmhainní breise substainiúla leithroinnte agam d’Fhorbairt Cúraim Phríomhúil don bhliain reatha. Tá na Grúpaí anois in ann a gclár do phleanáil agus do sheachadadh seirbhísí chúram pobail agus cúraim phríomhúil a fhorbairt.

(AQO 108/02)

Ms de Brún: The main problems at the Ulster Hospital relate to a shortage of capacity in the face of the increasing levels of demand. The strategic development plan that I announced on 31 July 2001 includes a proposal to extend the accident and emergency department to upgrade to meet statutory standards. I have also allocated £2 million for the reinstatement of 20 adult inpatient beds in the Jaffe Ward. These beds will shortly be operational and will help meet demand for services this winter. As part of its normal planning for winter, the trust will also be considering what additional measures need to be put in place to deal with the exceptional pressures that arise during the winter months.

Baineann na príomhfhadhbanna atá in Ospidéal Uladh le heaspa acmhainní de bharr an méadú ar leibhéil éilimh. Áirítear sa Phlean Forbartha Straitéiseach a d’fhógair mé an 31 Iúil 2001 moladh chun an Roinn Éigeandála agus Taismí agus uasghrádú a dhéanamh uirthi chun caighdeáin reachtúla a chomhlíonadh. Tá £2 milliún leithroinnte agam chun 20 leaba othar cónaithe do dhaoine fásta a athchur i mBarda Jaffe. Beidh na leapacha seo in úsáid go luath agus cuideoidh siad le freastal ar an éileamh ar sheirbhísí an geimhreadh seo. Mar chuid dá ghnáthphleanáil don Gheimhreadh, beidh an tIontaobhas ag breithniú cé na bearta breise nach mór a chur i bhfeidhm chun déileáil le brúnna eisceachtúla a thagann chun cinn le linn míonna an Gheimhridh.

(AQO 1/02)

Ms de Brún: The principle of ensuring that service provision should, as far as possible, preserve or restore independent living must always be paramount. The aim is to secure the most cost-effective package that meets the person’s needs and is, as far as is practicable, consistent with his or her wishes and those of his or her carers.

In general terms, people wishing to be considered for residential care may be assessed as needing it for social, psychological, behavioural or physical reasons and an alternative safe management arrangement is not available in the community.

Similarly, to be considered eligible for nursing home care, an individual should require care from a qualified nurse at intervals throughout the day and night to a level and intensity which cannot be appropriately provided in a community or residential home setting. Among the indicators for nursing home care are high levels of physical dependency, serious deterioration in physical or mental condition or regular incontinence requiring frequent attention throughout the day.

Ní mór go mbeadh ríthábhacht i gcónaí leis an bprionsabal a chinntíonn go ndéanfaidh soláthar seirbhíse, chomh mór agus is féidir, cónaí neamhspleách a chaomhnú agus a thabhairt ar ais. Is é an aidhm ná pacáiste costas-éifeachtach a bhaint amach a dhéanann freastal ar riachtanais an duine agus atá, chomh mór agus is féidir, comhsheasamhach lena m(h)ianta agus le mianta a c(h)úramaithe.

I dtéarmaí ginearálta, d’fhéadfadh go ndéanfaí measúnú ar dhaoine ar mian leo go mbreithneofaí iad do chúram cónaithe go bhfuil an cúram ag teastáil uathu de bharr cúiseanna fisiceacha, iompair, síceolaíochta nó sóisialta agus nach bhfuil socrú bainistíochta sábháilte malartach ar fáil sa phobal.

Ar an gcuma chéanna, le go mbreithneofar go bhfuiltear cáilithe do chúram i dteach altranais, ba chóir go mbeadh cúram ag teastáil ón duine ó altra cáilithe i dtréimhsí le linn an lae agus na hoíche ag leibhéal agus déineacht nach féidir freastal go sásúil orthu sa phobal nó i dteach cónaithe. I measc na dtáscairí do chúram i dteach altranais tá léibhéil arda de spléachas fisiceach, meath mór i mbail inchinne nó fhisiceach nó neamhchoinneálacht rialta a éilíonn freastal minic le linn an lae.

(AQO 10/02)

Ms de Brún: I have no plans at present to visit Kilkeel Health Centre to inspect the facilities there. However, I do recognise that the accommodation there is in need of modernisation.

Níl aon phleananna agam faoi láthair cuairt a thabhairt ar Ionad Sláinte Chill Chaoil chun cigireacht a dhéanamh ar na saoráidí ann. Aithním áfach nach mór an chóiríocht a thabhairt cothrom le dáta.

(AQO 113/02)

Ms de Brún: Currently the specialist medical workforce is reviewed annually and numbers in training adjusted, resources permitting, to take account of the changing situation.Orthopaedics has been accorded a high priority within the limited resources available for medical training over recent years. Specifically, since 1998, there has been an increase of almost 50% in the numbers of specialist trainees in orthopaedics.

In addition, work is underway on a comprehensive review of future medical workforce requirements. The review is expected to be completed within the next few months and will include an assessment of the training places required to meet service needs.

Faoi láthair déantar athbhreithniú bliantúil ar fhórsa saothair na speisialtóirí liachta agus déantar coigeartú ar an líon atá in oiliúint, má cheadaíonn na hacmhainní sin, leis an staid athraitheach a chur san áireamh. Tá tosaíocht ard tugtha d’ortaipéide laistigh de na hacmhainní teoranta atá ar fáil d’oiliúint liachta le blianta beaga anuas. Go sonrach, ó 1998, tá méadú de bheagnach 50% tagtha ar an líon oiliúnóirí speisialtóireachta in ortaipéide.

Chomh maith leis sin, tá obair ar siúl ar athbhreithniú cuimsitheach ar riachtanais an fhórsa saothair liachta sa todhchaí. Táthar ag súil go mbeidh an t-athbhreithniú críochnaithe laistigh de na chéad chúpla mí eile agus áireofar ann measúnú ar áiteanna oiliúna atá riachtanach chun freastal ar riachtanais seirbhíse.

(AQO 107/02)

Ms de Brún: The Committee is developing proposals for research into the area of screening for type two diabetes amongst high-risk groups. It is my understanding that they have made a commitment to providing definitive advice on this topic to health departments in 2005.

Tá tograí á bhforbairt ag an gCoiste do thaighde sa réimse scagthástála do chineál 2 diabéitis i measc grúpaí in ard-bhaol. Is é mo thuiscint go bhfuil siad tiomanta le comhairle chinnte a thabhairt ar an ábhar seo do na Ranna Sláinte in 2005.

(AQO 81/02)

Ms de Brún: The needs and effectiveness evaluation has provided a comprehensive assessment of the comparative costs and the effectiveness of the expenditure on health and social care services here. For the first time we have agreed evidence which confirms the very high level of need here relative to England and the fact that many of the problems facing the HPSS reflect funding levels which compare unfavourably with England. The study also confirms the effectiveness of our performance, both in terms of cost and activity, and that it compares well with that achieved elsewhere.

This study has provided important confirmation of the historic levels of underfunding of health and social care services here and the need for further investment to be made to address the problems which this has created. This funding gap is increasing under the current expenditure plans and I will be arguing strongly in the Executive that we should use the present spending review not only to match increases in Great Britain but also to begin to redress the damage to existing services of the many years of significant underfunding.

Chuir Luacháil Éifeachtachta agus Riachtanas measúnú cuimsitheach ar fáil ar chostais chomparáideacha agus ar éifeachtacht an chaiteachais ar sheirbhísí cúraim sóisialta agus sláinte anseo. Don chéad uair, tá fianaise aontaithe againn a chinntíonn an leibhéal ard riachtanais anseo le hais Shasana agus gur de bharr leibhéil mhaoinithe, atá mífhabhrach le hais Shasana, atá go leor de na fadhbanna atá ag an SSSP. Léiríonn an staidéar freisin éifeachtacht ár bhfeidhmíocht, i dtéarmaí costais agus gníomhaíochta, agus gur éirigh go maith linn i gcomparáid lenar baineadh amach in áiteanna eile.

Chuir an staidéar cinnteacht thábhachtach ar fáil maidir leis na leibhéil easpa-maoinithe, go stairiúil, i leith seirbhísí chúram sóisialta agus sláinte anseo agus an riachtanas atá ann do bhreis infheistíochta chun tabhairt faoi fhadhbanna atá tagtha chun cinn dá bharr. Tá an bhearna seo i maoiniú ag méadú faoi na pleananna caiteachais reatha agus beidh mise ag argóint go láidir san Fheidhmeannas go mba chóir dúinn leas a bhaint as an athbhreithniú caiteachais reatha chun arduithe a thabhairt cothrom leo sin sa Bhreatain Mhór agus freisin chun tabhairt faoin dámáiste atá déanta sna seirbhísí atá ann de bharr blianta d’easpa maoinithe shuntasaigh.

(AQO 115/02)

Ms de Brún: To date, I have not had any meetings to discuss pay and conditions here with the Fire Brigades Union. I have, however, received a request for such a meeting and arrangements are being made for it.

Pay rises for Fire Service personnel are negotiated jointly between the Fire Brigades Union and employers representing brigades here and in Great Britain. Neither I, nor my Department, have been directly involved in these negotiations

It is in everyone’s interest for the employers and the Fire Brigades Union to agree a fair settlement to the pay claim. It is also important, however, that any pay rise for Fire Service staff is affordable given the current pressures on public spending, and that it is set in the context of modernisation and improvement.

I am happy to support the call for a review of pay and conditions for Fire Service personnel to ensure that these reflect the skilled and professional role which they undertake.

Go dtí seo, ní raibh aon chruinnithe agam chun pá agus coinníollacha a phlé le hAontas na mBriogáidí Dóiteáin. Tá iarratas ar a leithéid de chruinniú faighte agam, áfach, agus tá socruithe á ndéanamh don chruinniú.

Déantar idirbheartaíocht ar arduithe pá do phearsanra na Seirbhíse Dóiteáin i gcomhar idir Aontas na mBriogáidí Dóiteáin agus na Fostóirí a dhéanann ionadaíocht thar ceann na mBriogáidí anseo agus sa Bhreatain Mhór. Ní bhíonn baint dhíreach agamsa, ná ag mo Roinnse, leo.

Is chun leasa gach duine é go gcomhaontódh Fostóirí agus Aontas na mBriogáidí Dóiteáin socrú cothrom don éileamh pá. Tá sé tábhachtach chomh maith, áfach, go mbíonn aon ardú pá d’fhoireann na Seirbhíse Dóiteáin réasúnta ag glacadh leis an mbrú reatha atá ar chaiteachas poiblí agus go mbíonn sé socruithe i gcomhthéacs an nuachóirithe agus an fheabhsúcháin.

Táim breá sásta tacú leis an nglaoch d’athbhreithniú ar íocaíocht agus coinníollacha phearsanra na Seirbhíse Dóiteáin lena chinntiú go léiríonn siad an ról gairmiúil le hardscileanna a dhéanann siad.