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Friday 4 October 2002
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)
Mr M Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline, in the last 2 years, the bed occupancy rates at acute hospitals by (a) medical and (b) surgical admissions. (AQW 289/02) Ms de Brún: (a) and (b) This information is detailed in the tables below. This information is also published in the annual Hospital Statistics publication, which is available in the Assembly Library and on my Department’s website. (a)
(b)
1 Acute services transferred from Coleraine and Route hospitals to the new Causeway hospital in May 2001, therefore data for Causeway hospital for 2000-2001 is unavailable. 2 The status of South Tyrone hospital changed between 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 with acute inpatient services no longer being provided. (a) agus (b) Léirítear an t-eolas seo sna táblaí thíos. Foilsítear an t-eolas seo chomh maith i bhfoilseachán bliantúil Staitisticí na hOtharlainne, atá ar fáil i Leabharlann an Tionóil agus ar líonláithreán na Roinne s’agam. (a)
(b)
1 D’aistrigh géarsheirbhísí ó otharlann Chúil Raithin agus ó otharlann Route chuig otharlann úr an Chlocháin i mBealtaine 2001, mar sin de níl sonraí d’otharlann an Chlocháin do 2000-2001 ar fáil. 2 D’athraigh stádas otharlann Thír Eoghain Theas idir 2000-2001 agus 2001-2002, ní sholáthraítear géarsheirbhísí othar cónaitheach ansin a thuilleadh. School-Based Nurses Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to investigate the provision of school-based nurses in special schools where school staff are currently responsible for administering drugs and carrying out other procedures; and to make a statement. (AQW 291/02) Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer in AQO 1162/01. Treoraím an Ball do mo fhreagra a thug mé ar AQO 1162/01. Whiteabbey Hospital Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what role she envisages for Whiteabbey Hospital in (a) alleviating bed blocking problems at Antrim Area Hospital and (b) providing beds to meet the annual increased requirements due to winter related pressures. (AQW 294/02) Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to AQW 119/02. Treoraím an Ball do mo fhreagra a thug mé ar AQW 119/02. Asbestos Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will undertake to complete a full audit of Government buildings which have asbestos as a component of their construction; and to make a statement. (AQW 299/02) Ms de Brún: Responsibility for this issue rests with the Minister of Finance and Personnel. Is ar an Aire Airgeadais agus Pearsanra freagracht na ceiste seo. Homefirst Trust Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to confirm if Homefirst Trust continues to fund the salaries of the former Director of Mental Health and the former Nursing Manager from Holywell Hospital following their secondments to her Department. (AQW 316/02) Ms de Brún: I can confirm that Homefirst Trust is responsible for the payment of the salaries of the individuals concerned for the duration of their secondments to my Department. Is féidir liom a dhearbhú go bhfuil Iontaobhas Homefirst freagrach as íocaíocht thuarastail na ndaoine atá i gceist le linn tréimhse a bpost ar iasacht leis an Roinn s’agam. Rheumatologists Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline, within each Health Board, (a) the number of Consultant Rheumatologists employed; and (b) the size of the population they serve. (AQW 317/02) Ms de Brún: The information requested is detailed below.
1Figures include 3 general physicians with a special interest in Rheumatology. 2Consultants provide certain regional services for service users from other Board areas. Tá an t-eolas a iarradh léirithe thíos.
1Áirítear sna figiúirí 3 dochtúir ginearálta a bhfuil suim ar leith sa Réamaiteolaíocht acu. 2Soláthraíonn lianna comhairleacha seirbhísí réigiúnacha áirithe d’úsáideoirí seirbhíse ó Bhordcheantair eile. Firefighters Rev Dr William McCrea asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline (a) any differences in the duties, including civil disturbance call-outs, of whole time and retained fire officers; and (b) whether the two categories enjoy the same rates of pay. (AQW 320/02) Ms de Brún: There are no differences in the duties carried out by Wholetime and Retained fire fighters. However, they do not receive the same rates of pay. The pay and conditions of service of both Wholetime and Retained firefighters is determined by the National Joint Council (NJC) and the Fire Brigades Union has asked the NJC to consider giving retained staff parity on pay. Níl difear ar bith idir na dualgais a dhéanann comhraiceoirí Dóiteáin Lánaimseartha agus comhraiceoirí Dóiteáin Choinnithe. Ní fhaigheann siad na rátaí céanna pá, áfach. Is é an Chomh-Chomhairle Náisiúnta (NJC) a shocraíonn pá agus dálaí seirbhíse na gcomhraiceoirí Dóiteáin Lánaimseartha agus Choinnithe agus d’iarr an tAontas Briogáid Dóiteáin ar an Chomh-Chomhairle Náisiúnta machnamh a dhéanamh ar phaireacht phá a thabhairt don fhoireann choinnithe. Fire Safety Rev Dr William McCrea asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the percentage of the departmental budget directed to fire safety work; and (b) how the Department intends to promote this work. (AQW 321/02) Ms de Brún: The cost of fire safety work is met out of the Fire Authority’s annual budget allocation and it is a matter for the Fire Authority Board to determine the resources that are invested in this area of work. My Department encourages and supports any work that highlights the dangers and risks associated with fires in both the home and workplace, and I am pleased to say that the Fire Authority has run very successful Fire Safety campaigns over recent years. Tagann íocaíocht chostas obair na sábháilteachta dóiteáin amach as buiséad dáiliúcháin bliantúil an Údaráis Dóiteáin agus faoi Bhord an Údaráis Dóiteáin atá sé na hacmhainní a théann isteach sa réimse seo oibre a shocrú. Spreagann agus tacaíonn an Roinn s’agam le hobair ar bith a thugann chun suntais na contúirtí agus na baoil a bhaineann le tinte sa teach agus san ionad oibre, agus tá mé sásta le rá gur reáchtáil an tÚdarás Dóiteáin feachtais iontach rathúil ar Shábháilteacht Dóiteáin le blianta beaga anuas. Ministerial Transport Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the arrangements she has made for her ministerial transport over the past 2 years in terms of (a) her use of the in-house chauffeur service or a contracted-in service; (b) if she used a contracted-in service, which firms or individuals were employed; (c) the recruitment and selection procedure undergone for selecting a ministerial driver; (d) the budget from which the driver is paid and (e) why she chose to supply her own driver outside normal ministerial practice. (AQW 322/02) Ms de Brún: I do not use either the DFP Centralised Transport Unit or a contracted-in service. Sinn Féin provides me with a driver who can be called upon as required. I am aware that other Ministers have different arrangements but I consider this the most appropriate arrangement. My Department reimburses Sinn Féin from its administration budget at a rate equivalent to the scale for drivers employed in the DFP Centralised Transport Unit. Ní bhainim úsáid as Aonad Iompair Lárnaithe na RAP (Roinne Airgeadais agus Pearsanra) ná an tseirbhís tugtha isteach faoi chonradh. Cuireann Sinn Féin tiománaí ar fáil dom ar féidir liom scairt a chur air nuair is gá. Is eol dom go bhfuil socruithe eile déanta ag Airí eile ach is dóigh liom gur seo an socrú is mó a fhóireann. Aisíocann an Roinn s’agam Sinn Féin óna buiséad riaracháin ag ráta cothrom leis an scála do thiománaí fostaithe ag Aonad Iompair Lárnaithe na RAP. Ministerial Transport Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline (a) the tendering process for the purchase of her ministerial car; (b) if those who where unsuccessful in the tendering process were informed of the reasons why the successful tender was accepted; (c) if the accepted tender was the lowest in terms of price; and to make a statement on why she did not adopt normal ministerial practice for the selection of a car. (AQW 323/02) Ms de Brún: Tenders for the supply of a car were invited in the normal way by the Department of Finance and Personnel Procurement Service (formerly the Government Purchasing Agency). The lowest tender in terms of price was accepted and those who were unsuccessful were advised accordingly by the Procurement Service and offered feedback on the reasons. I am aware that other Ministers have made other arrangements but I believe that this is the most appropriate arrangement. D’iarr Seirbhís Soláthair na Roinne Airgeadais agus Pearsanra (Gníomhaireacht Cheannaigh an Rialtais mar a tugadh air roimhe seo) ar an ghnáthdhóigh faoi choinne tairiscintí chun carr a sholáthar. Glacadh leis an tairiscint is ísle maidir le praghas agus chuir an tSeirbhís Soláthair in iúl dóibh siúd nár éirigh leo gurb amhlaidh an cás agus d’ofráil sí aiseolas ar na fáthanna. Is eol dom go bhfuil socruithe eile déanta ag Airí eile ach creidim gur seo an socrú is mó a fhóireann. Rheumatologists Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to confirm that she is aware that the British Society of Rheumatologists recommends 1 Rheumatologist per 85,000 of population. (AQW 324/02) Ms de Brún: I am aware of the recommendations of the British Society of Rheumatologists. Staffing is the responsibility of Health and Social Services Trusts, taking into account the views of relevant professional bodies and other factors such as service needs and available resources. I have been seeking to increase the overall number of Rheumatologists. Those currently in training have the potential to produce an increase of 10% in Rheumatologist provision in the next 2 years. The Consultant medical workforce, across all hospital-based specialties, is reviewed by my Department annually and this informs decisions on the numbers in training. Is eol dom na moltaí de chuid Chumann Réamaiteolaíochta Shasana. Is freagracht de chuid na nIontaobhas Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta foireann a fhostú, ag cur tuairimí na gcomhlachtaí gairmiúla bainteacha agus fachtóirí eile san áireamh amhail riachtanais seirbhíse agus acmhainní atá ar fáil. Bhí mé ag iarraidh líon iomlán na Réamaiteolaithe anseo a mhéadú. Tá acmhainneacht acu siúd atá faoi oiliúint méadú de 10% a chur le soláthar réamaiteolaíochta sa chéad 2 bhliain eile. Déanann an Roinn s’agam athbhreithniú bliantúil ar mheitheal oibre míochaine na gComhairleach ar fud na speisialtachtaí otharlannbhunaithe go léir agus cuireann seo an cinneadh s’agam ar an eolas faoin líon atá faoi oiliúint. |