April 16, 2015
Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason capitation grants are lower for primary schools compared to secondary schools; her plans to increase primary school capitation levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Reply (Minister Jan O'Sullivan):
At primary level, funding towards schools' running costs is provided by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of primary schools. Minimums and maximums apply to these grants which reflect the estimated minimum running costs of small schools and the economies of scale that may be achieved in larger schools. 

Special enhanced capitation rates are paid in respect of children with special needs who attend special schools or special classes dedicated to children with particular special needs.  These classes have a lower Pupil Teacher ratio and as such the unit cost per pupil is higher. 

It is extremely difficult to make valid comparisons between the levels of grants paid and the actual costs of running schools at primary and post primary levels. However it is accepted that the maintenance costs for second level schools are much greater on a unit cost basis than those in primary schools. In general, second level schools have a lower pupil teacher ratio, resulting in more classrooms and this would lead to higher per unit costs in second level schools for heat, light, power, maintenance and cleaning.

In addition the second level capitation is required to cover a different range of expenditures. Second level schools provide a broader curriculum, including technical subjects where the costs of materials may be greater than at primary level. In addition, specialist equipment and rooms are required for some subjects, leading to higher maintenance/replacement costs.

I am determined that education will be prioritised for further investment in future years, and I believe that increasing the staffing and funding of our schools should be priorities for such investment.

Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the protocol by which persons may gain recourse to compensation for losses, or the payment of costs, arising from damage caused to their property by members of An Garda Síochána, acting in the course of their duties.
  
REPLY | Minister Frances Fitzgerald):
Claims from property owners for damage caused to their properties arising from searches undertaken by the Garda Síochána are delegated to and managed by the State Claims Agency (SCA) and claims should be submitted in writing to the Agency.  Each claim is considered separately depending on the particular facts of the case.

The general policy of the State Claims Agency, however, in relation to such claims is that where the Gardaí cause damage to property in conducting a search, any claim from the property owner in respect of that damage is contested unless there’s demonstrable negligence on the part of the Garda authorities and/ or where they did not have a search warrant or other lawful authority to carry out a forced entry operation.  Search warrants authorise the Gardaí to use force to gain entry to a property if necessary and the Gardaí have no legal liability to the property owner for the damage caused in forcing entry to the property.  The approach taken by the State Claims Agency in contesting these claims has been upheld by the Courts in a number of claims brought to Court by property owners.   

Feb 17, 2015
Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health the circumstances or guidelines in which a general practitioner can request an emergency medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
  
REPLY (Minister of State Kathleen Lynch):
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.

If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency medical cards that have issued on a doctors/consultants request in each year from 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
  
REPLY (Minister of State Kathleen Lynch):
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.

If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

Feb 3, 2015
Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland 2014-2018; and the number of times the Oversight Implementation Group has met since the plan's publication in July 2014.
  
REPLY (Minister Leo Varadkar):
One of the principal recommendations in the National Rare Disease Plan was the establishment of a National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases. This programme will be responsible for, among others:

• Mapping, developing and implementing care pathways for rare diseases;
  
• Facilitating timely access to centres of expertise - nationally and internationally;
  
• Developing treatment guidelines for many rare disorders; and
  
• Developing care pathways with European Reference Centres for those ultra-rare disorders where there may not be sufficient expertise in Ireland.

In line with this recommendation, a National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases has been established in the HSE. A Clinical Lead for this programme has also been appointed. This clinical programme will ultimately be a channel for advancing and implementing other recommendations in the plan, such as those on National Centres of Expertise for rare diseases. 

The establishment of a National Rare Disease Office featured prominently in the recommendations of the Rare Disease plan. The HSE is in the process of establishing such a national office. It will, among other functions, provide up-to-date information regarding new treatment and management options, including clinical trials.

Meanwhile, the HSE and the EU Commission plan to fund jointly a rare disease post of Information Scientist in the HSE with a number of recommendations in mind. These refer to rare disease registries and the utility of data currently captured in health information systems. 

The Health Identifiers Bill - the publication of which was recommended in the plan - has now been enacted. A similar recommendation on the Health Information Bill is being advanced.

My officials have convened a number of informal meetings with some members of the National Steering Group on Rare Diseases.  I expect that a formal Oversight Implementation Group will be established in the near future.

Feb 3, 2015
Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland 2014-2018; and the number of times the Oversight Implementation Group has met since the plan's publication in July 2014.
  
REPLY  (Minister Leo Varadkar):
One of the principal recommendations in the National Rare Disease Plan was the establishment of a National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases. This programme will be responsible for, among others:

• Mapping, developing and implementing care pathways for rare diseases;
  
• Facilitating timely access to centres of expertise - nationally and internationally;
  
• Developing treatment guidelines for many rare disorders; and
  
• Developing care pathways with European Reference Centres for those ultra-rare disorders where there may not be     sufficient expertise in Ireland.

In line with this recommendation, a National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases has been established in the HSE. A Clinical Lead for this programme has also been appointed. This clinical programme will ultimately be a channel for advancing and implementing other recommendations in the plan, such as those on National Centres of Expertise for rare diseases. 

The establishment of a National Rare Disease Office featured prominently in the recommendations of the Rare Disease plan. The HSE is in the process of establishing such a national office. It will, among other functions, provide up-to-date information regarding new treatment and management options, including clinical trials.

Meanwhile, the HSE and the EU Commission plan to fund jointly a rare disease post of Information Scientist in the HSE with a number of recommendations in mind. These refer to rare disease registries and the utility of data currently captured in health information systems. 

The Health Identifiers Bill - the publication of which was recommended in the plan - has now been enacted. A similar recommendation on the Health Information Bill is being advanced.

My officials have convened a number of informal meetings with some members of the National Steering Group on Rare Diseases.  I expect that a formal Oversight Implementation Group will be established in the near future.

Jan 20, 2015
Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding that is available to prospective new community music clubs/groups under the music capital grants scheme.

REPLY (Minister Heather Humphreys):
My Department is currently considering capital grant allocations for 2015 and decisions will be announced in due course.  €200,000 was paid to Music Network in respect of the music capital grants scheme in 2014. Details are available on the Music Network website at this link.

Jan 20, 2015
Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health the funding available through his Department to assist voluntary groups providing a community service in obtaining essential equipment to assist their projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
  
REPLY (Minister Leo Varadkar):
My Department administers a National Lottery Discretionary Fund from which once-off grants are paid to community and voluntary organisations, providing a range of health related services. If an organisation wishes to make an application for National Lottery Funding they should send in a formal application. Detailed procedures along with the application form for 2015 will soon be available on the Department's website at www.health.gov.ie.