QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Business; Enterprise and Innovation her plans to review the role of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement in supervising management owner companies; the number of staff reviewing such companies; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation has no role in the supervision of management ownership companies.
The primary role of the ODCE is to ensure that company law is being respected.
There is no special body of company law which applies only to management companies or is applied differently so far as management companies are concerned.
The legal source from which management companies derive their operational and functional role is set out in the title deeds of the property as well as the contract of purchase of the property.  The fact that the intended functions of a management company have their roots in the title deeds is one from which an important legal consequence flows.  They do not flow from the company law relationship that exists between the management company and its members.
The Department of Justice has responsibility for the Multi-Unit Development Act 2011.  

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to review the decision not to expand the shared apprenticeship scheme for the construction sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

Registrations on craft apprenticeships have grown strongly in recent years following a very significant collapse in the number of apprenticeship registrations between 2008-2011. SOLAS, in partnership with Construction Industry Federation (CIF) and Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB), operated a pilot initiative in the last year to test the viability of a shared apprenticeship scheme.  Following analysis of the pilot outcomes and in consultation with both the CIF and WWETB, I understand that SOLAS decided not to operationalise the pilot initiative more widely.  In particular, it was found that the pilot did not attract employers in sufficient numbers to suggest that the scheme had the potential to have a significant impact on apprenticeship recruitment.  However, I understand from SOLAS that they are currently in discussions with representatives from the construction industry to assess how the scheme could be made more viable.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Health the number of staff manning the CervicalCheck helpline; his views on whether this is the necessary number of staff to deal with the level of calls to the helpline; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

A helpline has been in operation since Friday and has dealt with over 10,000 calls.  After some initial problems, calls are now being answered speedily.

I have also arranged for an additional 40 public health staff to provide timely health information and reassurance to women arising from their calls.

Question

To ask the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to abolish in loco parentis in view of the Motion unanimously accepted in Dáil Éireann on 27 March 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

Paediatric Home Care Packages (PHCPs) are in place to support the discharge of seriously ill children from acute hospital into the care of their families. They are designed to maximise a child’s quality of life and developmental opportunities while also helping to keep children out of hospital as much as possible.  
The in loco parentis rule reflects the fact that PHCPs are intended to serve as a clinical support and is in place to ensure that a second person will be present in the event of an acute emergency such as respiratory arrest, decanuation of a tracheostomy or status epileptus.
I acknowledge the cross-party concerns raised about the operation of the loco parentis provision and recognise that respite can be an issue for parents of children with complex medical needs.  Indeed, the matter is already being examined as part of the Quality Assurance Process for PHCPs that was commenced by the HSE in 2017. This process will inform how PHCPs should be delivered, including the operation of the in loco parentis provision.
Many parents have already contributed to the Quality Assurance Process, and further engagement will take place in the coming weeks and months. Furthermore, the HSE intends to establish a Parental Reference Group that will help shape how care is delivered to children with complex medical needs.    
The Government shares the commitment of all Deputies to supporting the families of these children and to ensuring the provision of a service that both works for parents and reflects their expertise in caring for their children.     

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Health the number of children with autism up to 18 years of age that are receiving the relevant appropriate supports in north County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Health the number of children up to 18 years of age that have been assessed and diagnosed with autism in north County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. 

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Health when vacancies for an occupational therapist, a physiotherapist and a speech and language therapist that are leaving their posts or going on maternity leave in north County Dublin will be filled; the plans the HSE has to maintain the function and service of the early intervention team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) that are leaving their posts or going on maternity leave.

REPLY

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.  
 

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Health the status of the reimbursement of the drug Ocrevus; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.   As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory power or function in relation to the reimbursement of medicines. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.
In line with the 2013 Act, if a company would like a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE pursuant to the Community Drugs scheme, the company must first submit an application to the HSE to have the new medicine added to the Reimbursement List.
As outlined in the IPHA agreement, and in line with the 2013 Act, the HSE will decide, within 180 days of receiving the application (or a longer period if further information is sought from the company), to either add the medicine to the reimbursement list or agree to reimburse it as a hospital medicine, or refuse to reimburse the medicine.

HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).

The NCPE conducts health technology assessments (HTAs) for the HSE, and makes recommendations on reimbursement to assist HSE decisions. The NCPE uses a decision framework to systematically assess whether a drug is cost-effective as a health intervention.

The HSE strives to reach a decision in as timely a manner as possible. However, because of the significant monies involved, it must ensure that the best price is achieved, as these commitments are often multi-million euro investments on an on-going basis. This can lead to a protracted deliberation process.
I have been informed that Ocrelizumab for the treatment of adult patients with early primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) in terms of disease duration and level of disability, and with imaging features characteristic of inflammatory activity and for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) with active disease defined by clinical or imaging features is currently undergoing a full pharmacoeconomic assessment by the NCPE.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding progress on a permanent school building project for Rush National School; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured.
 
The Design Team is currently completing the Stage 2b submission.  Upon receipt and review of this report my Department will revert to the Board of Management with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a new secondary school for the Malahide and Portmarnock areas of County Dublin will be enrolling in September 2018; if so, the location; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

The project for Malahide/Portmarnock Educate Together Secondary School has been devolved to the patron body, Educate Together for delivery.

The school will open in interim accommodation in September 2018 and my Department is advised by the Patron body that enrolments have been confirmed.

My Department understands that the patron body have identified a suitable interim location for the school and the patron body are currently in negotiations with the owners for a lease of this interim location, it is hoped this lease will be finalised shortly.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the preparation of a national coastal erosion strategy or plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is not responsible for the preparation of a national coastal erosion strategy or plan.

The OPW has undertaken a national assessment of coastal erosion (including erosion rates) under the Irish Coastal Protection Strategy Study (ICPSS) and the results of this study have been published on the OPW website. This Study assists Local Authorities (LA’s) to meet their statutory obligations in relation to coastal erosion and to develop appropriate plans and strategies for the sustainable management of the coastline in their counties.  

The LA’s may carry out coastal erosion works using their own resources. Where coastal erosion could give rise to a coastal flood risk, the OPW operates the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, under which applications for funding from LA’s are considered for measures costing up to €750,000 in each instance. In that context, funding for coastal erosion risk management studies may also be applied for under this scheme. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for projects which meet the eligibility criteria including a requirement that the proposed measures are cost beneficial.

The OPW has published guidelines for coastal erosion risk management measures and funding applications under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, available on the OPW website.

I will next week be announcing the Flood Risk Management Plans with the proposed measures to protect 90 coastal communities from their assessed flood risk, in the coming years. These Flood Risk Management Plans were developed through the OPW’s Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme.