June 02 2010

Parliamentary Questions

• National Review of Autism Services
• Delegation of Ministerial Functions in Dept. of Health
• Population health directorate
• Reviews of autism Spectrum Disorders
• Delegation of Ministerial functions in  Dept. of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

• National Review of Autism Services

Deputy David Stanton (FG): asked the Minister for Health and Children the input she has had, or continues to have, into the Health Service Executive national review of autism services further to Parliamentary Question No. 225 of 6 may 2009, the number of stakeholders who made submissions to the national review of autism services through the Health Service Executive website; the contact between her Department, the HSE and the Department of Education and Skills in relation to this review;

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): I wish to advise the Deputy that the Health Service Executive’s national review of autism services is entirely a matter for the HSE and my Department has not had any input into this review. Due to the ongoing industrial action affecting the Health Service Executive it is not possible for the Executive to supply the additional information requested in relation to the number of stakeholders who made submissions to the national review of autism services through the Health Service Executive’s website. Finally, my Department is not aware of any engagement between the Department of Education & Skills and the HSE. If this matter remains of continuing concern to you, however, I would invite you to raise it with me again in due course. 

• Delegation of Ministerial Functions in Dept. of Health

Deputy David Stanton (FG): asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of delegation of ministerial functions orders in her Department; when these orders came into effect; the functions delegated under each order;

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): Ministerial functions have been delegated to the three Ministers of State at the Department of Health and Children as set out in the table.

Minister and SI No.                      Functions Delegated                  Date into effect

Minister of State, Barry Andrews                                                    26 May 2009 231/2009                                    Adoption Acts 1952 to 1998      

                                                 Children Acts 1908 to 1989

                                                 Child Care Acts 1991 to 2007

                                                 Protections for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998                                                 (No. 49 of 1998)

                                                 Children Acts 2001 to 2007

                                                 Ombudsman for Children Act 2002 (No. 22 of 2002)

                                                 Youth Work Act 2001 (No. 42 of 2001)(other than  

                                                 section 18 and the Schedule)Subsections (1)(d) and

                                                 (2) of section 2 of the Community, Rural and Gaeltacht

                                                 Affairs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2007 (No. 32 of 

                                                 2007), in so far as they are performable in relation to

                                                 the YoungPeople’s Facilities and Services Fund.

Minister of State, John Moloney T.D.                                                       26 May 2009 232/2009                                    Section 4 of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act

                                                 2001 (No. 14 of 2001)Mental Health Act 2001 (No. 25 of

                                                 2001)Part 2 and section 32 of the Disability Act 2005

                                                  (No. 14 of 2005)

Minister of State, Aine Brady T.D.                                                            26 May 2009 233 /2009                                    Sections 7 and 10 of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act   

                                                  1990 (No. 23 of 1990)

                                                  Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 to 2006Section 71 of the

                                                  Health Act 1970 (No. 1 of 1970)

                                                   Tobacco Products (Control of Advertising, Sponsorship

                                                   and Sales Promotion) Act 1978 (No. 27 of 

                                                  1978)

                                                  Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Act 1988

                                                   (No. 24 of 1988)

                                                   Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 (No. 6 of 2002)                                                   Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2004 (No. 6

                                                   of 2004) 

• Population health directorate

Deputy David Stanton (FG): asked the Minister for Health and Children if the population health directorate collects statistics or compiles databases of the number and incidences of illnesses and disabilities nationally; the role, if any, this directorate has in service provision and service reviews in view of its role in improving health outcomes and the health status of the population;

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Health Service Executive is undergoing a transformation programme which involves a significant reorganisation of its Directorates including Population Health. As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy, to supply the current information in relation to statistics and databases held and services provided by that Directorate.  

• Reviews of autism Spectrum Disorders

Deputy David Stanton (FG): asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 225 of 6 May 2009, the number of reviews of autism Spectrum Disorders which were identified by the Health Service Executive as having been commissioned in each of the years from 1998 to 2009; if she will give the details of these reviews, including, the names, the date the review was completed, when the review was published and who commissioned each report;

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): I wish to advise the Deputy that due to industrial action affecting the Health Service Executive it is not possible for the Executive to supply the information requested. If this matter remains of continuing concern to you, however, I would invite you to raise it with me again in due course. 

• Delegation of Ministerial functions in  Dept. of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Deputy David Stanton (FG): asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of delegation of ministerial functions orders in his Department; when these orders came into effect; the functions delegated under each order;

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy Pat Carey): I wish to advise the Deputy that the transfer of responsibility for equality, integration, human rights and disability from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to my Department has now taken place and an Order has been made in this regard. The Order cites that my Department has responsibility for these functions from 1 June 2010. It is my intention to bring a Memorandum to Government shortly regarding the delegation of the functions transferred to my

• in respect of equality, human rights and integration to Ms Mary White, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Equality, Integration and Human Rights; and
• in respect of disability to Mr John Moloney, TD, who will, of course, continue as Minister of State with special responsibility for Disability Issues and Mental Health at the Department of Health and Children, as well as the renamed Departments of Education and Skills, and Enterprise, Trade and Innovation.

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