Seanad debates

Thursday, 4 July 2013

Adjournment Matters

Child Care Services Provision

4:15 pm

Photo of Paschal MooneyPaschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State. The shocking revelations on the RTE "Prime Time" programme about the inspection procedures in crèches and child care facilities throughout the country appalled the nation. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, in the immediate aftermath of the programme, promised a great deal of reform and I have tabled this matter in that context. As chairman of Leitrim county child care committee, I am aware of a vacancy and, by extension, an inherent flaw in the inspection system in the county, which is also the case in other counties. In this instance, there has been a public health nurse vacancy for some time. The reason, I understand, is the Government embargo. If the Government parties are serious about ensuring an open, transparent and effective inspection regime, they need to move rapidly to appoint people to fill these vacancies. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation recently announced that it would not allow any of its members to be reassigned to these positions where they were required. It is asking the Government, as I am, to take the necessary steps to ensure the appointments are made.

The public health nurse inspections are serious and significant. They complement those of the environmental inspection officers by ensuring there is proper liaison between the children and child care workers. They also ensure there is discussion and liaison on the curriculum. All of these issues have come to the surface in the aftermath of the television programme. I will not labour this matter, as it is self-explanatory. I would like to establish when the Government will make these appointments and its policy on them.

Photo of Alex WhiteAlex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I thank the Senator for raising this issue. The delivery of a sustainable community nursing service that effectively meets the health needs of the population within a primary care setting is the primary aim of the public health nursing service. Public health nurses in County Leitrim provide services across all care groups within the designated area and include universal, maternal, child health and child welfare services, focusing on the health and well-being of mothers and children and developmental screening of children from birth to preschool age; services for older people and people with disabilities, involving work with individuals-families-carers to carry out an assessment of need to plan, co-ordinate, deliver or monitor a range of nursing, personal and social care services; and primary care nursing services for people under 65 years of age, which involve assessment and the provision of essential clinical nursing care, as required; health education and health promotion activities for all care groups providing advice and support.

The public health nurses work in collaboration with other professionals within the primary care team and also link and work with voluntary and statutory agencies in providing a range of health education and health promotion programmes that support families and communities in the promotion and maintenance of healthy lifestyles within their geographical areas, as required. The public health nursing complement for County Leitrim is 13 whole-time equivalents, WTEs. One post is vacant owing to the promotion of the previous post holder. I am advised that this post only became vacant recently. The HSE has advised that cross-cover arrangements are in place and all essential public health nursing services are being provided. Arrangements are under way to recruit a replacement to fill this vacancy.

Photo of Paschal MooneyPaschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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While I accept fully what the Minister of State said and I am pleased that arrangements are under way to recruit a replacement, the reply is not focused on my query in the context of child care inspections. He has referred to what the HSE is doing in the context of the overall complement of public health nurses. This matter is about child care and inspections of facilities. I hope in the light of the Minister of State's reply that the recruitment process will focus exclusively on child care inspections, not necessarily to add to the existing complement. I would be grateful if he at least conveyed the essence of what I am attempting to establish. I am grateful for his time and reply.

Photo of Alex WhiteAlex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I understand the issue raised by the Senator and will consider it. The key aspect of my reply is that the post only became vacant recently and arrangements are under way to recruit a replacement.

Photo of Paschal MooneyPaschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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I understand the vacancy is not recent in the context of child care inspections. It may have become vacant recently in the overall context and I would be grateful if the Minister of State conveyed that point.

Additional text to follow shortly.

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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As there seems to be a malfunction with the electronic voting system, we will proceed to a manual division.

Cuireadh an cheist: "Go bhfanfaidh mar chuid den Phríomh-Cheist na focail a thairgtear a scriosadh".

Question put: "That the words proposed to be deleted stand part of the main Question."

The Seanad divided: Tá, 29; Níl, 22.

Tellers: Tá, Senators Paul Coghlan and Aideen Hayden; Níl, Senators Sean D. Barrett and Feargal Quinn.

Question declared carried.

Faisnéiseadh go rabhthas tar éis diúltú don leasú.

Amendment declared lost.

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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"Fógraím gur léadh an Bille an dara huair de réir Bhuan-Ordú 119(2)(i)."

"I declare the Bill read a Second Time in accordance with Standing Order 119(2)(i)."

4:25 pm

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Photo of Maurice CumminsMaurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Next Wednesday.

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Is that agreed?

Photo of David NorrisDavid Norris (Independent)
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I propose 17 September.

Cuireadh an cheist: "Go dtógfar Céim an Choiste ar an gCéadaoin, 10 Iúil 2013."

Question put: "That Committee Stage be taken on Wednesday, 10 July 2013."

The Seanad divided: Tá, 29; Níl, 22.

Tellers: Tá, Senators Paul Coghlan and Aideen Hayden; Níl, Senators Ned O'Sullivan and Diarmuid Wilson.

Question declared carried.

Faisnéiseadh go rabhthas tar éis glacadh leis an gceist.

Question declared carried.

4:30 pm

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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When is it proposed to sit again?

Photo of Maurice CumminsMaurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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At 2.30 p.m. next Tuesday.