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367 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 368County January 97 June 02 January 03 January 04 September 04 January 05 February 05Wexford 40,799 39,693 38,878 39,318 39,276 38,986 38,929Cork 139,370 135,619 133,236 131,669 131,273 130,863 130,869Kerry 46,993 44,504 43,189 42,005 41,428 40,915 40,855Galway 73,724 70,884 68,293 66,704 66,432 65,684 65,561Mayo 55,910 51,052 49,660 48,859 47,635 47,493 47,281Roscommon 23,638 20,759 20,376 20,154 19,901 20,019 19,612Total 1,252,384 1,207,096 1,168,745 1,152,908 1,151,106 1,145,083 1,142,61879. Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste andMinister for Health and Children if a decisiontaken in December 2004 not to issue a medicalcard to a person (details supplied) in CountyKilkenny will be reviewed; if consideration willbe given to this persons serious medical conditionand need for ongoing treatment and daily medication;and if a decision in this case will beexpedited. [5643/05]Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children(Ms Harney): The Health Act 2004 provided forthe Health Service Executive, which was establishedon 1 January 2005. Under the Act, theexecutive has the responsibility to manage anddeliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf,health and personal social services. This includesresponsibility for the assessment of applicationsfor medical cards. Accordingly, my Departmenthas requested the chief officer of the executive’ssouth eastern area to investigate the matter raisedand to reply directly to the Deputy.Health Services.80. Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste andMinister for Health and Children if home helpwill be arranged in the case of a person (detailssupplied) in County Kilkenny. [5644/05]Minister of State at the Department of Healthand Children (Mr. S. Power): The Health Act2004 provided for the Health Service Executive,which was established on 1 January 2005. Underthe Act, the executive has the responsibility tomanage, deliver or arrange to be delivered on itsbehalf, health and personal social services. Thisincludes responsibility for the provision of healthservices in County Kilkenny. Accordingly, myDepartment has requested the chief officer forthe executive’s south eastern area to investigatethe matter raised and to reply direct to theDeputy.Smoking Ban.81. Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Ministerfor Health and Children if research has beenor will be carried out or into the effect of thesmoking ban on consumer behaviour, the hospitalityindustry and tourism; the way in which theban has affected businesses and the sales of cigarettes,alcohol, food and beverages; and if she willmake a statement on the matter. [5645/05]Minister of State at the Department of Healthand Children (Mr. S. Power): On 29 March 2004most enclosed places of work became smoke free.The primary purpose of this measure is to protectthe health of workers and the public fromexposure to toxic second hand tobacco smoke.The Deputy will appreciate that decisions inregard to workplace safety are not influenced byconsiderations relating to their effect on trade. Asurvey on the smoke free workplace measurecommissioned by my Department was carried outby a market survey company and published inAugust 2004. The figures show that of those surveyed82% support the smoke free at workmeasure; 90% agreed that going smoke free is ofbenefit to workers; 82% agreed that it benefitseveryone in public places; and 95% agreed thatthe legislation is a positive health measure.The survey reported a positive response tosocialising in smoke free hospitality venues witha majority of people confirming that the newsmoke free legislation improved their experiencein pubs, 70%, and restaurants, 78%. More thanhalf of respondents, 53%, indicated that theywould be more inclined to eat in a pub since 29March 2004. Research carried out by FáilteIreland, the National Tourism DevelopmentAuthority, in respect of 2004 shows that 97% ofvisitors would recommend a holiday in Ireland.With regard to the smoke free measure, theresearch showed 77% of overseas visitors were infavour with 26% saying they would be morelikely to holiday in Ireland as a result and 5%saying they would be less likely to holiday here.With regard to the impact of the smoke freeworkplace measure on sales of cigarettes, alcohol,food and beverages my Department has not commissionedany research. However, provisional figuresfrom the Revenue Commissioners indicatedthat sales of cigarettes have decreased by 10% in2004 as compared to 2003. The media havereported that beer sales in licensed premises havedeclined in recent years and this is ongoing.However this is being attributed to a number offactors and not only the introduction of thesmoke free measure.Departmental Advertising.82. Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Ministerfor Health and Children further toParliamentary Question No. 89 of 10 February2005, the amount spent on the national publicawareness campaign aimed at persons in the 18
369 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 370to 35 age group which, since 2000 to date, hasbeen developed to increase awareness of safe sexand sexually transmitted infection; if research hasbeen carried out on the effectiveness of that campaign;if she intends to commission such research;and if she will make a statement on thematter. [5646/05]Minister of State at the Department of Healthand Children (Mr. S. Power): The amount spenton the sexual health campaign referred to by theDeputy is as follows:YearTotal Funding\2000 106,0002001 112,0002002 164,0002003 193,0002004 165,000An evaluation of the programme was undertakenin 2000 which informed the development of themost recent campaign. In addition, throughoutthe development phase, individual campaignmessages are focus group tested with the targetpopulations. Plans for an evaluation of the currentapproach are under way and it is expectedthat this evaluation will take place in May 2005.Youth Health Programme.83. Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Ministerfor Health and Children the amount spenteach year since 2000 to date on the national youthhealth programme; and if she will make a statementon the matter. [5647/05]Minister of State at the Department of Healthand Children (Mr. S. Power): Funding of thenational youth health programme since 2000,including a specific allocation for an alcohol educationinitiative funded by the health promotionunit in 2000 and 2001, is as follows:Year Total Funding — Department of Health and Department of Education and OtherEuro Children Science2000 194,916 106,689 60,947 27,2802001 222,922 92,903 71,105 58,9142002 234,535 72,863 75,015 86,6572003 212,105 75,391 75,765 60,9492004 222,106 75,391 78,796 67,920In recent weeks the national youth health programmelaunched a new strategic action plan for2005-07. Progress on implementing this plan isunder way.Housing Aid for the Elderly.84. Mr. Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Ministerfor Health and Children the position of the applicationfor special housing aid for the elderly fora person (details supplied) in County Wexford;when the application will be processed or workscommence; and if she will make a statement onthe matter. [5661/05]Minister of State at the Department of Healthand Children (Mr. S. Power): The Health Act2004 provided for the Health Service Executive,which was established on 1 January 2005. Underthe Act, the executive has the responsibility tomanage and deliver, or arrange to be deliveredon its behalf, health and personal social services.This includes responsibility for the provision ofthe housing aid scheme in County Wexford onbehalf of the Department of the Environment,Heritage and Local Government. Accordingly,my Department has requested the chief officerfor the executive’s south eastern area to investigatethe matter raised and to reply directly tothe Deputy.85. Mr. Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Ministerfor Health and Children the position of the applicationfor special housing aid for the elderly fora person (details supplied) in County Wexford;when the Health Service Executive will respondto Parliamentary Question No. 206 of 2 February2005; and if she will make a statement on thematter. [5662/05]Minister of State at the Department of Healthand Children (Mr. S. Power): ParliamentaryQuestion No. 206 was referred to the HSE southeastern area on 31 January 2005. My Departmentmade inquiries of the HSE south eastern area andhas been informed that the matter is being investigated.A reply should issue shortly to theDeputy.Mental Health Services.86. Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Ministerfor Health and Children the details of organisationsto which her Minister of State referred inresponse to Parliamentary Question No. 4 of 10February 2005; and if she will make a statementon the matter. [5663/05]Minister of State at the Department of Healthand Children (Mr. T. O’Malley): I have wideranging discussions with many organisations concerningmany sensitive issues in the mental healtharea. Many of these discussions are confidentialand I am not at liberty to divulge the details.Question No. 87 answered with QuestionNo. 78.
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