Health Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 September 2006

Wednesday, 27 September 2006

Questions (88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105)

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

154 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children when she expects the Service Level Agreement with the Irish Osteoporosis Society; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29571/06]

Tom Hayes

Question:

203 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason promised funding for the Irish Osteoporosis Society has not been forwarded to that organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29608/06]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

594 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the Health Service Executive has ceased funding to the Irish Osteoporosis Society; if she instructed the HSE to cease such funding; the plans she has to ensure immediate funding to the Irish Osteoporosis Society; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28293/06]

Finian McGrath

Question:

595 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will support the Irish Osteoporosis Society; if she will arrange for a service level agreement with the Health Service Executive; and if she will ensure that proper funding is given to the IOS. [28298/06]

Bernard Allen

Question:

604 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Irish Osteoporosis Society will have to cease operation due to lack of funding from the Health Service Executive. [28338/06]

Gay Mitchell

Question:

619 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of funding provided to the Irish Osteoporosis Society for each of the years 2004, 2005 and 2006; the reason for the decrease in funding; if the concerns of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28417/06]

John Gormley

Question:

629 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the action which has been taken to create public awareness of osteoporosis; the further action which has been taken to lessen the burden of osteoporosis on the Irish taxpayer; the action which has been taken to help the Irish Osteoporosis Society to continue its operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28483/06]

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

638 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the funding she will allocate to the Irish Osteoporosis Society for the year 2006-2007 in view of the fact that one in five men and one in three women during their lifetime will suffer from osteoporosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28505/06]

Paul Kehoe

Question:

669 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that funding from the Health Service Executive has been withdrawn from the Irish Osteoporosis Society, even though statistics show that one in five men and one in three women will suffer from osteoporosis during their lifetime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28636/06]

Michael Ring

Question:

698 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the actions taken by her Department and the Health Service Executive to keep the Irish Osteoporosis Society in operation. [28957/06]

James Breen

Question:

710 Mr. J. Breen asked the Minister for Health and Children if funding promised in 2005 to the Irish Osteoporosis Society will be paid; if a commitment will be given to the society to provide funding on an annual basis (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29062/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

715 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if funding will be offered to the Irish Osteoporosis Society who may have to close due to lack of funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29184/06]

Paul Kehoe

Question:

726 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Health and Children the action she and the Health Service Executive have taken to assist the Irish Osteoporosis Society continue its operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29258/06]

Paul Kehoe

Question:

727 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Health and Children the action she and the Health Service Executive have taken to lessen the burden of the cost of osteoporosis on the taxpayer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29259/06]

Tom Hayes

Question:

728 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Health and Children when the promised funding will be allocated to the Irish Osteoporosis Society, which is in danger of closing if the funding is not forthcoming. [29262/06]

Paudge Connolly

Question:

735 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the withdrawal by the Health Service Executive of funding to the Osteoporosis Society of Ireland; if she proposes to prevail on the HSE to restore this funding to enable the society to continue providing its services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29336/06]

Tony Gregory

Question:

787 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the valuable service provided by the Irish Osteoporosis Society; if her further attention has been drawn to the fact that the Irish Osteoporosis Society may have to close due to lack of funding; if the Health Service Executive will expedite a service level agreement with the Irish Osteoporosis Society as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29919/06]

Dan Boyle

Question:

819 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the funding situation of the Irish Osteoporosis Society; and the measures her Department is taking to alleviate this situation. [30116/06]

Written answers

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 154, 203, 594, 595, 604, 619, 629, 638, 669, 698, 710, 715, 726 to 728, inclusive, 735, 787 and 819 together.

The Department has supported the National Council on Ageing and Older People and the Health Service Executive in the establishment of a steering committee to oversee the development of a strategy to prevent falls and fractures in the ageing population.

This committee is chaired by the HSE, and it is understood that a subgroup has been established to examine the area of osteoporosis.

The Irish Osteoporosis Society (IOS) was funded on a once-off basis by the former Northern Area Health Board in 2004 and 2005. Funding of €130,000 was provided in 2005.

The HSE met with the IOS on the 31st of July 2006. The IOS requested further funding of €128,000 which they felt they were due for 2005. The HSE requested accounts for the €130,000 which the IOS received in 2005 before any further funding could be issued to the society. The IOS informed the HSE that accounts would be provided on the 2nd of August 2006.

The HSE received accounts from the IOS on the 10th of August 2006. The IOS were informed on the 16th of August 2006 that audited accounts and a tax clearance certificate would be required by the HSE.

The HSE received audited accounts on the 16th of August 2006 and a tax certificate on the 7th of September 2006. On the 18th of September the finance department of the HSE informed the Population Health directorate of the HSE that the accounts were in order.

A payment of €128,000 to the IOS was processed by the HSE on the 22nd of September 2006. The IOS should be in receipt of these funds within ten days of the processing date.