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Health Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 February 2007

Wednesday, 21 February 2007

Questions (148, 149, 150, 151)

Michael Ring

Question:

207 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when the domiciliary care allowance will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that it has been approved. [6670/07]

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Written answers

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

James Breen

Question:

208 Mr. J. Breen asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will investigate the confusion that has arisen between the Health Service Executive at national level, HSE mid-west and the Department of Finance in relation to funding for a dementia unit at a centre (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6679/07]

View answer

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Joe Callanan

Question:

209 Mr. Callanan asked the Minister for Health and Children the percentage of children who qualify for domiciliary care allowance, who qualify for a general medical card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6701/07]

View answer

The assessment of eligibility to medical cards is statutorily a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE) and is determined following an examination of the means of the applicant and his/her dependants. Under Section 45 of the Health 1970 medical cards are provided for persons who, in the opinion of the HSE, are unable without undue hardship to arrange general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants. Section 58 of the Health Act, 1970, as amended, provides for GP visit cards for adult persons with limited eligibility for whom, in the opinion of the HSE, and notwithstanding that they do not qualify for a medical card, it would be unduly burdensome to arrange GP medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants. Persons aged 70 and over are statutorily entitled to a medical card, regardless of income. In all other cases an assessment of means is undertaken.

In assessing eligibility, the HSE use guidelines based on people's means, which includes their income, certain allowable outgoings and the effect of other factors which may impact on people's ability to meet the cost of GP services. These guidelines are not statutorily binding and a decision to refuse an application or renewal of a medical card may be appealed to the Executive for further consideration.

Domiciliary Care Allowance may be paid in respect of eligible children from birth to the age of 16 who have a severe disability requiring continual or continuous attention which is substantially in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age. Eligibility is determined primarily by reference to the degree of additional care and attention required rather than to the type of disability involved. Medical Reviews on recipients are carried out based on the recommendation of the Senior Area Medical Officer/Area Medical Officer in the HSE.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for these benefits, it is the appropriate body to arrange to address this matter and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Joe Higgins

Question:

210 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the provisions made in Irish hospitals for deaf patients in regard to sign language interpreters. [6703/07]

View answer

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

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