Written Answers Nos. 517-536
517. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the savings outlined by the Health Service Executive on 30 August 2012 in relation to cuts to home help hours, if these cuts of €10.8 million still apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41343/12]
View answer518. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the savings outlined by the Health Service Executive on 30 August 2012 in relation to cuts to home help care packages, if these cuts of €1.7 million still apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41344/12]
View answer519. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the total annual budget for home help and home care packages following the announcement of cuts by the Health Service Executive on 30 August 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41345/12]
View answer520. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the instructions Health Service Executive management has given their local management officials in relation to implementing cuts to home help hours and home care packages following the announcement of cuts on 30 August 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41346/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 517 to 520, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
521. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if will provide details of the occupational therapy services available here and the locations of same; the number of adults and children in County Kildare who are awaiting assessment from an occupational therapist; if he will provide details on current expected delays in occupational therapist referral; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41353/12]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
522. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason 5000 persons are waiting up to one year for outpatient appointment at Kerry General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41375/12]
View answerI am determined to address outpatient waiting times. Hence, improving access to outpatient services is the next priority for the Special Delivery Unit (SDU). The SDU, together with the National Treatment Purchase Fund, will shortly take over the reporting of outpatient waiting time data from the HSE. The collation and analysis of outpatient waiting time data by the SDU and NTPF will enable them to target their resources towards those patients who are waiting longest and ensure they are seen and assessed. In parallel with reducing the numbers of those waiting longest, the SDU will also work with the HSE Clinical Care Programmes to reform the structure and organisation and delivery of outpatient services to ensure that the right patient is seen and assessed by the right health professional at the right time.
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
523. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he will publish details of all allowances paid to staff in his Department; the business case made by his Department in respect of these allowances to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; the cost of each individual allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41415/12]
View answerAllowances paid to staff in my Department are as follows:
1. Child Allowance: Payable to 21 Officers who were serving on 31 December 1978 in former marriage differentiated grades.
Currently paid at €112.78 p.a. per child
2. Franking Allowance: Payable to 3 Officers.
Modified Rate: full allowance: €1,701.13 p.a.
Modified Rate: half allowance: € 850.56 p.a.
PPC Rate: full allowance: €1,789.03 p.a.
3. Machine Allowance: Payable to 2 Officers.
Modified Rate: €1,701.13 p.a.
4. Key Holder Allowance: Payable to 3 Officers.
Modified Rate: €1,769.21 p.a.
PPC Rate: €1,861.17 p.a.
5. Private Secretary to the Secretary General: Payable to 2 Officers.
PPC Rate €10,951.08 p.a.
6. Former Private Secretary to Secretary General: Payable to 1 Officer.
Modified Rate: €5,203.05 p.a.
7. Private Secretary to Minister or Minister of State: Payable to 3 Officers.
Modified Rate: €19,652.47 p.a.
PPC Rate: €20,685.49 p.a.
8. Former Private Secretary to Minister or Minister of State: Payable to 6 Officers.
Modified Rate: €4,914.62 p.a.
PPC Rate: (1) €5,172.12 p.a.
PPC Rate: (2) €10,343.24 p.a.
9. Footwear Allowance: Payable to 9 Officers.
Currently paid at €65 p.a.
10. Foreign Service Allowance:This allowance is currently paid to four officers who have been assigned to Brussels and Geneva for the duration of the European Presidency. The rate is dependent on a number of variables such as grade, marital status, number of dependent children and the country to which they are assigned. The rate paid varies from €723.66 to €2,058 per fortnight. The Department of Foreign Affairs has submitted a business case relating to this allowance to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
These allowances have application across Departments and are not specific to the Department of Health.
* PPC (Personal Pension Contribution) - Class A PRSI payscale (Post 1995).
Non PPC - modified payscale, Class B PRSI (Pre-1995).
524. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his plans for additional consultant anaesthetics for Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41438/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
525. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of insulin pumps now in operation at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41439/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
526. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the proposed primary care centre for Carrickmacross, County Monaghan; the target timeframe for completion and operation; the discussions and agreements with local general practitioners to date; the site identified; the services to be provided at the site; and any other matter considered relevant [41441/12]
View answerDelivery of the health capital infrastructure stimulus is a service matter. Therefore the Deputy's question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
527. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an appointment for a hip replacement consultation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41446/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
528. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to the following query regarding the cost of Xalatan (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41454/12]
View answerThe prices of medicines vary between countries for a number of reasons. These include different prices set by manufacturers, different wholesale and pharmacy mark-ups, different dispensing fees and different rates of VAT.
Negotiations are ongoing between officials of the Department/HSE and the two bodies that represent pharmaceutical manufacturers in Ireland regarding reductions in the price of medical products supplied under State Schemes. It is expected that these negotiations will conclude shortly and provide additional savings in the cost of medicines. In addition, the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012 will introduce a system of reference pricing and generic substitution for prescribed drugs and medicines. These reforms will promote price competition among suppliers and ensure that lower prices are paid for medicines resulting in savings for taxpayers and patients.
The Bill is a Government priority for this Oireachtas session. It completed its passage through the Seanad on Wednesday, the 19th of September, and will be discussed in the Dáil shortly.
529. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when an appeal for a full medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41459/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
530. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the decision to exclude glucosamine, Omega 3 triglycerides, gluten free products and Orlistat also known as Xenical from medical card cover and drugs payment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41465/12]
View answer571. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason Omacor medication for cholesterol is not covered by the medical card; the assistance that is available to those who require this medication and who cannot afford same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41903/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 530 and 571 together.
In the current financial environment the Health Service Executive (HSE) is facing a challenge to deliver services in a way that will minimise any adverse impact on patients and continue to protect, as far as possible, the most vulnerable citizens. Unfortunately, it has become necessary for the HSE to suspend certain products from its list of reimbursable items. These include glucosamine, omega-3 triglyceride products, orlistat, and gluten-free products.
Glucosamine is indicated for the management of symptoms of osteoarthritis. The National Centre for Pharmoeconomics (NCPE) have assessed the cost-effectiveness of glucosamine on two occasions and concluded that it did not offer value for money to the HSE. However, glucosamine products are available over the counter without prescriptions.
Omega-3 triglyceride products (e.g. Omacor) have been identified both nationally and internationally as not being cost effective or being of lesser benefit to patients. However, these products are also available over the counter without prescriptions, as is Orlistat.
Gluten-free products have become more widely available in supermarkets in recent years and tend to be significantly cheaper than products sold through community pharmacies. A Supplementary Welfare Allowance Adult Diet Supplement may be awarded by the Department of Social Protection to eligible persons. Persons wishing to apply for this allowance can do so by completing an application form which can be downloaded at the following link: http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Forms/Documents/swa9.pdf . Separate application forms are available for children. For persons who are not awarded a Diet Supplement, monies spent on gluten-free foods can be taken into account for tax purposes.
531. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will agree to meet with a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41494/12]
View answer532. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he is considering extending by regulation the class or classes of persons who make a claim for compensation before the Hepatitis C Tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41495/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 531 and 532 together.
Section 4 of the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act (No.34 of 1997), as amended, sets out the categories of persons who can make a claim before the Compensation Tribunal. This Act was amended in 2006 by the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Act, 2006 (No. 22 of 2006) to provide a clear definition for "diagnosed positive for Hepatitis C". I am satisfied that the present legislation is fair and reasonable and I have no plans to amend it.
For this reason I do not think a meeting would be beneficial at this time but I will of course review any new information which becomes available in relation to this matter. My officials spoke to the person who has made this request and explained the rationale for the State's position on this issue. Her question has also been replied to in previous representations and Parliamentary Questions. While I am sympathetic to the small number of women whose case she represents, and who have tested negative for Hepatitis C, it is estimated that up to 16,000 women in Ireland were exposed to potentially infectious batches of Anti-D. Approximately 1,000 of these women were infected with Hepatitis C and were therefore eligible to apply to the Tribunal for compensation. However, extending eligibility to those who have tested negative for Hepatitis C would have significant implications for the compensation scheme overall.
534. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form health spending both as a percentage of gross domestic product and in nominal terms by year from 1992 to 2011. [41520/12]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is provided in the following table.
|
Year |
Percentage of Gross Domestic Product |
Nominal Terms (Millions of Euro) |
|
1992 |
7.0 |
2,846 |
|
1993 |
6.9 |
3,028 |
|
1994 |
6.9 |
3,264 |
|
1995 |
6.6 |
3,530 |
|
1996 |
6.4 |
3,822 |
|
1997 |
6.3 |
4,299 |
|
1998 |
6.1 |
4,834 |
|
1999 |
6.0 |
5,492 |
|
2000 |
6.1 |
6,447 |
|
2001 |
6.7 |
7,906 |
|
2002 |
7.0 |
9,216 |
|
2003 |
7.3 |
10,274 |
|
2004 |
7.5 |
11,345 |
|
2005 |
7.6 |
12,414 |
|
2006 |
7.6 |
13,476 |
|
2007 |
7.8 |
14,737 |
|
2008 |
8.9 |
16,023 |
|
2009 |
9.9 |
15,903 |
|
2010 |
9.2 |
14,334 |
The data comprehends both public and private expenditure and is compiled by the Central Statistics Office and published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The latest year for which data is available is 2010. OECD data differs from the Revised Estimates figures for funding of the health group of Votes. The principal reason for this is that, to enable international comparability, the OECD excludes spending on a range of matters such as personal social services.
535. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of people holding medical cards in nominal terms and as a percentage of the total population on an annual basis from 1992 to 2011. [41535/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
536. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health the total Health Service Executive capital funding budget for 2012; the amount that has been spent to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41569/12]
View answerThe capital budget for the Health Service Executive is €382m. The HSE Vote expenditure return indicated a spend of €214.229m up to end of August.
The use of capital to fund revenue on a once-off basis will be required.
