Written Answers Nos. 197-205
197. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on the options available to a person (details supplied) in County Cork following changes to the GMS scheme in respect of coeliac sufferers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43877/12]
View answerIn 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. This includes gluten-free products.
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.
198. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for a young person to receive orthodontic treatment in Navan Hospital, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43900/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
199. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for a young person with severe dental needs to receive orthodontic treatment in Navan Hospital, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43901/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
200. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange to expedite an operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43905/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
201. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the Health Service Executive continue to provide funding to the Alzheimer's Society for the operation of a day care facility in Monasterevin, County Kildare; if he will take steps to ensure that this essential three day a week facility is not reduced or diminished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43906/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
202. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if new born babies here will be universally screened for the metabolic disorder, glutaric aciduria, as is already the practice in the US and Germany; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43915/12]
View answerGlutaric Acidemia in babies is more commonly referred to as Medium Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (MCADD). It is a rare inherited disorder (enzyme deficiency) comprising two different groups of disorders: fatty acid oxidation disorders and organic acid disorders.
In order to expand the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme (NNBSP) in Ireland to include MCADD to the disorders for which newborns are currently screened i.e. Phenylketonuria, Maple Syrup Urine Disease, Homocystinuria, Galactosaemia, Cystic Fibrosis and Congenital Hypothyroidism, the matter would need to be considered in light of international evidence, including that from the EU Expert Working Group on Newborn Screening.
Requests for any additions to the newborn screening programme are in the first instance proposed to the screening programme governance group in the HSE. A proposal for the inclusion of Glutaric Acidemia to the Newborn Screening Programme is currently being considered by the National Newborn Screening Governance Group.
203. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if the anti-flu jab and the pneumococci jab will be available this year [43922/12]
View answerSeasonal Flu vaccination forms part of the Adult Immunisation Programme. Seasonal Flu vaccination is available every year as the vaccine changes every year to suit the strain of the circulating virus. The 2012 - 2013 Seasonal Flu vaccination campaign was launched by the HSE earlier this week.
Those aged 18 years or older in the at risk groups may attend either their GP or pharmacist for vaccination and those under 18 years should attend their GP. The vaccine and consultation are free for those with a Medical Card or GP Visit Card. Those without a Medical Card or GP Visit Card will be charged a consultation fee.
In addition to seasonal flu vaccination, some people in the at-risk groups may also need pneumococcal vaccine which is available from GPs. Pneumococcal vaccine is not required every year. Those at risk should check with their General Practitioner. Further information is available at www.immunisation.ie.
204. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if capital investment is to be given to St. Patrick's Hospital, Fermoy, County Cork, to upgrade the facilities to bring the hospital up to standard for the new Health Information and Quality Authority changes which are to be implemented in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43937/12]
View answerThe management and delivery of the health capital programme is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
205. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if he will outline in tabular form, the amount of money allocated by his Department and agencies within his Department to Ballina, Castlebar and Westport Town Council between 1997 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43949/12]
View answerNo money was allocated by my Department to the councils referred to by the Deputy during the period concerned. Allocations made by agencies under my Department's remit is an operational matter for the agencies themselves.
