Written Answers Nos. 976-993
976. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the amounts of funding provided through the Health Research Board for research on brain tumour incidence, causes and treatment in 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively; his plans for further investment into brain tumour research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47246/12]
View answer977. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health he amounts of funding provided through the Health Research Board for research on cancer incidence, causes and treatment in 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47247/12]
View answer978. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the amounts of funding provided through the All Ireland Cooperative Oncology Research Group for research on brain tumour incidence, causes and treatment in 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively; his plans for further investment into brain tumour research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47248/12]
View answer979. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the amounts of funding provided through the All Ireland Cooperative Oncology Research Group for research on cancer incidence, causes and treatment in 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47249/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 976 to 979, inclusive, together.
Health research is funded from a number of Government Departments and agencies including the Department of Health. The Health Research Board (HRB) is a statutory body under the aegis of the Department of Health and is the lead agency in Ireland supporting and funding health research. It provides funding for and conducts research linked to national health priorities. The aim of this research is to improve people's health, build health research capacity and make a significant contribution to Ireland's knowledge economy. All research projects submitted to the HRB are subjected to a rigorous international peer review process.
Funding provided through the HRB for research on cancer incidence, causes and treatment and research on brain tumour incidence, causes and treatment for the years 2009 , 2010 and 2011 is set out in the following table (figures provided by the HRB). These figures include funding provided by the HRB to the All Ireland Cooperative Oncology Research Group (ICORG).
|
- |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
Cancer Research |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
( 000) |
(000) |
(000) |
|
HRB Research funding on cancer incidence, causes and treatment ( including ICORG funding) |
€9,432 |
€7,709 |
€9,233 |
|
ICORG funding on cancer incidence , causes and treatment |
€4,204 |
€3,432 |
€4,850 |
|
Total |
€9,432 |
€7,709 |
€9,233 |
|
Brain Research |
|||
|
HRB Research funding on brain tumour incidence, causes and treatment (including ICORG funding) |
- |
€93 |
€185 |
|
ICORG funding on brain tumour incidence, causes and treatment |
- |
€5 |
- |
|
Total |
€93 |
€185 |
According to the HRB the level of research activity into the incidence, causes and treatment of brain tumours is very low in Ireland relative to other research areas and cancer types (e.g. breast cancer). The relatively small proportion of studies in brain cancer is a consequence of various factors, such as a small patient population, the number of available specialist clinicians who are active in clinical research, and a generally low number of experimental treatments coming through the pipeline for brain cancer both in a local and global context. The figures concerning research on brain tumours relates to those studies where the study is wholly or predominantly focusing on brain tumours. It is entirely possible that some of the projects highlighted in the broader ‘cancer’ category may involve, in some way, a portion of research activity that relates to brain tumours.
In May 2013, during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Ireland will co-host, with the European Commission (DG Research and Innovation), a conference on the future of brain research in Europe.
980. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when an appointment for a M.R.I. scan will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47250/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
981. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health when a Consultant Rheumatologist will be appointed to Mayo General Hospital; if the required support services will be provided at Mayo General Hospital to coincide with the appointment; if his attention been drawn to the fact that County Mayo is currently devoid of a consultant service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47251/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
982. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health if he will welcome any initiative by the partnership sector under the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government; if he will consider the setting up of local based home care courses for dependents who have to care for patients discharged from acute hospitals around the country [47263/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
983. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason he has reneged on the promise he made to Positive Action while in opposition to look at the classification of women infected with Hepatitis C to allow them to claim compensation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47286/12]
View answerI have been in contact with Positive Action in relation to this matter and I am satisfied that the present legislation is fair and reasonable and I have no plans to amend it. However, I will, of course, review any new information which becomes available in relation to this matter.
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".
While I am sympathetic to the small number of women in question 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.
984. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the names of each staff member within his Department that has been rehired since March 2011 and the cost involved in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47296/12]
View answerMy Department has rehired four retired members of staff since July 2012 in line with a Government Decision on the arrangements for dealing with our forthcoming EU Presidency requirements. These staff members were rehired on a temporary basis to allow us to fulfil our responsibilities in the context of Ireland's forthcoming Presidency of the EU. Theses are staff members with experience and expertise that is of particular value to the running of our Presidency and their re-employment is very specifically related to that Presidency. It will accordingly terminate as soon as our Presidency tasks have been discharged.
For ease of reference I have attached the information requested by the Deputy in tabular format.
|
Grade |
Length of Contract |
Salary Payscale |
|
1 Principal Officer (50% of full time) |
13 months |
€40,025 |
|
1 Assistant Principal (50% of full time) |
13 months |
€30,983 |
|
1 Assistant Principal (50% of full time) |
13 months |
€30,983 |
|
1 Assistant Principal (70% of full time) |
10 months |
€43,376 |
The pensions of these staff are subject to pension abatement rules.
985. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Health the process involved in placing a person (details supplied) in Dublin 14 in residential care or sheltered accommodation at the request of their parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47345/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter the question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
986. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for taxi drivers trying to get on the Health Service Executive list for HSE transportation; the time it takes to process an application in each of the HSE areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47352/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
987. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the amount the Health Service Executive will spend on taxi services for patients in County Donegal for 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47349/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
988. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the way that he envisages the budget of an organisation (details supplied) in Dublin 13 after Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47350/12]
View answerPending completion of the national estimates, budgetary and service planning process for 2013 it is not possible to predict the service levels to be provided next year.
989. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will fund a bus service for patients in County Donegal who require treatment in Dublin hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47351/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
990. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that Coolmine therapeutic community will be able to stay open and continue to help young mothers with addiction issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47373/12]
View answerIn line with the National Drugs Strategy, the Government is committed to continuing support for initiatives to tackle the drug problem, including programmes to help young parents overcome addiction. Coolmine Therapeutic Community (CTC) receives funding from my Department and the HSE to provide a range of services, including a specific residential programme targeting women, many of whom are mothers.
CTC has recently submitted an application to my Department under the National Lottery Fund Programme for additional funding for two full time creche workers for the women's residential centre. This is currently under consideration.
991. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the cost to the Exchequer of reducing accident and emergency arrival charges by €10 [47383/12]
View answerThe Acute Hospitals collected €12.8m for Emergency Department Charges in 2011. A reduction in the €100 charge by €10 would equate to €1.28m.
992. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he has explored the option of standardising general practitioner charges across the State, for example, capping the charge at €40; and if such standardisation would have a cost to the Exchequer. [47384/12]
View answerConsultation fees charged by General Practitioners (GPs) to private patients, and to General Medical Services (GMS) patients outside the terms of the GMS contract, are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and the patients. While the Minister for Health has no role in relation to such fees, it is expected that clinicians would have regard to the overall economic situation in setting their fees.
The Medical Council's Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners states that the fees charged should be appropriate to the service provided and that patients should be informed of the likely costs before the consultation and treatment.
The Programme for Government provides for significant strengthening of primary care services to deliver universal primary care with the removal of cost as a barrier to access for patients. This commitment will be achieved on a phased basis within the term of this Government.
Legislation to allow the Minister for Health to make regulations to extend access to General Practitioner (GP) services without fees to persons with prescribed illnesses is currently being drafted by the Attorney General's office and will be published shortly. Implementation dates and application details will be announced in due course.
993. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when he will publish the mortality report on acute hospitals; the reason the publication of this report has been delayed over the last 14 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47375/12]
View answerThe Chief Medical Officer of my Department is finalising a report examining the potential of hospital discharge data in measuring the quality of health care. This includes the measure of recorded 30 day in-hospital mortality rates following heart attack. It is expected that the report will be finalised and published in the near future.
