Written Answers Nos. 523-539
523. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been refused a medical card; if he will investigate the case with a view to an immediate reversal of the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55574/12]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
524. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if he has had any contact with the Board of Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24, regarding the challenging budgetary situation at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55595/12]
View answerI can confirm that officials from my Department attended a meeting with Tallaght Hospital in June in the context of providing secretarial support for the Review of Financial Management Systems in the Irish Health Service, more commonly known as the Ogden review. At the meeting a presentation was made in relation to Tallaght's performance to date covering various topics including activity, waiting list and the financial position.
On 29 August, the CEO of Tallaght wrote to the Department outlining the financial position. Subsequently on 6 September, there was a meeting with the HSE and Tallaght, including the Chairman of the Board of Tallaght, at which the Department was represented. A presentation was made by the Director of Finance, Tallaght regarding the financial position.
Tallaght, like every other hospital is facing significant financial challenges. The HSE has had regular ongoing engagement with the hospital with a view to ensuring that the hospital continues to deliver its 2012 service plan commitments in addition to maximising the considerable financial resources at its disposal.
Tallaght hospital has achieved significant operational savings in 2012 and has reduced its year-on-year spending by 6%, despite a 5% increase in inpatient numbers, a 6% increase in Emergency Department admissions and a 9% reduction in its 2012 allocation. Tallaght has achieved HSE targets for reductions in agency and overtime costs and its absenteeism is consistently lower than the HSE national target. It has also considerably reduced the average length of stay times and ED, inpatient and day case waiting times as well as practically eliminating hospital trolleys.
The hospital’s staff has displayed great commitment to improving its performance and I am confident that this commitment will greatly assist in addressing Tallaght's current financial difficulties.
525. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55598/12]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
526. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the proposals his Department has made with regard to meeting the administrative and operational costs to a facility (details supplied) in County Kildare; if prior to the development of this facility the Health Service Executive had a clear understanding and agreement with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government providing the capital funding; the local authority and or the facility provider in relation to ongoing operational costs; his view on whether the funding on offer is adequate to allow the facility to be open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55603/12]
View answerIn 2010 the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence was published. It aims to provide a framework for sustainable intervention to prevent and effectively respond to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and is lead by Cosc which is the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence.
The HSE subsequently published its own Policy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence. The principal actions are in line with the National Strategy. The HSE’s policy states that a health-focused analysis of violence is crucial, not only because the consequences of such violence require a significant amount of health care system resources, but most importantly because the health care system is often the first route through which victims seek to access supports.
Services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence – including 20 crisis refuges, 27 domestic violence support services and 16 rape crisis centres received €19.182 Million in 2011.
In relation to the specific issue raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
527. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when the findings of a report (details supplied) will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55604/12]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Disability Appeals Officer is an independent officer appointed by the Minister for Health whose purpose is to provide an appeals service to people who wish to appeal (i) against a finding or recommendation of a complaints officer of the Health Service Executive made under the Disability Act 2005; or (ii) against the failure of the HSE or an education service provider to implement a recommendation of a complaints officer. Following investigation, the Disability Appeals Officer issues a written determination outlining the findings of his/her investigation and any steps to be taken by the HSE or education service provider to address issues of concern. As Minister for Health I have no role in this process.
I understand that the HSE is in receipt of the written determination referred to in the Deputy's question. As this is a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
528. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1678 of 18 September 2012, when a full response will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55605/12]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has advised that it issued a response to the Deputy in October on this matter which related to the preparation of an assessment report involving a number of professional disciplines. The Executive has indicated that it is working to finalise the assessment process with the input of the various professionals involved as soon as possible and that it will be responding further to the Deputy in the matter.
529. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55608/12]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
530. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health with regards to the Health Service Executive's fourth annual report of child and adolescent mental health services and the announcement in it that on 4 September 2012, the HSE management team approved the new access protocols for 16 and 17 year olds to mental health services, if he will provide details of these new access protocols; if he will confirm if the HSE and his Department have engaged in detailed consultation and full engagement with the Irish Medical Organisation and Irish Hospital Consultants Association as is required by the PSA; and if consultation has happened at a local level with CAMHS teams around the country [55628/12]
View answerThe introduction of "Access protocols for 16 and 17 year olds" from 1 January 2013" will ensure the expansion of mental health services to all up to 18 years. The protocol provides that from 1 January 2013, all new cases of children up to their 17 birthday will be seen by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, in areas where previously the age limit for receipt of services had been 16 years; from 1 January 2014, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services will provide services for all children up to 18 years. My Department has not been involved in discussions regarding the development or implementation of the protocols; as the remainder of the Deputy's question relates to a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
532. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies currently in mental health nursing positions; he location of these vacancies; and if those vacancies are currently covered by agency or other staff [55641/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
533. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the names of the hospitals in the greater Dublin area that are under the direct managerial control of the Health Service Executive; the managerial structures that are in place in other Dublin hospitals; the Dublin hospitals that are under the patronage of the Roman Catholic Church, Church of Ireland and any other Christian denomination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55648/12]
View answerAcute and non-acute hospital services are provided in three different types of hospitals in the greater Dublin Area. These comprise HSE hospitals, owned and funded by the Health Service Executive; voluntary public hospitals, most of whose funding comes directly from the Health Service Executive; private hospitals, which may deliver some services to the Health Service Executive; voluntary public hospitals are sometimes owned by private bodies, such as religious orders. Other voluntary public hospitals are incorporated by charter or statute.
Issues in relation to the governance and management of individual hospitals, as well as interaction with hospitals, are service matters for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have asked the Executive to reply directly to the Deputy regarding the information requested in relation to each of the relevant hospitals.
534. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appeal for mobility allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55662/12]
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.
535. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health his plans to roll out bowel cancer screening throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55672/12]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that the national colorectal screening programme commenced in November. The programme has been introduced on a phased basis to men and women between the ages of 60-69 years.
When fully implemented the programme will offer free screening to men and women aged 55-74 every two years. As 50% of cancers within this age group are found in people aged 60-69 the programme has begun with this latter age cohort (a population of approximately 500,000). It is anticipated that the first screening round will take up to three years to complete. Over time the phasing of the programme will allow development of colonoscopy capacity to cater for the full 55-74 year age population.
I regard the colorectal screening programme as a national priority and I am committed to supporting it as it develops.
536. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive their nursing home support funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55676/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
537. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the necessary funds to finish a road resurfacing project (details supplied) in County Kerry will be included in Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55634/12]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants.
Circulars, relating to regional and local roads, have been issued to all local authorities earlier this year inviting applications for consideration for funding in 2013 under the various Grant Schemes. All applications are being considered currently and will be assessed having regard to the eligibility criteria, the need to prioritise projects, competing demands from other local authorities and the reduced funding available to my Department to assist local authorities in 2013.
I intend to announce the 2013 regional and local road grant allocations early in the new year.
538. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress that has been made on the provision of a bus shelter for Killorglin town County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55057/12]
View answerThe issue of bus stop improvement is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the relevant transport provider. I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
539. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position in regarding the facilitation of local area hackney licences; when he anticipates that this scheme will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55060/12]
View answerThe regulation of the taxi industry is a matter in the first instance for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003. The NTA is the lead agency with responsibility for implementation of the recommendations of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011, including implementation of Action 46 of the Report, which proposes a local area hackney licence.
The aim of the proposed local area hackney licence is to facilitate the low cost entry to the hackney market for transport provision in rural areas that, otherwise, would be unlikely to have such services. This proposal was identified in the Review Report as a medium-term measure, whereby due to the nature, complexity or other requirements of the proposal, implementation would not be possible in 2012. I understand that the NTA is considering the best approach to this issue.
