Written Answers Nos. 170-183
170. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the occupational therapy services for children living in the Ballinasloe area of County Galway; the number of children on waiting lists for same; the longest and shortest waiting period; if there are plans to enhance the service and for a timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57133/12]
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.
171. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive an occupational therapy appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57134/12]
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.
172. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health when he expects the Health Service Executive's service plan for 2013 to be made public [57151/12]
View answerThe HSE is required by law to submit a Service Plan within 21 days of publication of the Estimates and the Minister has a further 21 days within which to approve the Plan or seek to have it amended. It would be the Minister’s intention to approve a Service Plan as soon as possible in order to ensure there is a strong budgetary focus in place and that the rate of spending in the HSE is managed.
173. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health when he expects the Health Service Executive service for the HSE North east region will be published [57152/12]
View answerThe HSE is required by law to submit a National Service Plan within 21 days of publication of the Estimates and the Minister has a further 21 days within which to approve the Plan or seek to have it amended.
As regards the Regional Service Plans, I have referred this matter to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
174. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for a delay in commissioning the health impact assessment for minimum pricing; the current status of the tender process; and the proposed timescale for the completion of this assessment. [57154/12]
View answerMy Department is in the final stages of agreeing the tender documentation for commissioning a health impact assessment of a minimum unit pricing regime; this is being done in conjunction with Northern Ireland. The documentation inevitably required a legal assessment and analysis as part of this process; and though this proved protracted, I am glad to say to the Deputy that this is almost complete. It is envisaged that the health impact assessment should be available in the third or fourth quarter of next year.
The Deputy is already aware that Scotland commissioned the same sort of assessment before it drafted its legislation on minimum unit pricing. The health impact assessment will study the impact of different minimum prices on a range of areas such as health, crime and likely economic impact.
175. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm whether or not the Health Service Executive are carrying out orthodontic treatment for children who are attending secondary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57160/12]
View answerThe HSE provides orthodontic treatment based on clinical need to those who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. Orthodontic referrals are generally received via the HSE’s Public Dental Service school screening programme.
176. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health when he received the Health Service Executive review group report on newborn screening cards; when this report was published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57165/12]
View answerIn late 2009, the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) received a complaint from a member of the public in relation to the retention of Newborn Screening Cards (NSCs). The basis of the complaint (which was upheld by the Data Protection Commissioner) was that the NSCs should not be retained indefinitely without consent as this constituted a breach of the Data Protection Acts 1998 and 2003. During 2010, a number of meetings were convened with the Deputy Data Protection Commissioner and representatives of the HSE, my Department and Temple Street Hospital. A policy was agreed in conjunction with the DPC to address both the legislative and ethical requirements of the National Newborn Screening Programme.
In accordance with the policy, from July 1st 2011, the blood portion of the Newborn Screening Card (NSC) will be retained for 10 years and disposed of during the child’s 11th year (for the purpose of confirming an initial diagnosis should this be deemed necessary). Parents/guardians are provided with specific information on the retention of the NSC’s with regard to their use and written consent is sought in this regard. The changes to the NNBSP since 1st July 2011 bring about compliance with both national and EU data protection legislation, uphold ethical principles and meet ethical obligations with regard to consent, privacy and confidentiality.
The agreed policy also provided for the disposal of archived NSCs older than ten years. Following receipt of representations concerning the proposed destruction of archived Newborn Screening Cards, I requested the HSE to conduct a review of this decision. The report and recommendations of the review group were submitted to my office in January 2012. My Department is liaising with the HSE concerning their publication of the report.
177. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 236 of 12 December 2012 if any of the reductions in staffing hours due to cuts in agency and overtime hours have been filled by the employment of full time contracts staff. [57166/12]
View answerThe employment of staff is a matter for the Health Service Executive, and as such, the Deputy's enquiry has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
178. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he intends to restore the home help hours and homecare packages which he has cut since he came to office from citizens in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57172/12]
View answerProtecting the vulnerable, including supporting older people to remain at home and in their communities for as long as possible, is a priority for this Government. The issues raised by the Deputy in relation to services for older people for County Louth are being considered at present in the context of finalising the HSE Service Plan 2013, which will be published in the near future. However, as clearly indicated recently in relation to Social Care services under Budget 2013, the Government will next year restore to 2012 levels core provision of home help, home care packages and personal assistant hours.
179. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will outline proposed changes to the provision of disability services at Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Ballincollig, County Cork; if he will confirm that funding levels will be maintained and if he will provide detail of same for 2012 and that proposed for 2013; if he will commit to review the establishment of the local implementation group in view of concerns locally regarding the number of parent representatives and the terms of reference of the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57178/12]
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.
180. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [57280/12]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
181. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the review of a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [57281/12]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
182. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a claim for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [57283/12]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
183. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form, the total amount of capital funding his Department has allocated to Waterford for the years 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57291/12]
View answerWhile my Department has not allocated capital funding to Waterford it has provided capital funding to a number of directly funded agencies that provide a national service. The following table shows the actual capital grants paid in 2011 and the estimated 2012 grants.
|
Agency |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Health Research Board |
€7.711m |
€7.049m |
|
Health Information and Quality Authority |
€0.154m |
€0.203m |
|
National Cancer Registry |
€0.022m |
€0.010m |
|
Corú |
€0.052m |
€0.023m |
Your question has been forwarded to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as the Executive is allocated an annual capital allocation.
