Written Answers Nos. 58-64
59. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his views on whether a school (details supplied) in County Wexford should be reimbursed due to the failure of the Health Service Executive to apply for a special needs assistant for a child in their care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57053/12]
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.
60. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health the number of designated community-based social workers who are employed full-time to protect the elderly in the Dublin Mid-West Constituency of Lucan, Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Saggart, Newcastle and Palmerstown; would the Minister outline the timeframe from when a disclosure is reported to the Health Service Executive of a suspected abuse of an elderly person which will be dealt with by a designated social worker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56969/12]
View answerPolicy in relation to elder abuse is derived from Protecting our Future, the Working Group on Elder Abuse Report 2002 and the 2009 Review of that Report. The Health Service Executive's Elder Abuse Service is comprised of a dedicated staffing structure throughout the country, unified data collection, national and regional oversight mechanisms, a research facility based in UCD and awareness and training programmes.
The dedicated staffing structure provides for 32 Senior Case Workers for the Protection of Older People (Social Workers) and 4 Dedicated Officers for the Protection of Older People. There is currently one designated full time Senior Case Worker allocated to this service in the area referred to in the question.
Because of the nature of referrals to this service, all cases are prioritised and responded to as a matter of urgency upon receipt of referral, including, in many cases, responding on the day of referral or the following day.
63. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health the way he intends to maintain services in children and family services in 2013 following cuts introduced in Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56884/12]
View answerI have agreed with my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs that she will provide an answer directly to the Deputy.
64. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the amount that was spent in 2011 on dispensing fees on medicines that are available over the counter without prescription but which may be prescribed at a level more than is available as an over the counter purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56895/12]
View answer69. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health his policy on dispensing fees being charged for medicines that are available over the counter but which may be prescribed at a level more than is available as an OTC purchase; the way the various drug payments schemes accommodate this and if he will outline the current arrangements in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56894/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 69 together.
I have asked the HSE to supply this information and it will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
