Written Answers Nos. 182 - 187
182. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an impact assessment of the proposed 5% cuts to St. Michael's House and the Prosper Fingal service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4639/13]
View answerThis Government currently provides funding of over €1.5 billion to the Disability Services Programme through the HSE’s National Service Plan for 2013, and is committed to protecting frontline services for people with disabilities to the greatest possible extent. The Minister for Health is working to ensure that protection is afforded to the disability sector, and the Social Care area as a whole. In 2013 the HSE is seeking to maximise the provision of services within available resources and to maintaining a consistent level to that provided in 2012, by providing the following specialist disability services:
- residential services to over 9,000 people with a disability;
- day services to over 22,000 people with intellectual and physical disabilities;
- respite residential support for over 7,500 people with intellectual and physical disabilities;
- 1.68m hours of Personal Assistant / Home Support Hours.
In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
183. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update in regard to the status of the Walsh report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4643/13]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, an independent researcher was commissioned by the Chief Medical Officer in my Department to draft a report in relation to the practice of symphysiotomy in Ireland. The Report was conducted in two stages. The first stage is an independent academic research report, which is based on an analysis of published medical reports and research. The draft report contains information about how frequently symphysiotomy was carried out in Ireland and compares rates with other countries. The researcher experienced unforeseen difficulties in accessing information sources and as a result, submitted the first stage of the report behind schedule in late January 2012. The researcher informed my Department that this was due primarily to the challenges with accessing historical data from a time when records on the procedure were not routinely kept. The second stage in the research process, involved a consultation process on the draft report involving patient groups, health professionals and in particular the women who have undergone symphysiotomy. The researcher is currently finalising the report based on the consultation and it is also planned to have a peer review process. It is hoped that the report will be published early in 2013.
184. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health the reason surgical appointments in respect of a person (details supplied) in the County Cork have been cancelled on three occasions at Cork University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4644/13]
View answerWith regard to specific complaints in relation to experiences of individuals in our hospitals, there is a formal complaints policy, details of which are on the HSE website, at www.hse.ie/eng/services/ysys/Complaint. In addition, advice and instructions for making complaints about a service or an individual may be found at www.healthcomplaints.ie. In accordance with this procedure, a complaint must be made in the first instance, to the hospital in which the incident causing the complaint occurred. If an individual is not satisfied with the response from the hospital, a review can be sought from the HSE Director of Advocacy and the Ombudsman, whose details are as follows: HSE Director of Advocacy, Oak House, Millennium Park, Naas, Co Kildare, Tel 1890 424 555; Office of the Ombudsman, 18, Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, Tel 1890 223 030; Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.ie. I have asked the HSE to answer the specific queries you have raised and to reply to you directly.
185. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the gynaecology services that are currently available in hospitals in County Louth and if there has been any reduction in servcies over the past year. [4649/13]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
186. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the level of funding or supports currently being provided to the Dignity for Patients group which is based in Drogheda, County Louth and deals with patients who have been victims of sexual abuse. [4650/13]
View answerOn-going funding for any service is a matter for the HSE. In this regard, the HSE has had regular meetings with with Dignity 4 Patients in 2012 and will continue to meet with them in 2013. I have been informed that a grant of €22,500 was paid to Dignity For Patients in 2012 by the HSE and that the same amount will be paid in 2013.
187. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he is considering the use of social clauses in contracts for the construction of primary care centres and the national children's hospital, Dublin; and if he will consider including a quota in the contracts to employ jobseekers who are long-term unemployed. [4700/13]
View answerJob creation is a priority for this Government. The matter of social clauses in public contracts is being examined by the Minister Public Expenditure and Reform and his Department.
Social clauses can be used in public procurement in cases where they are targeted at factoring into the procurement process consideration of social issues such as employment opportunities, equal opportunities and social inclusion. In 2010, the European Commission issued guidance that identified a range of social considerations that could be relevant for procurement including promoting employment opportunities for young unemployed or long-term unemployed and promoting compliance with core labour standards. This guidance stressed that when incorporating social considerations into the procurement process one of the key challenges is ensuring compliance with the EU Treaty Principles and the Procurement Directives. However, challenges arise from the need to ensure that: value for money is not adversely affected; additional costs are not placed on domestic suppliers relative to other potential suppliers; and the targeted benefit is capable of being measured and monitored during execution of the contract. The main purpose of the public procurement process is to ensure that goods, services and works are purchased by the State in a manner that is legal, transparent and of high probity, and our key requirement is the achievement of value for money.
I support the deliberations of the Minister Public Expenditure and Reform and his Department. The outcome of these deliberations will, where appropriate, be reflected in construction tenders.
