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Tuesday, 26 Feb 2013

Written Answers Nos. 698-719

Departmental Correspondence

Questions (698)

Tom Hayes

Question:

698. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Health his views on the correspondence (details supplied) regarding incident forms in hospitals. [10106/13]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter I have referred the question to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (699)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

699. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if an ear, nose and throat consultation can be arranged in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10109/13]

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Written answers

Access to outpatient waiting times is also a key priority and a maximum waiting time target has now been set that no-one should be waiting longer than 12 months for a first-time outpatient appointment. The setting of this target has been made possible by the considerable work done by the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) working in conjunction with the SDU. For the first time, clear and comprehensive data on outpatient waiting times is available (www.ptr.ie). The collation and analysis of outpatient waiting time data in a standardised format reveals the distribution of long waiters across all hospitals. In the first instance, this allows resources to be targeted towards those patients who are waiting longest, to ensure that they are seen and assessed. In parallel with reducing the numbers of longest waiters, the SDU will this year work with the HSE National Clinical Care Programmes to reform the structure, organisation and delivery of outpatient services to ensure that the right patient is seen and assessed by the right health professional at the right time.

In 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.

Departmental Funding

Questions (700)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

700. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the funding that was made available to the Irish Patients Association for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10126/13]

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Written answers

My Department has not provided any funding to the Irish Patients Association between 2010 and 2012. I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly in respect of any funding it may have made to this organisation.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (701)

Finian McGrath

Question:

701. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of adults with an intellectual or physical disability who are on waiting lists for day care services, respite care, residential services and the overall national figures. [10134/13]

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Written answers

The Government currently provides funding of €1.5 billion to the Disability Services Programme through the Health Service Executive (HSE) and is committed to protecting frontline services for people with disabilities to the greatest possible extent. 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; and 1.68 million hours of Personal Assistant / Home Support Hours.

The specific information requested by the Deputy is not available to my Department. However, I have asked the HSE to provide directly to you, the information it has available relevant to your question.

Departmental Funding

Questions (702)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

702. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health where funding for an organisation (details supplied) comes from for their residential and outreach services; if the organisation receives State funding; the amount of funding the organisation has received each year for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10136/13]

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Written answers

As 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.

HSE Funding

Questions (703, 704)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

703. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Health Service Executive plans to axe funding for the Irish Patients Association; if he has had any communications with the HSE in relation to this withdrawal of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10137/13]

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Billy Kelleher

Question:

704. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the decision to axe funding for the Irish Patients Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10138/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 703 and 704 together.

Funding decisions in relation to the Irish Patients Association are proper to the HSE, as appropriate to its holding of the Health Vote.

The HSE has met with Departmental officials to give a background to the reduction in funding for the Association and other voluntary agencies, brought about by the financial position in which the health service finds itself and due to a re-appraisal and targeting of priorities in the light of the Executive's Service Plan 2013. The Deputies should be aware that it would not be correct for the Department to become involved in governance and funding procedures proper to the HSE.

The HSE has been in discussions with the Association since 2006/2007, in relation to it becoming self-financing; there does not appear to have been progress in this direction. (The Department was also in similar discussions with the Association in 2003/2004). The Association receives some private funding from the pharmaceutical sector.

The CEO of the Irish Patients Association met with the Secretary General of my Department in January and was appraised of the HSE's position on funding for the Association. A further meeting between the Association and the HSE was suggested and this will be arranged.

National Children's Hospital Location

Questions (705)

Joe McHugh

Question:

705. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health further to his announcement that the National Children's Hospital will be located at St James' Hospital, Dublin, if his Department and the management of St James' Hospital will engage with Dublin Bus, the Coach Tourism and Transport Council, and Bus Éireann with a view to establishing park and ride services linking the Children's Hospital and Bus Áras or Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10140/13]

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Written answers

The Dolphin Report noted that St James’s has excellent public transport services with 4 bus services, a Luas stop on campus and two others adjacent. St James's Hospital has a direct Luas link with Busaras. With regard to any specific transport initiatives, these will be considered as appropriate during the lifetime of the project. It is recognised that most of the children who will attend this hospital will arrive by car and appropriate carparking provision on campus will be provided. The new children's hospital will provide secondary care for the children of the Greater Dublin Area and tertiary care for children throughout Ireland; most children around the country who need care will receive it closer to their home.

HSE Staff Remuneration

Questions (706)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

706. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of staff that are on a total remuneration package including pension payments, allowances and benefits between €50,000 and €100,000, between €100,000 and €200,000, between €200,000 and €300,000, between €300,000 and €400,000 and the number with more than €400,000 at the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10151/13]

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Written answers

The numbers employed in the health service have been reduced from over 111,000 at end-December 2008 to 101,506 at end-December 2012. In addition, salary scales for all health service grades have been reduced in line with Government decisions.

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy with the detailed information requested.

Question No. 707 answered with Question No. 693.

Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration

Questions (708)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

708. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the payment of bonuses or other performance related payments and or allowances made to the staff of agencies under the aegis of his Department with a yearly breakdown from 2008 outlining the overall amount paid in each year period and the number of staff that received such payments and or allowances. [10167/13]

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Written answers

A number of performance related award schemes were introduced in the health service following a decision by the then Government on the implementation of recommendations of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector, in a report published in September 2000. In May 2009, in the context of the serious deterioration in the public finances and in view of the cessation of such awards in the civil service, my Department wrote to the HSE stating that bonus payments should be suspended pending the issue of further guidelines. In March 2010, my Department instructed the HSE that the schemes should be suspended on an indefinite basis; the schemes remain suspended.

The Deputy's question, insofar as it relates to any payments made prior to the suspension of the schemes, has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. The information in respect of the Non-Commercial State Agencies under the aegis of my Department is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration

Questions (709)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

709. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of payments made to the CEO or equivalent of all agencies under the aegis of his Department including details of any bonuses, pension entitlements or any other remuneration paid to him or her in 2012. [10184/13]

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Written answers

With regard to the HSE, the Executive has been asked to provide the information directly to the Deputy. The information in relation to the other agencies under the aegis of my Department, is currently being collated by my staff and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospitals Funding

Questions (710)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

710. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the way additional funds recently announced for Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, will be spent; if he will provide a detailed breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10205/13]

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Written answers

In 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.

HSE Staffing

Questions (711)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

711. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of Health Service Executive staff by job title that retired during each month of 2012 and to date in 2013 in community care area 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10206/13]

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Written answers

The detailed information sought by the Deputy in relation to staff retirements is a matter for the HSE and, accordingly, I have asked the Executive to respond directly to him.

Hospital Staff

Questions (712)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

712. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant nephrologists here; their grade and location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10207/13]

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Written answers

Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. I have asked the Executive to compile the information requested by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.

Appointments to State Boards

Questions (713)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

713. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health when he will fill the four vacancies on the board of the Health Information and Quality Authority; the number of persons who have expressed an interest in serving on the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10208/13]

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Written answers

The four vacancies on the Board of the Health and Information Quality Authority were filled by me on the 14 and 15 February. Three of the appointments were from applications received through the Public Appointments Service advertising process. There were 40 applications in total.

Question No. 714 answered with Question No. 676.

Cochlear Implants

Questions (715)

Gerry Adams

Question:

715. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to provide a bilateral cochlear implant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if funding can be secured privately, can the implant operation now be carried out. [10230/13]

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Written answers

The HSE undertook a National Review of Audiology Services. The National Audiology Review Group developed a comprehensive set of recommendations to address the inconsistencies and inadequacies in audiology services which are contained in the HSE Report of the National Review of Audiology Services published in April 2011.

Since then, the HSE Audiology Clinical Care Programme was formed to oversee the implementation of the recommendations detailed by this report. Progress is being made on the modernisation of audiology services in Ireland with the introduction of a universal national programme of new-born hearing screening a key priority.

In relation to your query regarding the individual referred to in your question, as this is a clinical issue I have forwarded the question to the HSE who will respond directly to you.

Question No. 716 answered with Question No. 626.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (717)

Tom Fleming

Question:

717. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number on the waiting list for occupational therapy intervention in County Kerry; the length of time they are waiting; the number on the waiting list for paediatric occupational therapy in County Kerry and the length of time they are waiting; when he will address these waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10238/13]

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Written answers

As 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.

Speech and Language Therapy

Questions (718)

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

718. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health if a graduate programme for speech and language therapists will be introduced in 2013. [10242/13]

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Written answers

The Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet its fiscal and budgetary targets. The health sector must make its contribution to that reduction.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform agreed to a nurse graduate initiative on the basis that it would deliver significant savings through displacement of agency and overtime expenditure.

I have no plans at present for similar graduate programmes for other health professions.

Question No. 719 answered with Question No. 670.
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