Written Answers Nos. 583-599
583. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the reason the ArtAssist Device is no longer available to patients living in counties Mayo and Galway; if access to this limb saving device is also denied elsewhere across the Health Service Executive regions; if he will take appropriate steps to restore early, if not immediate, access based on need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15285/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, there are many hundreds of new medical technologies and drugs that come on stream every year. It is essential that the effectiveness of any new device or drug is fully reviewed to ensure it delivers improved outcomes for the patient and value for money for the state. The Art Assist pump is currently being examined for its clinical efficacy and is being reviewed as part of the Clinical Programmes at a national level. The HSE National Director for Quality, Safety and Risk is undertaking a full assessment of the efficacy of the Art Assist pump to establish not just its appropriateness but also the clinical benefit, if any, that it provides to patients. Patients who are already receiving the treatment will continue to receive it whilst the review is ongoing. It is fair and reasonable to continue providing the Art Assist pumps to current clients until the review is completed.
584. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the reason bipolar affective disorder is not a qualifying medical illness for the long-term illness card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15322/13]
View answerThere are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Long Term Illness Scheme. Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines. In addition, people who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the Health Service Executive can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. Those who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of general practice consultation.
585. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a below the knee prosthesis will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [15323/13]
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.
586. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1023 of 16 January 2013, the position regarding surgery in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [15324/13]
View answerIn relation to waiting list management in general, the National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has recently been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
587. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a hernia operation will be arranged in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [15325/13]
View answerIn relation to waiting list management in general, the National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has recently been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
588. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15327/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
589. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding additional home help hours in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15328/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
590. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the dissatisfaction of the staff in psychiatric services in the Killarney area, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15334/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
591. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the cost to the State of engaging agency nursing staff in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the cots by hospital; the total number of positions filled by agency nurses in each of these years; if he will provide a list of the companies through which agency staff are sourced in each of these years and the amount paid to each in that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15345/13]
View answerSubject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to recruit, manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
592. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health when the post of paediatric emergency medicine in Temple Street Hospital, Dublin 1, will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15346/13]
View answerThe 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. This policy requires that by the end of 2013, the health service achieves a workforce of 98,955 whole time equivalents (WTEs). However, the HSE can make staff appointments once it remains within its overall employment ceiling and has the financial resources to do so. 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.
593. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork to have an operation on their knee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15367/13]
View answerIn relation to waiting list management in general, the National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has recently been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
594. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork referred to the Orthopaedic unit at Cork University Hospital will get an appointment for treatment. [15125/13]
View answerIn relation to waiting list management in general, the National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has recently been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
595. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider extending the date by which submissions can be made by local authorities to include extra roads to be considered under the funding provided for community involvement schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14812/13]
View answerLocal authorities were issued with a circular on 12th February this year inviting applications for funding under the Community Involvement Scheme with a deadline of 19th April 2013. This timescale provides local authorities with over 9 weeks to compile their applications and submit them. Any extension to this deadline would impact on the assessment and subsequent allocations which in turn would impact on the ability of the local authorities to carry out any approved works by the end of this year.
596. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 231 of 31 January 2013, if he will arrange for his Department to write to the person concerned as indicated in the reply. [14750/13]
View answerMy Department has been in communication on a number of occasions with this person’s solicitor in relation to the legal requirements for road haulage operators and licences, most recently by letter on 14 March.
597. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of call outs and rescues by day and night that have been undertaken by the different search and rescue coastguard helicopters stationed around the country over the past five years [14755/13]
View answerAccording to Coast Guard records, the number of call-outs, by day and night, undertaken by the Irish Coast Guards' Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters by base are as follows:
2008
|
- |
Day |
Night |
Total |
|
Dublin |
74 |
13 |
87 |
|
Shannon |
141 |
25 |
166 |
|
Waterford |
61 |
14 |
75 |
|
Sligo |
110 |
17 |
127 |
2009
|
Day |
Night |
Total |
|
|
Dublin |
98 |
10 |
108 |
|
Shannon |
131 |
16 |
147 |
|
Waterford |
103 |
12 |
115 |
|
Sligo |
117 |
19 |
136 |
2010
|
Day |
Night |
Total |
|
|
Dublin |
87 |
5 |
92 |
|
Shannon |
115 |
25 |
140 |
|
Waterford |
106 |
20 |
126 |
|
Sligo |
98 |
7 |
105 |
2011
|
Day |
Night |
Total |
|
|
Dublin |
114 |
17 |
131 |
|
Shannon |
164 |
23 |
187 |
|
Waterford |
129 |
6 |
135 |
|
Sligo |
112 |
12 |
124 |
2012
|
Day |
Night |
Total |
|
|
Dublin |
111 |
10 |
121 |
|
Shannon |
161 |
25 |
186 |
|
Waterford |
85 |
12 |
97 |
|
Sligo |
116 |
12 |
128 |
598. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reopen the sports capital grant programme for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14776/13]
View answerNo decision has been taken on the timing of the next round of the Sports Capital Programme.
599. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures introduced to the tourism industry since March 2011; if he believes these measures have had a positive impact on the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14866/13]
View answerSince March 2011 the Government has implemented a range of measures to support the tourism industry. VAT has been reduced to 9% on accommodation, restaurant and other services and this lower rate of VAT continues in 2013. The Visa Waiver Scheme is encouraging visitors from emerging markets to add Ireland to their trip when they are visiting the UK. The halving of employers’ PRSI for those on modest wages has reduced the cost of employing people. More recently the Government has confirmed that the extended Employment and Investment Incentive Scheme (EIIS) and the new Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) initiatives will apply to tourism accommodation. Tourism and coach operators in particular will also benefit from the recently introduced fuel rebate and small tourism businesses will also benefit from the higher VAT threshold of €1.25 million.
In 2013 the Government will spend almost €140m through its agencies to support the industry, to market tourism at home and abroad and to support product development. Fáilte Ireland also provides a range of business and training supports to tourism enterprises.
These measures put in place to support tourism helped to contribute to growth of almost 8% in visitor numbers in 2011 and, although visitor numbers only experienced marginal growth in 2012, figures released last week by the CSO showed that spending by visitors to Ireland increased by 4.5% last year to €3.68 billion. In addition, according to Fáilte Ireland, the numbers employed in the tourism and hospitality sectors in Ireland is now 185,000, up 5,000 on their previous estimate. Finally, as the Deputy is aware, 2013 is the year of the Gathering and this initiative will provide further support for the industry this year as well as a legacy effect for future years.
