Written Answers Nos. 296-308
296. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the full cost of ministerial transport and the breakdown of this cost between salaries, mileage allowance and other travel costs for Ministers and Ministers of State in his Department for 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15675/13]
View answerThe information requested is detailed below:
Total paid in respect of travel during 2012
|
Minister / Minister of State |
Driver Pay € |
Driver Subsistence etc € |
Mileage & other travel costs € |
TOTAL € |
|
James Reilly, T.D. |
88,151.80 |
15,023.45 |
15,092.44 |
118,267.69 |
|
Kathleen Lynch, T.D. |
79,660.79 |
11,480.03 |
15,921.62 |
107,062.44 |
|
Alex White, T.D. |
12,593.92 |
0.00 |
3,339.11 |
15,933.03 |
|
Roisin Shortall, T.D. |
0.00 |
0.00 |
3,664.31 |
3,664.31 |
|
TOTAL |
180,406.51 |
26,503.48 |
38,017.48 |
244,927.47 |
Note: the Travel and Subsistence costs shown include travel and subsistence paid in 2013 for 2012 and exclude travel paid in 2012 for 2011.
297. Deputy Tom Fleming 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 expedite the matter. [15684/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
298. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card application in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry. [15688/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
299. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding suicide legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15690/13]
View answerSuicide is a tragedy that we are constantly working to prevent and also working to give more support to the families affected. Dealing with the current high levels of suicide and deliberate self harm is a priority for this Government. Reach Out our National Strategy for Action on suicide Prevention makes a number of recommendations in relation to fast track referrals to community-based mental health services, effective response to deliberate self harm, training, stigma reduction, etc. Consequently, the HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) has developed a range of initiatives to support people who are suicidal and also supporting their families, friends and peers in recognising and responding appropriately to signs of emotional distress and suicidal thoughts.
It is not accurate to state that suicidal thinking in females will be legitimised by the State by legislation. As the Deputy will know, last December the Government approved the implementation of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the A, B and C v. Ireland case by way of legislation with regulations, within the parameters of Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court in the X case. It also agreed to make appropriate amendments to the criminal law in this area. The aim of the Bill is solely to regulate access to lawful termination of pregnancy in accordance with Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution as interpreted in the X case.
As the Deputy is aware, Article 40.3.3° of the Constitution was inserted by the Eighth Amendment in 1983 and is as follows:
The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as
practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.
In Attorney General v. X, the Supreme Court considered the meaning of the Eighth Amendment in the circumstances that arose in the case. The case concerned a girl of 14 years of age and the threat to her life was from suicide. The Supreme Court analysed and interpreted the text of Article 40.3.3 and decided that the Constitution permitted abortion in certain limited and particular circumstances, namely, where there was a real and substantial risk to the life of the woman, which could only be removed by terminating the pregnancy. Article 40.3.3° of the Constitution as interpreted in the X case judgment is the law of the State and the Oireachtas is legally bound to adhere to this interpretation. In order for the risk of suicide to be removed as a ground for lawful abortion, a referendum must be held. Indeed, two referendums have been held to attempt to remove the risk of suicide as a ground for lawful abortion and they were both defeated.
300. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the shortest, longest and average waiting time yearly between 2006 and 2012 for medical card applications. [15700/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
301. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card applicants who are waiting over three months, six months, nine months and 12 months for their claims to be processed. [15701/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
302. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are waiting over three months, six months, nine months and 12 months to be assessed by the Health Service Executive for speech therapy. [15704/13]
View answerThe particular issue of speech and language supports that has been raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the Deputy's questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
303. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are waiting over three months, six months, nine months and 12 months to be assessed by the Health Service Executive for a hearing test. [15705/13]
View answerThe information requested is currently being collated by the HSE and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
304. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are waiting over three months, six months, nine months and twelve months to attend Health Service Executive provided counselling psychologists. [15706/13]
View answer305. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of adults who are waiting over three months, six months, nine months and twelve months to attend Health Service Executive provided counselling psychologists. [15707/13]
View answer306. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who are waiting over three months, six months, nine months and twelve months to attend the national counselling service. [15708/13]
View answer307. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are waiting over three months, six months, nine months and 12 months for treatment by the Health Service Executive to tackle an eating disorder. [15709/13]
View answer308. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of adults who are waiting over three months, six months, nine months and 12 months for treatment by the Health Service Executive to tackle an eating disorder. [15710/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 304 to 308, inclusive, together.
The Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health services and is committed in particular to the delivery of more and better quality care in the community as envisaged in A Vision for Change. In 2012, a special allocation of €35 million was provided for mental health to be used primarily to further strengthen Community Mental Health Teams in both adult and children's mental health services, to advance activities in the area of suicide prevention, to initiate the provision of psychological and counselling services in primary care, and to facilitate the transfer of mental health service users from institutional to community based care.
Recruitment of over 330 of the additional 414 posts approved in 2012 has been completed and the HSE is aiming to fill the remaining posts in the very near future. A further €35 million was provided in budget 2013 for the continued development of mental health services across a range of headings, including the further ongoing development of community services and 477 posts have been approved to implement these measures. Discussions are ongoing within the HSE, and in consultation with the Department of Health to finalise the allocation of these resources and commence recruitment. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy with the specific details requested relating to waiting times.
