Written Answers Nos. 597-616
597. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide vital funding for a young persons' counselling service (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23977/13]
View answerThe Family Support Agency under the remit of my Department administers a programme of grants for voluntary organisations that provide marriage and relationships, child and bereavement counselling services. Some 600 organisations are funded each year. In 2013, an amount of €8.147m has been allocated to this programme. These services aim to support people with difficulties they are experiencing in their relationships, to help children whose lives have been affected by parental separation and to support families who have experienced the death of a family member.
The counselling service referred to by the Deputy has received funding from the Family Support Agency under the Scheme of Grants to Voluntary Organisations providing Marriage, Child and Bereavement Counselling. They first applied for funding in 2012 and received €3,000 towards Child Counselling in relation to Parental Separation and Bereavement Counselling on the death of a family member. The 2013 Grant applications are currently being processed and all groups will be notified of the outcome by the Family Support Agency once the approvals have been finalised.
I have forwarded the Deputy's representations to the Family Support Agency for their consideration.
598. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there are any plans or proposals to rationalise the number of family resource centres under the new Child and Family Support Agency; if she envisages 106 family resource centres in the future; if they will continue in their current service provision or if there are plans to either reduce or expand the number of services they provide. [24036/13]
View answerThe Government has approved the Heads of the Child and Family Support Agency Bill and has also agreed to the priority drafting of this Bill. The necessary legislative and organisational preparations are being prioritised so that the Agency can be established as soon as possible. The Agency, upon establishment, will assume full statutory responsibility for a range of child and family services currently provided by three separate agencies; namely the HSE, the Family Support Agency, including the Family Resource Centre Programme, and the National Educational Welfare Board.
It is my intention that the Agency will have a role in supporting families and communities. I can assure the Deputy that the new Agency will build on the excellent work undertaken by the Family Support Agency over the last decade, and that a community based approach will form an integral part of the new Child and Family Support Agency.
Funding of over €23.5 million has been provided to the Family Support Agency (FSA) for 2013. This includes a dedicated provision of over €14 million in respect of the Family Resource Centre Programme in 2013. Under the programme some 106 Family Resource Centres will receive funding from the FSA this year. The FSA, like all other State bodies, has been asked to make savings across all the programmes which it administers. In this context the Family Resource Centres have been asked to focus, in particular, on identifying the scope for greater efficiency and for reduction in the administration and overhead costs associated with the day-to-day running of the centres.
599. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a breakdown of all funding granted to Foróige clubs in County Offaly for the past five years and to date in 2013. [24070/13]
View answerMy Department provides funding for a Local Youth Club Grant Scheme which supports youth work activities at a local level (€1.035m in 2013). These grants are made available to all youth clubs and groups through local Vocational Education Committees. The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department has notified all VECs of their 2013 allocation. The scheme will be advertised locally and applications for funding will be invited by the VEC from local groups in their areas. Funding of €20,395 under the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme has been allocated to Co. Offaly VEC in 2013.
The Deputy should note that under the Comprehensive Review of expenditure, I have ensured that there has been no cut to the total national funding being provided by my Department to support the local voluntary youth club grant schemes as this funding plays an important role in supporting volunteer-led youth groups and in promoting and leveraging valuable voluntary activity in youth work.
Details of funding from 2007 to 2011 is outlined hereunder. Funding returns for 2012 in respect of Co. Offaly VEC have not yet been received in my Department.
|
- |
Co. Offaly VEC |
2007 Grant |
|
1 |
Lusmagh Foróige Club |
750 |
|
2 |
Cloghan Foróige Club |
750 |
|
3 |
Ballycumber Foróige Club |
1,000 |
|
4 |
Rath/Eglish Foróige Club |
1,000 |
|
5 |
Banagher Foróige Club |
1,000 |
|
6 |
Foróige (Durrow) |
750 |
|
7 |
Kilcormac Foróige |
1,000 |
|
8 |
Kinnitty Foróige Club |
750 |
|
9 |
Clonbullogue Foróige Club |
750 |
|
10 |
Ballinahawn Foróige Club |
750 |
|
11 |
Tubber Foróige |
1,000 |
|
12 |
Killoughey Foróige |
750 |
|
13 |
Geashill Foróige |
750 |
|
14 |
Ferbane Foróige |
1,000 |
|
- |
Co. Offaly VEC |
2008 Grant |
|
1 |
Ballinahown Foróige Club |
800 |
|
2 |
Ballycumber Foróige Club |
900 |
|
3 |
Banagher Foróige Club |
900 |
|
5 |
Cloghan Foróige Club |
800 |
|
6 |
Junior Foróige Ferbane |
600 |
|
7 |
Durrow Foróige Club |
800 |
|
8 |
Teen Foróige Birr |
800 |
|
9 |
Clareen Foróige Club |
850 |
|
10 |
Ballinamere Foróige Club |
850 |
|
11 |
Kinnitty Foróige Club |
900 |
|
12 |
Lusmagh Foróige Club |
750 |
|
13 |
Rath/Eglish Foróige Club |
750 |
|
14 |
Tubber Foróige Club |
750 |
|
15 |
Ferbane Foróige Club |
750 |
|
- |
Co. Offaly VEC |
2009 Grant |
|
1 |
Walsh Island Foróige |
500 |
|
2 |
Croghan Foróige |
500 |
|
3 |
Durrow Foróige |
400 |
|
4 |
Lusmagh Foróige |
500 |
|
5 |
Ballinagar Foróige |
500 |
|
6 |
Cloghan Foróige |
600 |
|
7 |
Ferbane Senior Foróige |
500 |
|
8 |
Banagher Foróige |
700 |
|
9 |
Ballycumber Foróige |
700 |
|
10 |
Carrig and Riverstown Foróige |
450 |
|
11 |
Ballinahown Foróige |
500 |
|
12 |
Ferbane Junior Foróige |
500 |
|
13 |
Eglish & Rath Foróige |
500 |
|
14 |
Clareen Foróige |
600 |
|
15 |
Kinnitty Foróige |
500 |
|
16 |
Tubber Foróige |
400 |
|
17 |
Mucklagh Foróige |
500 |
|
18 |
Shinrone Foróige |
500 |
|
- |
Co. Offaly VEC |
2010 Grant |
|
1 |
Ballinabrackey Foróige |
500 |
|
2 |
Ballinagar Foróige |
500 |
|
3 |
Walsh Island Foróige |
400 |
|
4 |
Croghan Foróige |
400 |
|
5 |
Durrow-Tullamore Foróige |
450 |
|
6 |
Lusmagh Foróige |
450 |
|
7 |
Cloghan Foróige |
600 |
|
8 |
Ferbane Senior Foróige |
500 |
|
9 |
Birr Foróige |
550 |
|
10 |
Banagher Foróige |
550 |
|
11 |
Ballycumber Foróige |
700 |
|
12 |
Carrig & Riverstown Foróige |
500 |
|
13 |
Clonbullogue Foróige |
400 |
|
14 |
Ballinahown Foróige |
400 |
|
15 |
Ferbane Junior Foróige |
600 |
|
16 |
Eglish & Rath Foróige |
400 |
|
17 |
Clareen Foróige |
500 |
|
18 |
Kinnitty Foróige |
500 |
|
19 |
Tubber Foróige |
400 |
|
20 |
Rahan Foróige |
500 |
|
21 |
Mucklagh Foróige |
400 |
|
22 |
Shinrone Foróige |
400 |
|
23 |
Geashill Foróige |
500 |
|
- |
Co. Offaly VEC |
2011 Grant |
|
1 |
Ballinabrackey Foróige |
300 |
|
2 |
Croghan Foróige |
350 |
|
3 |
Durrow/Tullamore Foróige |
350 |
|
4 |
Lusmagh Foróige |
350 |
|
5 |
Cloghan Foróige |
400 |
|
6 |
Gallen Community Senior Foróige |
450 |
|
7 |
Banagher Foróige |
400 |
|
8 |
Ballycumber Foróige |
500 |
|
9 |
Carrig and Riverstown Foróige |
400 |
|
10 |
Ballinahown Foróige |
300 |
|
11 |
Eglish and Rath Foróige |
300 |
|
12 |
Kinnitty Foróige |
400 |
|
13 |
Rahan Foróige |
300 |
|
14 |
Kilcormac Foróige |
500 |
|
15 |
Shinrone Foróige |
400 |
|
16 |
Geashill Foróige |
300 |
|
17 |
Birr The Spot Foróige |
500 |
|
18 |
Ferbane Gallen Junior Foróige |
500 |
|
19 |
Ballinamere Foróige (new club 2011) |
500 |
600. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 226 of 24 April 2013, if she will confirm to date the steps that have been taken to advertise the existence of the 116000 hotline here; if she will commit to organising that the relevant informational posters be forwarded to all colleges, schools, crèches and indeed all public buildings with a request that it be prominently displayed therein; further to this as we are co-hosting a debate in June on the issue of missing children, if she will commit to having information about the 116000 hotline made visible on all official websites and any communications relating to same; if she will confirm whether the onus is now on the ISPCC to ensure the 116000 hotline remains operational from this point on; if she is in a position to guarantee that this service will receive annual State funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24247/13]
View answerThe 116000 Missing Children Hotline is operated by the ISPCC in liaison with a cross-sectoral Project Team, chaired by my Department.
The ISPCC has been successful in securing EU Daphne funding to support the establishment of the line. The ISPCC also submitted an application for funding to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to cover the establishment and running of the Hotline. This application has been approved for 2012 and 2013. Future applications for running costs will be considered in the context of the annual budget estimates process.
I am delighted to confirm that the phased implementation of the service, which commenced in December 2012, operating on a reduced hours pilot basis, has now become a full-time 24/7 service since Monday the 22nd of April 2013.
In addition I can confirm that:
- Memoranda of understanding between the ISPCC and the HSE, my Department and the Gardaí, respectively were finalised in advance of the commencement of the pilot in December 2012.
- The funding received from both the EU Daphne fund and from my Department includes, in the establishment costs, the national promotion and advertisement of this Hotline service.
- The 116000 Missing Children Hotline service will be officially launched in Ireland on the 5th of June 2013.
The promotion of the Hotline has been ongoing since the service opened in 2012. There have been numerous press releases issued by the DCYA and the ISPCC, the 116 000 Missing Children Hotline has been covered in the print (9 articles) and broadcast (6 radio stations) media since opening in May 2012. There has also been an on- going website and social media presence utilising ISPCC, Facebook and Twitter to highlight the service as well as information on missing children.
ISPCC staff and volunteers have worked to disseminate posters in local areas and posters have been distributed nationally by the Gardaí.
The Missing Children Hotline will be officially launched on the 5th of June 2013. Following this launch the awareness campaign for the service will be escalated nationally.
My Department will be meeting with the ISPCC specifically to discuss the awareness campaign in advance of the launch on the 5th of June and will continue to liaise with the ISPCC to explore all avenues of promotion of the services, including visibility on relevant website.
601. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will give a commitment that she will continue to provide support to youth organisations (details supplied); and if she will ensure that there will be no cut next year in the funding for the organisation in view of the fact that they already have seen their youth work funding being cut by 30% in five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24304/13]
View answerThe Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of some €53.498m is available in 2013 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2 and Local Drugs Task Force Projects. These funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 400,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 paid staff and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country.
In 2013, my Department's Youth Affairs Unit will provide total funding to Foróige of €5.93 million.
|
Programme |
Amount in 2013 |
|
Youth Service Grant Scheme |
€2,651,154 |
|
Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund (1 & 2) |
€1,195,283 |
|
Special Project for Youth |
€2,083,572 |
|
Total |
€5,930,009 |
This total does not include local youth clubs grants, funded by my Department, but allocated to local clubs by; and at the discretion of local VECs.
This total does not include funding provided to Foróige with respect to Garda youth diversion projects or funding from other state agencies such as the HSE.
The savings required under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure in respect of 2013 amounted to €5.393m which equated to almost a 10% reduction on 2012 funding available for the provision of youth services. In 2014 the savings required in the youth budget under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure amount to €2.976m which entails a 5% cut across most schemes and programmes and a 10% cut on the Youth Service Grant Scheme, under which Foróige receives funding as a national organisation.
Having regard to the savings requirements identified in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure my Department has tried to ensure that, in the determination process for the allocations, the front line youth services, particularly those for the most vulnerable young people are protected as far as is possible from the impact of any necessary reductions in funding.
My Department has tried to be as equitable as possible in achieving these savings. In considering how best to manage within the reduced budgets available, organisations are being asked to consider the scope for reducing administration costs and overheads, if this is at all possible, in order to maintain the front line youth services for young people. I have met, and continue to meet with, many youth organisations and groups to try and see how we can work together to minimise the impact of these necessary savings in order to ensure that the provision of quality youth services to young people is sustained in these challenging times.
A comprehensive Value for Money and Policy Review of youth funding has been commenced in my Department and it is anticipated that the findings of this report will inform the future development of youth programmes and services.
My Department is developing a new youth policy framework for publication later this year. The new youth policy framework will aim to enhance the provision of youth services and activities and it will, inter alia, promote co-ordination between government departments and youth sector organisations with a view to maximising the effectiveness of the State funding available to support services for young people in future years.
602. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will set out in tabular form the names of all State owned or substantially State funded organisations under her Department whose latest accounts laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas are more than one year old, that is, relate to a period ending before May 2012 and more than two years old, that is, relate to a period ending before May 2011. [25017/13]
View answerI would like to inform the Deputy there are four agencies which are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI); the Family Support Agency (FSA); the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and the Ombudsman for Children. Gaisce also comes under the remit of my Department. With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for the Children Detention Schools as provided in Part 10 of the Children Act 2001.
I have set out in tabular format below, the information as requested by the Deputy.
|
Name of Agency/ Body |
Last accounts laid before the Oireachtas more than one year old (before May 2012) |
Last accounts laid before the Oireachtas more than two years old (before May 2011) |
|
National Educational Welfare Board |
2011 accounts (for period Jan - Dec 2011) |
N/A |
|
Ombudsman for Children’s Office |
2011 accounts (for period Jan - Dec 2011) |
N/A |
|
Adoption Authority of Ireland |
N/A |
Financial statements for two month period ended 31st December, 2010 |
|
Family Support Agency |
2011 accounts (for period Jan - Dec 2011) |
N/A |
|
Gaisce |
No legislative requirement to lay accounts before the Oireachtas |
No legislative requirement to lay accounts before the Oireachtas |
|
Children Detention Schools |
No accounts laid to date |
No accounts laid to date |
It is my intention to lay the 2012 accounts for the Children Detention Schools before the Oireachtas once they are finalised later this year.
603. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health if he will examine ways in which continuous positive airway pressure machines could be purchased by those who need them as an alternative to long-term renting of these machines; if he will put in place a scheme by which these machines can be purchased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24046/13]
View answerThe HSE is responsible for the administration of the schemes in question, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
604. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which his Department continues to monitor activity in the health insurance area with particular reference to the need to achieve lower premium payments in the current economic environment; the extent to which health insurance costs have been affected by the costs of hospital procedures in the public and private health sectors respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24400/13]
View answerThe main legislative provisions for the regulation of the Irish private health insurance market are included in the Health Insurance Acts 1994 to 2012 and Regulations made under those Acts. Under this legislation, my Department oversees the maintenance of a competitive and sustainable private health insurance market and monitors developments on an ongoing basis, to ensure that the market is regulated appropriately in the transition to a market-based Universal Health Insurance system.
With particular regard to the cost of health insurance premiums, I have consistently raised the issue of costs with health insurers and am determined to address costs in the sector in the interests of consumers. Last year, I established the Consultative Forum on Health Insurance which comprises representatives from the country's main health insurance companies, the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) and my Department. This Forum was established to generate ideas which would help address health insurance costs, whilst always respecting the requirements of competition law. I have made it clear to the health insurers that I believe significant savings can be made, the effect of which can be to contain the cost of health insurance premiums.
Given VHI’s very significant share of overall costs in the market, I will continue to focus strongly on the need for the VHI to address its costs. At my instruction, the VHI recently compiled a detailed cost containment plan, which sets out savings targets for 2013 and for the 2014-2016 period, so as to minimise the need for any future premium increases. The savings targets over this period are to be achieved through a combination of initiatives including rate reductions with private hospitals and consultants, utilisation management, expansion of clinical audit, reductions in high cost drugs and prosthesis, provider reviews and the continued transition of procedures to lower cost, medically appropriate settings.
I will continue to focus strongly on this issue, as part of measures to ensure the sustainability of the private health insurance market in the transition to a Universal Health Insurance system.
605. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Dublin will receive orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23637/13]
View answerThe HSE provides orthodontic treatment to patients based on their level of clinical need. An individual's access to orthodontic treatment is determined against a set of clinical guidelines and priority is given to patients with greatest needs. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy and to reply to him as soon as possible.
606. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is appropriate that a child diagnosed with autism in February 2013 (details supplied) in County Donegal is still awaiting assistance from the Donegal autism services; if he will provide details on the current waiting times for children diagnosed with autism awaiting assistance in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23639/13]
View answerMy Department will look into the matter and I will respond to you directly.
607. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if same will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23652/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has recently reissued to Oireachtas members.
608. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health in view of the acknowledgement by the Health Service Executive, as per correspondence dated 10 April 2013, that the most appropriate place for treatment for a person (details supplied) in County Louth is abroad, if he will advise on the way they should proceed to obtain the necessary treatment, in view of the fact that the HSE has not replied to my previous question [23685/13]
View answer669. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 622 of 23 April 2013, if he will acknowledge that a person (details supplied) has sought referral to the tertiary services in Cappagh Hospital, Dublin, that Cappagh Hospital confirmed that the most appropriate place for treatment was abroad; that their consultant did identify a treatment abroad, as opposed to a request for a second operation; if he will advise on the way the persons can obtain the necessary treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24250/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 608 and 669 together.
The HSE operates a Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland under EU Regulation 883/04 and Implementing Regulation 987/09 and in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines. Within these governing EU Regulations and the Department of Health Guidelines, the TAS provides for the cost of approved treatments in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland through the issue of Form S2.
A decision is made on each application in accordance with this legislation and guidelines and on the basis of a review by clinical experts. The cost of the treatment is not a deciding factor when approving an application. The treatment must not be available within the State or not available within a time normally necessary for obtaining it.
The TAS allows for an Irish based medical consultant to refer a patient that is normally resident in Ireland for treatment in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland, where the treatment in question meets certain criteria.
Following clinical assessment, the referring Consultant certifies the following:
- The treatment is medically necessary and will meet the patient’s needs;
- The treatment is a proven form of medical treatment and is not experimental or test treatment;
- The treatment is in a recognised hospital/institution and is under the control of a registered medical practitioner;
- The hospital outside the state will accept EU/EEA Form S2.
The application to refer a patient abroad is normally assessed by the HSE within 15 to 20 working days and a determination given before that patient goes abroad. Appointments should not be scheduled prior to a decision being reached on an application.
The situation with this particular case is that the Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) of the HSE received an application from the person involved and issued a letter informing him that, in line with the governing EU Regulations and Department of Health Guidelines, his application did not meet the criteria for the Scheme. This decision was confirmed in a review of the case by the General Manager of the TAS.
In order to advance this case a letter was issued by the TAS to the person concerned, following the review, recommending that he seek a referral to the tertiary services in Ireland in the first instance but also confirming that should his consultant identify a treatment as opposed to a request for second opinion then his free to re-apply accordingly. I understand that the person involved has now been referred to the tertiary orthopaedic services at Cappagh Hospital by his general practitioner. If the person involved attends these services as a public patient, and should the relevant orthopaedic specialist identify a specific treatment for this person that is not available in Ireland, the TAS scheme will promptly consider any such application under the governing EU Regulations and the Department of Health Guidelines.
609. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will approve an application for a renewal of a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23687/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has recently reissued to Oireachtas members.
610. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the the backlog of applications for persons who need to do a period of adaptation and assessment in a hospital (details supplied) in County Dublin in order that they may be accepted into An Bord Altranais; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23691/13]
View answerIssues relating to placement for periods of adaptation in St. Michael's Hospital, Dun Laoghaire are a matter for the HSE. I have forwarded your query to the HSE for direct response.
611. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if there is any way in which their disability allowance can be retained after next month; if there is any alternative allowances available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23701/13]
View answerThe Government is very conscious of the needs of people with a disability. The payment of Mobility Allowance will continue until June. A Project Review Group has been working to seek solutions which do not run counter to the Equal Status Acts. The review will be presented to Government by the end of this month. At this stage, it is not possible to pre-empt the outcome of the review or the decision of the Government. Announcements will be made following a Government decision on the matter.
612. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been waiting for an ophthalmology appointment with the outpatient clinic at University College Hospital Galway since 14 November 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23728/13]
View answerImproving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Building on work already undertaken by the HSE, the National Treatment Purchase Fund has now taken over the reporting of outpatient waiting time data. For the first time data is available on www.ntpf.ie. The collation and analysis of outpatient waiting time data in a standardised format will reveal the distribution of long waiters across all hospitals. For 2013, a maximum waiting time target has now been set of 12 months for a first time outpatient appointment.
In parallel with reducing the numbers of longest waiters, the SDU will also work with the HSE Clinical 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.
613. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the cost of the three most popular health insurance policies in March 2011 and March 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23731/13]
View answerThe Health Insurance Authority (HIA) is the statutory regulator of the private health insurance market in Ireland and provides information to consumers regarding their rights and health insurance plans and benefits. With regard to the most popular health insurance plans on the market, the HIA have advised that:
As at end March 2011 the three most popular plans were,
1. Plan B Options (VHI), (now known as HealthPlus Extra), costing €1,429.50,
2. Plan B (VHI), (now known as HealthPlus Access), costing €1,224.44 and
3. Essential Plus with Excess (Laya), costing €976.
As at end March 2013 the three most popular plans were,
1. HealthPlus Extra (formerly known as Plan B Options), costing €1,837,
2. HealthPlus Access, (formerly know as Plan B), costing €1,524.25 and
3. One Plus Plan (VHI), costing €957.
In addition, the Deputy may be interested to note additional data provided by the HIA of the most popular plans per insurer in March 2013.
At end March 2013, the three most popular plans with Laya were the following:
1. Essential Connect, price of plan €886.60
2. Simply Health Excess, price of plan €899
3. Essential First, price of plan €504.40
At end March 2013, the three most popular plans with Aviva were the following:
1. Level 2 Hospital, price of plan €1,383.60
2. Level 1 Hospital, price of plan €807
3. Business Plan Select, price of plan €1,048.
At end March 2013, the three most popular plans with VHI were the following:
1. HealthPlus Extra (Plan B Options), price of plan €1,837
2. HealthPlus Access (Plan B), price of plan €1,524.25
3. One Plus Plan, price of plan €957
At end March 2013, the most popular plan with Glo Health was the following:
1. Better, price of plan €842.50.
614. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will consider including a medical product (details supplied) on the list of reimbursable items; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23733/13]
View answerAs the HSE is responsible for the list of reimbursable items I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
615. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the progress made on the development of the National Children's Hospital since the selection of the site at St. James last autumn; the timelines for the next steps in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23735/13]
View answerThe new children’s hospital is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and the largest project within the current Capital Plan. The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) is the body charged with building the hospital.
I intend to restructure the NPHDB so that its sole focus is on the core function of planning, designing, building and equipping the new hospital, and that its membership includes the expertise needed to deal with a very large and complex capital project.
Pending the necessary appointments to the NPHDB, senior officials from my Department and the HSE, appointed to the NPHDB in January 2013, have been working to progress the project at its new location. In this first phase of the project, the transitional Board's focus is on reconciling the brief with the new site, site preparation, close-out of existing contracts and new procurement processes.
A joint group involving the HSE and St James's Hospital are meeting regularly to progress the enabling and decant work required; a shared services group is in place focusing on identifying the facilities which can be shared so as to optimise the build; and a review of urgent care centre(s) configuration is underway and is expected to be complete within the coming weeks.
The contract notice for the procurement of a new design team is expected to be published in the coming weeks. The aim is to have the new design team in place within six months and to secure planning permission by December 2014. Work on developing a detailed project timeline is continuing under the transitional Board, recognising the urgency and priority attached to the project, as well as its scale and complexity.
I can assure the Deputy that as a key objective in the programme for Government the building of the new children’s hospital will be kept under continuous review and validation by those to be charged with project delivery.
616. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the most recent Health Information and Quality Authority report on a facility (details supplied) in County Mayo; if the Health Service Executive is in receipt of a funding application in respect of the same facility; when a decision will be made on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23737/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
