Written Answers Nos. 635-655
635. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for funding through the fair deal scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; when a final decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25231/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
638. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider the decision to refuse the reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal with learning difficulties as well as a physical disability, whose card was cancelled as a result of a medical card review letter being sent to their previous address and resulted in them having to pay for a private prescription from their general practitioner and their medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25258/13]
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.
639. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the membership of the consultative forum on health insurance; the number of times the group has met; the areas of work in which they have engaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25268/13]
View answerIn February 2012, 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 the Department of Health. This Forum has been established with a view to generating ideas which would help address health insurance costs. Its core focus has been on identifying ways of addressing costs throughout the industry, while always respecting the requirements of competition law. The Forum will also give a voice to the insurers in the development of the new Universal Health Insurance model (UHI). The future delivery of health services under UHI will require competing insurance companies driving efficient, cost effective delivery of high quality health care.
The Forum met five times during 2012. In addition, bilateral meetings took place with each insurer (i.e. Quinn Healthcare (now known as Laya), Aviva and VHI) in March 2012 where they brought forward their own ideas for cost savings in the market. Following its entry on to the Irish market, GloHealth accepted an invitation to join the Consultative Forum on Health Insurance in August 2012. The Forum has met twice so far in 2013, on 31st January and 28th March, and it is intended that a number of issues will be considered during the course of this year, including:
- costs and affordability in the context of a sustainable market
- data-sharing
- the establishment of a Subgroup to consider regulatory issues relevant to the health insurance market, and
- measures to encourage greater participation of younger, healthier people in the market.
In addition to the ongoing work of the Forum, a Subgroup of the Consultative Forum was established earlier this year to consider regulatory issues relevant to the health insurance market. The third meeting of this Subgroup, with membership comprising two representatives from each insurer and representation from the HIA and my Department, took place earlier this month. The Subgroup provides a valuable opportunity for insurers to contribute views and proposals on initiatives which could assist the sustainability of the private health insurance market, such as lifetime community rating and the possible introduction of a standard plan or core set of benefits to the health insurance market. Further work will be undertaken by the Subgroup over the coming months to further consider the merits and viability of such proposals, with a view to overseeing the sustainability of the private health insurance market in the transition to a UHI system.
It is envisaged that the Consultative Forum will continue to provide a useful platform for continued engagement with the commercial insurers and I welcome any other measures or initiatives that insurers wish to contribute as part of the ongoing work of the Forum, and the Subgroup, which would be considered beneficial to maintain affordability in the private health insurance market.
640. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding that has been allocated to the ASIST programme in 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25269/13]
View answerThe HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) is the national coordinator for the ASIST suicide prevention training programmes. The NOSP seeks to ensure that suicide prevention training is organised and delivered in an integrated, coordinated and safe way. Training programmes are organised locally by the Resource Officers for Suicide Prevention and other agencies, including the National Youth Council of Ireland, HeadsUp and the Defence Forces. In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
641. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that due to a crisis request by the Health Service Executive to house two vulnerable children, the Sancta Maria respite care facility on the Navan Road, Dublin 7, has now had to withdraw all regular respite care for children and adults for at least a four week period until such time that the physical layout of the the facility is restructured to accommodate the two children in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25311/13]
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.
643. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for funding through the fair deal scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; when a final decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25317/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
644. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card review and update a general practitioner card to a full medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25321/13]
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.
646. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the reason a minor (details supplied) in County Cork was left in the emergency department of the Mercy Hospital in Cork from 3 p.m. on Friday, 10 May 2013, until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, 14 May 2013; the reason this person has still not been allocated to a child and adolescent appropriate mental health service unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25334/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
647. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health the number of home help hours allocated nationally for the care of senior citizens in their homes in 2012 and 2013; and the corresponding figures for Kildare-west Wicklow home help services. [25340/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
648. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Health when funding will be made available to allow for a home care package to be put in place allowing persons currently taking up a hospital bed to return home (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25350/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
650. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 517 of 20 March 2013, when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25408/13]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, again, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
651. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form funding for intellectual disability services in Dublin for 2008 to 2013, inclusive. [25421/13]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department. However, I have asked the HSE to provide the information it has available directly to you in relation these matters.
652. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health the reason funding for respite care in respect of families with intellectual disability services has been reduced in Dublin; and the reason respite care was suspended in the Daughters of Charity service in St. Vincent's on the Navan Road, Dublin 7. [25422/13]
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.
653. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the new primary care centre for the Baggot Street, Dublin 4, area which is promised in the 2013 Dublin-mid-Leinster service plan published by the Health Service Executive; if he will indicate if Baggot Street hospital or a commercial office situated on Haddington Road, Dublin 4, is the intended location for this new health centre; if the commercial office on Haddington Road is to be leased from a private company or whether the services are to be contracted out by the Health Service Executive on a public private partnership basis; the expected level of public usage and selection of services for which this primary care centre will cater; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25442/13]
View answerDelivery of healthcare infrastructure is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
655. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 2 May, 2013 regarding the role of the chief dental officer, if the position has been recently filled; if the position was publicly advertised; the remit and salary of the role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25450/13]
View answerThe Department of Health has been unable to fill the post of Chief Dental Officer on a full time basis due to the moratorium on recruitment. Accordingly, it was agreed with the HSE that the HSE National Oral Health Lead would be released to the Department for two days each week to undertake the functions of Chief Dental Officer, with effect from 20 May 2013. The arrangement will be reviewed after 3 years.
There are a number of important issues relating to oral health services which highlight the need for the Department to have access to the skills, experience and expertise of a dental professional. These include:
- The need to review certain aspects of oral health policy
- The forthcoming review of the Dental Act 1985, which will identify the regulatory and other reforms required in the dental health professions
- International developments in relation to oral health e.g. pressure to reduce the use of mercury in dental amalgams
- The need to integrate oral health services more closely with primary care services and health promotion.
