Written Answers Nos. 247-254
247. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason the Coombe Hospital, Dublin, has not paid moneys owed to agency nursing staff as a result of a European court ruling, despite the fact that all other similar hospitals have settled; and if he will intervene to ensure that these moneys are paid without further delay. [26189/13]
View answerFollowing the enactment of the Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Act in 2012, the HSE provided guidance to public service employers on the Act, including the fact that the equal pay provisions of the Act have retrospective effect to 5th December 2011. All agency staff employed through agencies contracted by the HSE have now had their basic pay adjusted in accordance with the Act.
The question of payment of any outstanding retrospective amounts due to employees of a specific company is a matter for the HSE, and as such, the Deputy's enquiry has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
248. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many families of adults with an intellectual disability are not satisfied at being forced out of their service to other services in view of the fact they need the stability and are happy in their current service (details supplied). [26196/13]
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.
249. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a disability service in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [26197/13]
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.
250. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a social worker will support and advise a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [26198/13]
View answerThe Housing Scheme referred to in the details supplied by the Deputy, including access to related social work services, is operated by Dublin City Council, which falls under the remit of the Department of Environment, Community & Local Government. Given the health elements mentioned in the Deputy's question, I have referred that aspect of the Deputy's question to the Health Service Executive, for a direct reply to the Deputy.
251. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health to name the Minister or Minister of State who represented Ireland at the Ministerial Council meetings of the European Union during the Irish Presidency of the Council to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26215/13]
View answerThe Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council normally meets in formal session on two occasions during each Presidency period of six months. Health matters are discussed at one of these formal Councils. There have been no formal EPSCO Council meetings in relation to health to date in 2013. The next EPSCO Council will take place in Luxembourg on 20 and 21 June. Health will be discussed on day two of the meeting. I will attend and chair the relevant sessions. I hosted an Informal meeting of EU Health Ministers (including accession and candidate countries) on 4 and 5 March. Alex White, T.D., Minister of State for Primary Care at my Department attended. Frances Fitzgerald, T.D., Minister for Children also attended a session on childhood obesity.
252. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of parliamentary replies issued by him to this Deputy in 2013 containing an undertaking to provide extra information requested; the date of the question in each case; the date on which the information was provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26230/13]
View answerFive questions submitted to my Department by the Deputy in 2013 were referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy as the subject matter in each case concerned operational matters which are the responsibility of the Executive. The Executive is committed to providing responses to referred questions within 15 working days of receipt. The detailed information sought by the Deputy is set out below.
|
PL Number |
Date of Question |
Date HSE response provided |
|
1465/13 |
16.1.13 |
24.1.13 |
|
7512/13 |
14.2.13 |
7.3.13 |
|
9401/13 |
21.2.13 |
28.3.13 |
|
12793/13 |
12.3.13 |
13.3.13 |
|
22611/13 |
14.5.13 |
Response not yet issued |
253. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health if he has considered the addition of Addison's disease to the long term Illness scheme on the basis that Addison's patients require life long daily steroid replacement medication for adrenal failure in the form of hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone. [26281/13]
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 GP consultations.
254. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health if the nominations from the Irish Institute of Obstetricians and the general medical practitioners were on the expert group on the A, B and C case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26285/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware from my previous replies on this matter that the nominations from the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Irish College of General Practitioners were provided to me in confidence and therefore I do not intend to provide any further details in this regard.
