Written Answers Nos 515-530
515. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the position requiring those advertising psychotherapy and counselling services to alert the public to the fact that psychotherapists and counsellors are not currently regulated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. [33165/13]
View answer516. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the registration of psychotherapists and counsellors under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 as promised by him during the committee debate on the Health and Social Care (Amendment) Bill 2012 on 9 November 2012 [33166/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 516 together.
Under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, the Minister for Health may designate a health and social care profession if he or she considers that it is in the public interest to do so and if specified criteria have been met. The 12 professions to be regulated under the Act are clinical biochemists, dieticians, medical scientists, occupational therapists, orthoptists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, psychologists, radiographers, social care workers, social workers and speech and language therapists. Five registration boards have been established to date and a sixth will be established shortly. The registration boards and their registers for the remaining designated professions should be established by 2015.
Whilst the immediate priority is to proceed with the establishment of the registration boards for the twelve professions currently designated under the Act, as I indicated back in November 2012, I am committed to bringing counsellors and psychotherapists within the ambit of the Act as soon as possible.
In relation to advertising, I feel that, given the timing and legal complexity of the issues involved, we should be focussing on achieving the regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists rather than bringing forward primary legislation to require them to include a notification that they are not yet subject to statutory regulation. Notwithstanding that a number of counsellor and psychotherapist national groups have come together as the Psychological Therapies Forum to advise as a single voice for the professions in so far as is possible, a number of issues are still being clarified.
These include decisions on whether one or two professions are to be regulated, on the title or titles of the profession or professions, and on the minimum qualifications to be required of counsellors and psychotherapists. In relation to the latter, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the successor to HETAC, has established a Standards Development Group for Counselling and Psychotherapy which aims to establish standards of knowledge, skills and competence to be acquired by candidates for educational qualifications that will be required for careers in counselling and/or psychotherapy. This is an essential prerequisite to regulation of the profession. The QQI Report is expected to be completed later this year or early in 2014. In addition, the standards of proficiency to be required of existing practitioners for registration will need to be established and the necessary qualifications prescribed.
The Department will be engaging with the Psychological Therapies Forum and other relevant stakeholders as soon as the QQI report is available and will work through the outstanding issues with a view to achieving regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists as soon as possible in the best interests of the protection of the public.
517. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an application for a medical card now under review/appeal in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be expedited and approved based on the medical evidence provided and the fact that the couple cannot afford the medication and care needed. [33170/13]
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 issued to Oireachtas members.
518. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if the post of national lead on obesity management in the Health Service Executive will be filled as a matter of urgency. [33176/13]
View answerSubject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. I have asked the Executive to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.
519. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the mental health services that are available in north Dublin for children aged 16 years and under in evenings after the hours of 5 p.m. and at weekends. [33177/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
520. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the impact the Health (Amendment) Bill 2013 will have on the lives and economic resources of persons with intellectual disabilities and specifically the impact on persons with intellectual disabilities in State residential care; the impact for persons with intellectual disabilities and their families who avail of life saving respite care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33272/13]
View answer528. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the consultations held, if any, or attempts to explain the impact of the proposed Health (Amendment) Bill 2013 legislation his Department has undertaken with the disability community, in particular those persons with intellectual disabilities directly affected in terms of their residential arrangements and personal economic resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33323/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 520 and 528 together.
I want to reassure people with disabilities in residential care that there is nothing in the new legislation which will involve moving people with disabilities in residential care to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme or which aims to increase the amounts they now contribute towards accommodation and maintenance costs. In fact, the new legislation in this area is largely a set of technical changes which aim to continue existing contribution levels within an updated statutory framework.
It should be noted that this is a very technical piece of legislation and contains provisions that affect many parts of the health service. However it is important that people in residential settings know that:
- The Bill essentially continues existing arrangements for people in a range of residential settings who contribute towards the cost of their maintenance. The Bill is putting this arrangement into a modernised and simplified legal framework which is not designed to generate any additional revenue.
- These contributions will apply to all those provided with residential care by or on behalf of the HSE, other than those covered by the Nursing Homes Support Scheme and those in acute hospital care.
- A Fair Deal type arrangement is not planned for extension to the Disability or Mental Health Sectors at present, but is being considered within the context of the current review of the Fair Deal Scheme. There would be full consultation before any such move is contemplated.
- There will be a continuing requirement to pay an appropriate and affordable contribution, which will be in line with current long-stay charges, towards the maintenance and accommodation costs to the State of providing such services.
- The maximum level of the current long stay charge is just below 80% of the non-contributory State pension. The maximum contribution will remain at this level.
- The actual contribution will depend, as now, on the individual’s income level.
- The exemptions which currently apply to long-stay charges will continue to apply to residential support services maintenance and accommodation contributions.
- The HSE will continue to have discretion to reduce the level of contribution required to avoid undue financial hardship, depending on individuals’ circumstances, the extent to which they provide for their own maintenance and their assessed needs.
523. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will take up a position with the Health Service Executive in July 2013; the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33286/13]
View answerSubject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. I have asked the Executive to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.
524. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason there is currently no national funding allocated for the life-changing asthma medication Omalizumab, Xolair, when currently there are only 200 eligible patients in the country who do not have access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33292/13]
View answerIn relation to the query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
526. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health when work on the extension to the emergency department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital will commence; when it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33303/13]
View answerDelivery of health care infrastructure is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
527. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the reason gestational diabetes is no longer covered on the long-term illness scheme and the primary care reimbursement service no longer pay for items prescribed for gestational diabetes even if the local Health Service Executive office has issued approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33316/13]
View answerThe Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970, which has been amended and now reads as follows - "The Health Service Executive may make arrangements for the supply without charge of drugs, medicines or medical and surgical appliances, for the time being on the Reimbursement List within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, to persons suffering from a prescribed disease or disability of a permanent or long-term nature." Gestational diabetes is not of a permanent or long-term nature and is, therefore, not covered by the Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme.
530. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if additional supports are available for a person (details supplied) in County Meath who has to travel to England for urgent medical treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33332/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
