Written Answers Nos. 193 - 200
193. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults who have come to the attention of his Department as having been diagnosed with Ehlers–Danlos syndrome; the research that has been undertaken by his Department to determine the prevalence of this condition here [42855/13]
View answerAs the particular queries raised by the Deputy are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
194. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if support for the disability sector will be maintained by his Department in budget 2014, particularly for Prosper Fingal which has services across north County Dublin. [42857/13]
View answerProsper Fingal was established in 1978 as a parents and friends organisation (formerly called The Fingal Association for the Handicapped), to provide a local day service for adults with a moderate or mild learning disability. The aim of the organisation is to “enable people with disabilities develop their true potential towards full and independent participation in society”. Prosper Fingal provides personal and social services to adults with an intellectual disability on behalf of the Health Service Executive under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004. Services are provided through a Service Arrangement which is reviewed on an annual basis.
The HSE will continue to work closely with voluntary service providers and service users and their families to ensure available resources are used in a creative and flexible manner in order to be responsive to the needs that present. The Health Service as a whole has to operate within the parameters of funding available to it and given the current economic environment; this has become a major challenge for all stakeholders, including the HSE, voluntary service providers, services users and their families. The level of funding available for the health budget and the extent of the savings required in the health sector are being considered as part of the estimates and budgetary process for 2014 which is currently underway. Pending completion of the national estimates, budgetary and service planning process for 2014 it is not possible to predict the service levels to be provided next year for the disability sector.
195. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that funding for children's hospices (details supplied) will not be cut in Budget 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42868/13]
View answerThe Children's Sunshine Home (now operating under the title of LauraLynn House) has provided specialist disability services to children with severe disabilities since 1925. It is funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE), under Section 38 of the Health Act 2004, to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The HSE will continue to work closely with voluntary service providers including LauraLynn House, service users and their families to ensure available resources are used in a creative and flexible manner in order to be responsive to the needs that present. The Health Service as a whole has to operate within the parameters of funding available to it and given the current economic environment, this has become a major challenge for all including the HSE, voluntary service providers, service users and their families. The level of funding available for the health budget and the extent of the savings required in the health sector are being considered as part of the estimates and budgetary process for 2014, which is currently underway. Pending completion of the national estimates, budgetary and service planning process for 2014, it is not possible to predict the service levels to be provided next year for the disability sector.
196. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Meath will be treated at Navan orthopaedic unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42872/13]
View answerThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
197. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when a determination will be made regarding a mobility aid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42875/13]
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.
198. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulances that are based in County Waterford to service the needs of the population (details supplied); his views on whether this is adequate; his plans to increase the number of ambulances servicing this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42881/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
199. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health the number of orthopaedic positions that are meant to be in place to service the south-east area and Waterford Regional Hospital (details supplied); the number of orthopaedic consultants at present working in this area; his plans to increase the number of these consultants; the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42882/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
200. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is currently no pain clinic in Waterford Regional Hospital; the reason for same; the efforts being made to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42883/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
