Tuesday, 12 Nov 2013

Medical Card Applications

Questions (452)

Tom Fleming

Question:

452. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a full medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48004/13]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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.

Medicinal Products Availability

Questions (453)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Question:

453. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if a sports supplement (details supplied) which is marketed to bodybuilders contains a chemical compound similar to the illegal drug methamphetamine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48012/13]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Under European and Irish legislation, before a medicine can be placed on the Irish market the manufacturer has to seek an authorisation from the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) or in the case of certain medicinal products, the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A determination on an application for authorisation of a medicine is based on a rigorous scientific assessment of the application against legal and regulatory requirements.

The IMB has not received any application to authorise CRAZE and therefore cannot state definitively what it contains. However, having reviewed the available literature, the IMB is of the view that the product CRAZE would be considered to be a medicinal product in Ireland requiring a marketing authorisation to be issued by the IMB or by the EMA.

National Lottery Funding Applications

Questions (454)

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

454. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding funding for a project (details supplied) in Dublin 10; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48031/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department has received an application for funding from the 2013 National Lottery allocation from the organisation in question. This is one of a large number of applications currently being assessed. The Deputy will be informed of the outcome of the application as soon as a decision has been made.

Health Services Provision

Questions (455)

Denis Naughten

Question:

455. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when the national neonatal transport programme will be provided on a 24-7 basis; the reason this was not fully operational by September as set out in the 2013 service plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48036/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (456)

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

456. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form, for each year since 2003, the total cumulative amount in euro paid by his Department for non-audit services to companies (details supplied); if he will provide in tabular form for each year since 2003, the total cumulative amount in euro paid by the Health Service Executive for non-audit services to the companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48072/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Details of expenditure for services for the specified companies are as per the table. These amounts were taken from the Department's Financial Management System. From the brief description available on that system it would appear that the amounts are primarily in relation to non-audit services. However, a further detailed examination of each individual payment can be undertaken by my Department, to confirm, should the Deputy so request.

Year	Company	Amount
2013	ERNST and YOUNG	15,842.40
2012	PricewaterhouseCoopers	18,019.50
2011	KPMG	4,235.00
2009	Grant Thornton	6,221.53
2009	KPMG	136,687.50
2008	Grant Thornton	26,976.95
2008	KPMG	17,285.03
2007	KPMG	22,748.00
2005	PricewaterhouseCoopers	62,133.50
2003	KPMG	106,480.00
2003	PricewaterhouseCoopers	285.00
2003	Deloitte	211,512.40

I have also requested the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (457, 469)

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

457. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form for each year since 2003, the total cumulative amount in euro paid by his Department to companies (details supplied); if he will further provide, in tabular form for each year since 2003, the total cumulative amount in euro paid by the Health Service Executive to these companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48082/13]

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Lucinda Creighton

Question:

469. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form for each year since 2003, the total cumulative amount in euro paid by his Department to these companies (details supplied); if he will further provide in tabular form for each year since 2003, the total cumulative amount in euro paid by the Health Service Executive to the companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48163/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 457 and 469 together.

The total amount paid to the specific companies requested by the Deputy from my Department is listed in the table for each year since 2003.

Year	Company	Amount
2013	Matheson	135,300.00
2013	William Fry Solicitors	6,969.25
2012	Matheson	6,150.00
2012	William Fry Solicitors	10,377.00
2011	William Fry Solicitors	8,643.31
2010	A & L Goodbody	3,975,806.20
2010	Arthur Cox	30,000.00
2010	William Fry Solicitors	14,646.71
2009	Mason Hayes & Curran	3,523.50
2009	Matheson	18,954.00
2009	McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors	4,359.42
2009	William Fry Solicitors	22,315.39
2008	Mason Hayes & Curran	175,000.00
2008	William Fry Solicitors	38,708.45
2007	A & L Goodbody	14,778.88
2007	William Fry Solicitors	69,163.50
2006	William Fry Solicitors	177,815.11
2005	A & L Goodbody	1,466,645.50
2005	Arthur Cox	4,524,877.97
2004	William Fry Solicitors	14,694.78

I have also requested the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the information requested.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (458, 468)

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

458. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form for each year since 2003, the total cumulative amount in euro paid by the Department to senior counsel; if he will further provide in tabular form for each year since 2003, the cumulative amount in euro paid by the Health Service Executive to senior counsel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48085/13]

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Lucinda Creighton

Question:

468. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form for each year since 2003, the total cumulative amount in euro paid by his Department to senior counsel; if he will further provide in tabular form for each year since 2003, the total cumulative amount in euro paid by the Health Service Executive to senior counsel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48148/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 458 and 468 together.

The information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available within my Department. The information is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. I have also requested that the Health Service Executive respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.

Medicinal Products Availability

Questions (459)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

459. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if any protocols exist for the administration of the alcohol abuse control medication, Antabuse, in an outpatient setting in the Health Service Executive west region; if those protocols differ from protocols in other regions; the number of persons to which the HSE is administering Antabuse in its addiction clinics in the western region; the number of those persons the HSE has required or recommended take the medication; the number of those persons the HSE has required or recommended take the medication in 2010, 2011 and 2012; the medical-clinical competence of the person within HSE west assessing if a person will benefit from this treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48087/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the question raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Health Services Issues

Questions (460)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

460. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in its policy document on alcohol dependency the Department of Social Protection has recommended that Disulfiram Antabuse may have potentially fatal side effects and should not be used in an outpatient setting; if the Health Service Executive is continuing through its outpatient and addiction clinics to continue to prescribe Antabuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48088/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the question raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Departmental Budgets

Questions (461)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

461. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his Department’s capital budget in 2013; the expenditure incurred to date in 2013; if he anticipates it being fully spent in 2013; the reason for the underspend to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48096/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department's capital allocation is €16m. Expenditure to date amounts to €0.341m.

Traditionally expenditure is drawn down in the last months of the year. Depending on project timings it is expected there may be savings..

Ambulance Service Response Times

Questions (462)

Martin Ferris

Question:

462. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question 1049 of 5 November 2013, the reason a seriously ill infant had to wait for a private ambulance to arrive from Cork to get a transfer to the Bons Secours Hospital, Cork, from Kerry General Hospital on 17 September 2013 when there were public ambulances available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48100/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Hospital Appointments Administration

Questions (463)

Áine Collins

Question:

463. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Health when an alternative hospital appointment will be arranged in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [48105/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Deputy will be aware, NCHDs undertook one-day industrial action in pursuance of a maximum shift of 24 hours and full compliance with the EWTD (48 hours per week) by the end of 2014 which resulted in a reduction in planned patient attendances and the cancellation of numerous procedures.

Patients deferred are being offered the earliest possible re-attendance / readmission dates and in relation to the particular case raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to investigate and respond directly to her.

Health Services Staff Issues

Questions (464)

Seán Fleming

Question:

464. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health his views on whether there is an excess of administrative staff within the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42495/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

In September 2013 there were 15,486 management - administrative staff employed in the HSE and agencies funded by the HSE, which represents 15.4% of total staff; management/administrative staff numbers have reduced by 2,935 since a peak in September 2007. In the context of the employment control framework numbers employed in the health service must be further reduced. While it is a matter for the HSE to determine the composition of its staffing complement, it is important not to underestimate the significant role that management-administrative staff play in the direct support of front line services.

Administrative staff ensure that the service runs as smoothly as possible, for example staffing ED reception, organising OPD clinics, processing medical cards, collecting income due, managing the health service budget and paying its staff. Managers are essential also in such a complex system and those earning over €100,000 have taken the biggest reductions in recent years, while shouldering substantial responsibility for the delivery of essential services and functions at national and regional level. The HSE has operated a general moratorium on the filling of management-admin posts in recent years, so as to focus development funds as far as possible on the front-line.

I am satisfied that the tools are available to the HSE to ensure that the correct number and mix of staff is available in accordance with its business needs and government policy on public service numbers. In this regard, 78 management-administrative staff have recently been approved for incentivised career breaks and it is anticipated that in 2014, the HSE will begin to offer voluntary redundancy on a targeted basis to staff identified as surplus to requirements.

Health Services Issues

Questions (465)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

465. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health his plans for the Wexford women's shelter. [39767/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter I have requested the Health Service Executive to investigate and respond directly to the Deputy.

Health Services Issues

Questions (466, 467)

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

466. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the ten most common surgical procedures undertaken in all Health Service Executive run hospitals since the establishment of the HSE; if he will provide in tabular form the total average waiting time for each of these procedures and the total number of these procedures every year since the hospitals have been run by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48122/13]

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Lucinda Creighton

Question:

467. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the ten most common surgical procedures undertaken in all voluntary run public hospitals since the establishment of the Health Service Executive; if he will further provide in tabular form the total average waiting time each year for each of these procedures and the total number of these procedures in all voluntary run public hospitals since the HSE was established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48123/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 466 and 467 together.

In relation to the detailed information sought by the Deputy, as these are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Question No. 468 answered with Question No. 458.