Written Answers Nos. 175-181
175. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51260/13]
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.
176. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange for reconsideration of the refusal of a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51261/13]
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.
177. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health the reason there is such a long waiting time for children to have an endoscopy procedure carried out; the reason children are waiting a lot longer than the 13 week target set by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51268/13]
View answerThe HSE have confirmed that none of the paediatric hospitals in Dublin (Crumlin, Tallaght and Temple St.) are in breach of the SDU targets in relation to GI scopes. What this means is that no child is waiting longer than 13 weeks for a scope. All three hospitals have been working with the HSE and SDU to actively manage their waiting lists and it is anticipated there will continue to be no breaches in GI scopes by the end of the year.
178. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health if he will address the concerns that many persons have regarding recent changes to the private health insurance market (details supplied) which will cause increases in the private health insurance premia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51284/13]
View answerI am determined to address rising unsustainable costs in the sector in the interests of consumers. I want insurers to address the base cost of each element of claims which they pay and have made it clear to private health insurers that I believe significant savings can be made, ultimately reducing the impact of rising health costs on health insurance premiums for the consumer. Earlier this year, I appointed Mr. Pat McLoughlin to prepare an independent report on how best to achieve real cost reductions in the private health insurance market, having full regard to competition law. I expect to receive an initial report from the Chair very shortly.
Risk equalisation compensates for the costs of insuring older customers and I am committed to progressively increasing the extent of this compensation. The Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013, currently progressing through the Oireachtas, sets out revised risk equalisation credits and the corresponding stamp duties that will apply under the Risk Equalisation Scheme from 1 March 2014. Different risk equalisation credits will apply to 'advanced' and 'non-advanced' health insurance policies. There will be no change to the stamp duty payable on lower cost 'non-advanced' health insurance, which will help to ensure that the option of lower cost health insurance remains available. The stamp duty for health insurance products providing 'advanced' cover will increase from €350 to €399 per adult and from €120 to €135 per child.
It is important to note that the stamp duty, or levy the Deputy refers to is collected from all health insurers and is in respect of the number of lives insured by them, and is not placed on individual policy holders. The money collected is used to fund RE credits for older people with private health insurance who, if under a risk rated model of insurance, would be charged a higher premium for health insurance than younger people, given their higher risk profile. Funding the RE credit for older people ensures that everyone is charged the same premium for a particular health insurance plan, irrespective of age, gender and the current or likely future state of their health. It is a matter for the insurance companies as to the extent, if any, they pass the stamp duty on to their customers.
The Health (Amendment) Act, 2013 (No. 31 of 2013) provides for the introduction of a revised private in-patient charge for all private patients in public hospitals, including those accommodated in public beds. All persons ordinarily resident in Ireland are entitled to use a public hospital. However, some people choose to be treated privately, in which case they have chosen to pay the consultant and the hospital. The Government believes that users of private services should pay for the costs of providing those services. The Comptroller and Auditor General has reported that 45% of in-patients treated privately by their consultants were not charged for their maintenance costs because they were not occupying private-designated beds. This situation represents a significant loss of income to the public hospital system and an indirect subsidy to private insurance companies, who cover most private patients. I believe that this situation cannot continue and that the new charge makes sense.
From 16 October 2013, tax relief for medical insurance premiums has been restricted to the first €1,000 per adult and the first €500 per child insured. Any portion of premium paid in excess of these ceilings will no longer qualify for tax relief. The new ceilings will ensure some continuing support via the tax system for those who purchase private medical insurance policies, while reducing Exchequer exposure to more expensive policies. This will affect some consumers, depending on the cost of the policies that they purchase. While individuals can of course opt for less expensive policies and therefore avoid the impact of this measure entirely, it is important that they fully understand the level of cover their policy provides.
Many consumers can make savings on their health insurance premiums by reviewing the level of cover to ensure that their needs are being met, without being over-insured. The Health Insurance Authority provides information to consumers regarding their rights and also on health insurance plans and benefits. The HIA's web-site, www.hia.ie, has a useful plan comparison tool which assists in finding suitable and competitive health insurance plans.
The Government remains committed to keeping down the cost of private health insurance, so that it is affordable for as many people as possible as part of measures to ensure the sustainability of the private health insurance market in the transition to Universal Health Insurance.
179. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to restore dental services at Virginia Health Centre, County Cavan which services a large number of primary schools in that area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51287/13]
View answerThe public health system currently provides a dental service to schoolchildren aged up to 16 years. The service is targeted at children in key classes at key stages in their development. Children are given dental examinations and any follow up treatment required at these stages. When required, emergency dental treatment is available to all children up to 16 years. In delivering the school dental programme it may be necessary to consolidate the services in locations where the highest standards may best be maintained. This allows the HSE Public Dental Service to target and treat the maximum number of children and to maintain essential services to patients with special needs.
The Health Service Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy regarding the provision of dental services in Virginia, Co. Cavan.
180. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding determination of eligibility for nursing home subvention in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51288/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
181. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the section regarding the Civil Liabilities Act 1961 was never brought into law; what makes local authorities liable for road conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51106/13]
View answerThe law as it stands is that, as a road authority, a local authority is not liable for a failure to maintain a public road (non-feasance) but is liable for any injury resulting from the negligent repair or maintenance of a public road (mis-feasance). There can also be certain circumstances where a local authority may become liable if made aware of hazardous conditions. Ireland has a uniquely extensive road network. There is approximately 99,000 kilometres of road in the network which represents two and a half times the EU average in terms of kilometres per head of population. The maintenance and improvement of this extensive network of roads places a substantial financial burden on local authorities and on the Exchequer. Accordingly, the consequences of commencing Section 60(1) of the Civil Liability Act 1961 would need very careful consideration and to date no Government has decided to do so.
I would welcome the Deputy’s views on the matter, whether he believes we should commence the relevant sections and if so, how we will ensure that the local authorities and the Exchequer are in a position to address the additional financial burden.
