Written Answers Nos. 389 - 403
389. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will review the increased cost of prescription medication to medical card holders; if any provision has been made for those who cannot afford €19.50 per month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51428/13]
View answerAs announced in Budget 2014, it has become necessary to increase the prescription charge due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment which requires the Government to achieve additional savings in health expenditure with €666 million of savings targeted in 2014. The increase in prescription charges will account for €43 million of this target. The Government is committed to achieving these savings while protecting front line services to the most vulnerable to the greatest extent possible.
Medical card holders will be required to pay a €2.50 charge per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €25 per month for each person or family. These new rates are effective from 1 December 2013. Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the HSE or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the methadone treatment scheme. There are no plans to provide for further exemptions from prescription charges.
390. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons charged and convicted of buying cigarettes for a minor in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51506/13]
View answerUnder the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002 as amended it is an offence for a person to sell a tobacco product to a person under the age of 18 years. There is no provision set out in the Act which relates to the purchase of tobacco by an adult on behalf of a minor and as such the information sought by the Deputy is not available.
391. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the way in which he proposes to generate €5 million from increasing licence fees for tobacco retailers in view of the fact that these retailers paid a one off fee of €50 and many small operators have very tight profit margins. [51666/13]
View answerCurrently under Irish Tobacco Control Legislation a retailer wishing to sell tobacco products must register with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and be placed on the Retail Register for the sale of tobacco products. Under the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002 as amended the HSE may charge a fee as may be determined by the Minister for Health. To date this has been a once off fee of €50 per applicant. The Government proposes to increase the Retail Register fee during 2014 in the context of legislation to provide for the licensing of the sale of tobacco products as outlined in Tobacco Free Ireland which was approved by Government in July of this year.
392. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the number of specialist registrar posts in each hospital here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51289/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
393. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the number of senior house officers in basic specialist training posts in each hospital here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51290/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
394. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the number of non-EU medical graduates employed in each hospital here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51291/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
395. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to ban hydrogenated fats here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51293/13]
View answerMy Department recognises the importance of limiting the use of hydrogenated fats in foods sold in Ireland. My officials raised this issue at EU level during negotiations on EU Regulation 1169/2011 governing the provision of food information to consumers. The European Commission agreed to prepare a report on the presence of trans fats in foods and in the overall diet of the EU population by the end of 2014. The aim of the report is to assess the impact of appropriate means to enable consumers to make healthier food and dietary choices, including the provision of information on trans fats to consumers or restrictions on their use. The Commission will accompany this report with a legislative proposal, if appropriate. The Commission’s report will inform future action in this area.
396. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene to ensure that funding is made available to the Dyspraxia Association of Ireland to allow them to continue their vital work, in the absence of any provision by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51301/13]
View answer397. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene and provide the necessary funding to assist the Dyspraxia Association of Ireland and ensure that those affected by dyspraxia have access to the services and supports they require to enable them to reach their full potential and thereby reduce their dependency on support from the State; if he will provide a centralised information resource via telephone, email and website whereby those affected by dyspraxia-developmental co-ordination disorder, DCD, and professionals can access the latest information on the condition such as the supports available, the most up to date diagnostic criteria and the latest intervention practices and so on; if he will provide a forum for professionals and those affected by the condition to share information, experiences and resources, promote earlier identification and intervention ensuring there is clarity and unity among health professionals regarding diagnostic assessment criteria and practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51314/13]
View answer451. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the supports provided by his Department to the Dyspraxia Association of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51803/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 396, 397 and 451 together.
The Government is fully committed to ensuring the on-going delivery of vital services and supports to people with disabilities within available resources. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been provided with funding in the order of €1.4 billion this year to fund its 2013 disability services programme for children and adults with disabilities. This represents approximately 11.5% of overall health expenditure this year. The majority of this funding is distributed through non-statutory agencies who deliver over 80% of all disability services. There are in the region of 300 such agencies at present across the country that provide a significant and broad range of services for children and adults with disabilities in partnership with and on behalf of the HSE.
It is important to note that many children and adults with a disability can be very effectively supported within mainstream child and adult health services. Dyspraxia is a developmental co-ordination disorder that affects movement and co-ordination. For some children, dyspraxia can affect their learning capacity. For this reason they may require additional supports in the school setting to keep up with their classmates. A comprehensive range of supports is in place in our school system to supports these children.
From a health perspective, there are a number of therapies that can make it easier for people with dyspraxia to cope. These include speech and language therapy, to improve speech and communication skills, and occupational therapy to find ways to remain independent and complete everyday tasks. Such therapy services do not necessarily have to be delivered through specialist disability providers and are frequently accessed through Primary Care Teams and community therapy services.
The Dyspraxia Association is just one of a range of organisations around the country at present providing supports to specific diagnostic groups who do not receive HSE funding. Funding of these types of organisations is an issue that is under active and on-going consideration by the HSE. Pending approval of the HSE's National Service Plan for 2014, it is not possible to predict the service levels and funding to be provided next year for the disability sector.
398. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for the school eye screening system here; the number on the waiting list in County Kerry; the average waiting time across the country; the waiting time in County Kerry; his views on whether these problems cause an unacceptable risk of learning difficulties for children which can compromise their future careers; if he will intervene and address this unsatisfactory situation; the steps he will take to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51324/13]
View answer403. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the school eye screening programme; his views that this delay is acceptable; if his attention has been drawn to the adverse impact on pupils as a result of these delays; the steps he will take to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51476/13]
View answer408. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to adapt the current school eye screening methodology to ensure that close vision problems which affect reading are tested sufficiently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51507/13]
View answer409. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has any plans to work with community based optometrists to carry out routine follow ups from the school eye screening programme in a bid to reduce current waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51508/13]
View answer410. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the national average waiting time for follow up exams from the State's school eye screening system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51509/13]
View answer453. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the waiting time for follow-up exams from the school eye screening system can be up to four years; if he will consider using community based optometrists to carry out routine follow-ups from the school eye screening system to help address waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51833/13]
View answer454. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the current school eye screening system methodology sufficiently tests for close vision problems; if his attention has been drawn to the Association of Optometrists Ireland's 6 Point Vision Check; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51834/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 398, 403, 408 to 410, inclusive, 453 and 454 together.
The Health Service Executive provides a sight testing service as part of the school health screening programme for children of primary school age. The screening service is provided by public health nurses and area medical officers. Children who are identified as requiring treatment or intervention are referred to the HSE ophthalmic service for follow up. Urgent cases are given priority and less urgent cases are dealt with as quickly as possible. In Kerry urgent referrals are seen by the ophthalmic service, on average, within a one to six week period and routine referrals have an average waiting time of 31 weeks. However, the HSE is continually working to improve the service. The HSE has committed to providing 68,000 treatments in 2013 and it was up to the end of September 2013 4.2% ahead of target with the provision of almost 53,000 treatments to children. I have asked the HSE to provide details of waiting lists and waiting times directly to the Deputies.
The HSE’s National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology aims to move towards the elimination of avoidable sight loss, to re-balance the focus on prevention and early intervention, and to provide equitable access to efficient and high quality care, supports and treatment. A care pathway has been designed in relation to school screening and paediatric ophthalmic services. This includes the expansion of the orthoptic and optometry input into the school screening service. This draft model of care is under consideration by the HSE. In addition, the community ophthalmology services will also be the subject of a review in 2014 in order to ensure that the best possible service is available for patients. I am not aware of the detail of the Association of Optometrists Ireland's 6 Point Vision Check. I understand that it is a marketing initiative by some of its members to promote basic eye checks for children.
399. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if his Department and the Health Service Executive is paying for any of its employees to receive third-level qualifications; if so, the annual cost for each of the past five years; if the employee will receive a financial bonus as a result of receiving this qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51357/13]
View answerMy Department operates a scheme for the refund of fees in respect of post-entry education in accordance with the relevant Department of Public Expenditure and Reform circular 23/2007. Fees in respect of specialised courses or third level degrees or similar programmes are only paid or refunded where the course of study is relevant to the officers civil service employment or leads to a recognised qualification which is of benefit to them in the performance of their duties and in the case of third level qualifications are pursued primarily in the officer's own time.
It is essential that officials in my Department take part in training courses and programmes so that they can manage more effectively the numerous challenges which face my Department and our Health System now and into the future. This refund of fees scheme is an integral and essential part of the Department's overall training programme for its management and staff. Staff in my Department who avail of this scheme do not receive a financial bonus as a result of acquiring a qualification from the course of study undertaken.
The annual cost to the Department in respect of such payments for each of the past five years is set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2009 |
€66,669 |
|
2010 |
€78,498 |
|
2011 |
€98,577 |
|
2012 |
€52,723 |
|
2013 |
€43,878 |
The Health Service Executive has been requested to reply directly to the Deputy.
400. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the number of officials in his Department and in the Health Service Executive that are receiving the cost of club membership fees, including sports clubs and professional bodies, as part of their contract of employment; the total cost per year to his Department and the HSE of paying these fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51358/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department do not receive club membership fees, including sports clubs. Payment of professional membership fees are made where it is required for a specialised profession in my Department. Membership of a professional body can be regarded as relevant to the business of my Department where it facilitates the acquisition of knowledge which is necessary for the duties of a role, or directly related to the performance of the staff's present or prospective duties in the Department. A sum of €6,986 was paid in 2013 for professional fees in respect of eleven officials in my Department. The Health Service Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
401. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health his proposals regarding the deterioration of the early intervention service for children with special needs in Carlow, in terms of physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy (details supplied). [51432/13]
View answerThe particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
402. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene to ensure that a medical card is issued to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51444/13]
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.
