Tuesday, 10 Dec 2013

Written Answers Nos. 513-528

Mental Health Services Provision

Questions (513)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

513. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health in regard to the paucity of facilities available to the mental health team serving areas of north Wicklow (details supplied), in particular now that the planned primary care centre appears to be indefinitely postponed, if he will ask the Health Service Executive to complete an urgent review of the current situation, with a view to the HSE providing adequate services for the level of work required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52831/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Hospital Services

Questions (514)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

514. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reasons the breast care clinic in Letterkenny General Hospital was cancelled on 14 November and again on 4 December; the average waiting time for a public patient to be seen at the clinic after a referral from their general practitioner; the number of patients that are not seen at the clinic within the six-week timeframe for early referrals as recommended by Health Information and Quality Authority guidelines; the national quality assurance standards for symptomatic breast disease services in July 2010; the number of consultants currently available to public patients for the breast care clinic; the number of persons on the waiting list for an appointment at the clinic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52848/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Breast Care Clinics of 14th November and 4th December at Letterkenny General Hospital had to be re-scheduled because of consultant leave arrangements. As a satellite of the designated cancer centre in Galway, the Letterkenny unit currently has one consultant surgeon with a visiting consultant providing one additional session monthly. In circumstances of consultant leave, where it is not possible to arrange an alternative option, every effort is made to offer appointments to patients at the Symptomatic Breast Unit in Galway.

The current HIQA target by which all Symptomatic Breast Units are assessed and reported on includes the requirement for 95% of urgent cases to be seen within 10 days and 95% of non-urgent cases to be seen within 12 weeks. The Letterkenny Breast Care Unit routinely meets these HIQA targets.

Appointments are currently being arranged for 139 patients at the Letterkenny Breast Care Unit. The hospital has stated that all of these cases will be seen within the agreed target times.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (515, 533, 545)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

515. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a new scheme for the motorised transport grant and mobility allowance schemes; when these schemes will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52849/13]

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

533. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when his Department will replace the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant with a new scheme to assist persons with disabilities [52974/13]

Seamus Healy

Question:

545. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant schemes; if the interdepartmental group has reported; if not, when the report is due; the timeline for the introduction of the proposed statutory schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53100/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 515, 533 and 545 together.

The Government has decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new travel subsidy scheme and associated statutory provisions will be progressed as a priority by the Minister for Health in consultation with other relevant Ministers.

Payments will continue to be made by the Health Service Executive to current recipients of the Mobility Allowance for a further period, pending decisions on the new statutory scheme.

The Government is aware of the needs of people with a disability relying on individual payments which contribute to choice and independence and will take all of this into consideration when making a decision on the detail of the new scheme.

The existing position regarding Motorised Transport Grant remains as before i.e. the scheme remains closed. This matter will be considered further at a later date.

Health Services Issues

Questions (516)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

516. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown per county of the number of persons diagnosed with diabetes insipidus or diabetes mellitus; the number of these who currently avail of the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52850/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

Questions (517)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

517. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if there are any specific criteria which apply to young persons under 16 years of age with mental illness in order to qualify for the long-term illness scheme; if there are specific categories of mental illness which are precluded from eligibility for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52851/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the Long Term Illness Scheme. The Health Services (Amendment) Regulations, 1971 (S.I. No. 277/1971) provides that Mental Illness in a person under 16 is covered under the scheme. Issues have arisen as to whether Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is regarded as a mental illness for the purposes of the Long Term Illness scheme. The HSE has undertaken a review of the matter and is implementing new guidelines which address the issues relating to ADHD fairly and consistently for new and recent applicants.

Medical Card Reviews

Questions (518)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

518. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown per county in tabular form of the number of persons who have had their medical card reviewed in 2012 and 2013; the number of these who have either retained or lost their medical card; the total savings made by his Department in conducting the review; the number of staff employed by his Department carrying out the review and the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52852/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I have asked the Health Service Executive for a report on the issues raised by the Deputy. I will revert to the Deputy on these matters as soon as possible.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Oversight

Questions (519, 520)

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

519. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health the budget for the fair deal scheme for 2014; if it is expected that there will be a reduction in funding; if there are any plans to change the way the scheme operates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52864/13]

Michael McGrath

Question:

520. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the funding allocation for the nursing home support scheme to date in 2013; the allocation for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52867/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 519 and 520 together.

The budget for long-term nursing home care is €974m this year. As the Deputies are aware, the total amounts available to fund health services in 2014 will be considerably lower than for this year. Accordingly, all expenditure headings are being scrutinised. The funding that is available must be balanced across all of the various service areas in a way that achieves the best possible outcomes for the greatest number of service users and prioritises areas of greatest need as far as possible.

The needs of our older people are, and will remain, a very high priority for me and for the Government, and the resources that ultimately are available will be applied to provide the best possible mix of supports and services.

The Scheme is currently the subject of a review which is expected to be completed in early 2014.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (521)

Denis Naughten

Question:

521. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if the public service pension levy is included or excluded from the calculation for the over-70s medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52869/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, I have asked the Health Service Executive to supply this information to me and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Question No. 522 answered with Question No. 499.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (523)

Finian McGrath

Question:

523. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of parent service users of the Central Remedial Clinic in Clontarf; the number of board members who are parents of service users; the number of board members there are; the way board members are elected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52884/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Central Remedial Clinic has a long history of providing health and personal social services to people with a disability on behalf of the State in Ireland. The primary legal framework under which the Health Service Executive provides financial support to the Central Remedial Clinic is set out in the Health Act 2004. The HSE has an annual Standard Service Arrangement with the Central Remedial Clinic. I understand that the governance arrangements for the Central Remedial Clinic, including appointments to the board, are a matter for the organisation itself. However, I have arranged for your questions to be referred to the HSE and asked that the Executive reply directly to the Deputy.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Oversight

Questions (524)

Finian McGrath

Question:

524. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health following the reply from the Health Service Executive. if he will set out the exact calculations of the €29,000 fair deal bill in respect of a person (details supplied) including whether or not the existing mortgage was taken into account. [52889/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Hospital Appointment Status

Questions (525)

Gerry Adams

Question:

525. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an hospital appointment in respect of person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52916/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (526)

Gerry Adams

Question:

526. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the current number of persons on the waiting list for ENT appointments, scheduled surgeries, average waiting times and services currently in operation for ENT services at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties, namely, waiting times encountered by persons in clear need of ENT services; if there are plans or proposals to increase the number of ENT services for the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52917/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the detailed information requested by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.

Hospital Appointment Status

Questions (527)

John O'Mahony

Question:

527. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received an appointment following two and a half years on the waiting list and if this person will receive an appointment in University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52938/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (528)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

528. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate eligibility for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52939/13]

Written answers

Minister for 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.