Tuesday, 21 Jan 2014

Written Answers Nos. 603 to 621.

Mental Health Services Provision

Questions (603)

Dan Neville

Question:

603. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting more than 12 months to access mental health services. [2429/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

HSE Funding

Questions (604, 634)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

604. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his plans to initiate a statutory or regulatory prohibition on chief executive officers or chairpersons of organisations in receipt of funding from the Health Service Executive receiving bonuses or salary top-ups. [2432/14]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

634. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health when the new salaries for heads of charities will come into effect. [2656/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 604 and 634 together.

As was outlined in the HSE's Internal Audit Report, a considerable number of Section 38 agencies were found to be in breach of Government pay policy with regard to the remuneration of senior staff.

The Department of Health pay policy circular, which was issued on 27 September 2013, made it clear that Section 38 funded agencies may not supplement approved rates of remuneration with Exchequer funding or non-Exchequer sources of funding and instructed the HSE to ensure that any non-standard allowances which are being paid in the absence of written sanction from the Department of Health with the consent of DPER, should cease immediately and to seek recoupment of any overpayments.

The HSE has introduced a new requirement for the Board of each Agency to furnish the HSE with a Compliance Statement, which will include confirmation that all staff are paid in accordance with the Department of Health’s consolidated salary scales. Each agency has been asked to confirm by 31 January that they will sign up to the Compliance Statement process. This statement will have to be approved by the Board of each Agency on an annual basis, signed by the Chairman and another Director on behalf of the Board and submitted to the HSE together with the organisation’s Annual Audited Accounts. This Annual Compliance Statement will be required in addition to the annual Service Agreement between the Agency and the HSE.

Senior HSE managers have met and will have further meetings with all of the disability organisations and hospitals concerned to ensure that they develop a clear plan to achieve full compliance with health sector pay policy and it is important that due process is followed.

I welcome Minister Shatter’s announcement that the Charities Regulatory Authority will be established by Easter. The new Authority will establish a statutory register of charities and registered charities will be required to provide reports of their activities to the Authority on an annual basis. These reports will be made available to the public. The establishment of the Charities Regulatory Authority will provide a much needed increase in transparency and accountability in the charity sector which is absolutely necessary to help rebuild trust and confidence in the sector.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (605, 607)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

605. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if all operating theatres in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 are open; and the reasons for having closed any of the theatres in question. [2433/14]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

607. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of beds and wards in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 closed as of 13 January 2014; his plans to reopen these beds and wards. [2435/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 605 and 607 together.

In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Health Services Staff Data

Questions (606)

Dan Neville

Question:

606. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed in mental health services on 31 December 2008 and on 31 December 2013. [2434/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Question No. 607 answered with Question No. 605.

Hospital Appointment Status

Questions (608)

Jack Wall

Question:

608. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive a date for their operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2443/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The 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 Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.

Regarding the particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.

Medical Card Appeals

Questions (609)

Jack Wall

Question:

609. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the reason a GP visit card has been re-activated pending the result of a medical card appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2449/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Alex White)

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.

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Questions (610)

Clare Daly

Question:

610. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the amount his Department spends on an annual basis in payments to consultancy firms (details supplied). [2479/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department has made no payments to the consultancy firms referred to in the Deputies question, from January 2011 to date.

Ambulance Service Provision

Questions (611)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

611. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of times the ambulance at James Street, Dublin has been out of scheduled service in the past 12 months due to the full compliment of rostered staff being unavailable, that is, dropped shifts; the reasons for same; his plans to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2488/14]

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.

Child Care Services Provision

Questions (612)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

612. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an assessment by an early intervention team in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2489/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the HSE to look into the particular matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Nursing Staff Recruitment

Questions (613)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

613. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the recruitment of registered general nurses in the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2500/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE has responsibility for the recruitment of nurses and can recruit staff in exceptional circumstances, where it has been established that there is an urgent service requirement and that this can be accommodated within the budgetary constraints and overall employment ceiling.

Regarding the current position relating to nurse recruitment, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Maternity Services

Questions (614)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

614. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding scanning for foetal abnormalities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2504/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

All maternity units have an Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit in place and all trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology now receive formal training in the use of ultrasound in obstetrics and gynaecology. In 2011 the HSE purchased additional ultrasound machines to ensure that all machines in use were less than 5 years old. The HSE has also commenced implementation of the National Standards for Better Safer Care which provide an underpinning framework for continuous improvement in the quality and safety of health care services.

It is proposed to develop a National Maternity Strategy in 2014 which will provide a blueprint for the safe, effective delivery of maternity services nationally. The Deputy may also wish to note that a sum of €1.48m has been provided in the National Service Plan 2014 which will be targeted at delivering necessary patient centred improvements in maternity care. The HSE has been asked to respond to the Deputy in relation to the specific information requested.

Health Services Staff Data

Questions (615, 616, 617, 618)

Denis Naughten

Question:

615. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed in the following capacity within the Health Service Executive: managers, administrators including clerical staff, doctors, nurses and other staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2512/14]

Denis Naughten

Question:

616. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors and nurses employed by the Health Service Executive per 1,000 population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2513/14]

Denis Naughten

Question:

617. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of frontline staff, the number of managers and the number of administrators including clerical staff who left the Health Service Executive following the introduction of the recruitment embargo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2514/14]

Denis Naughten

Question:

618. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed within the Health Service Executive in a managerial capacity in the years 2009; 2010; 2011; 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2515/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 615 to 618, inclusive, together.

The detailed information sought by the Deputy in relation to health service staff is a matter for the HSE and, accordingly, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.

Mental Health Services Funding

Questions (619)

Dan Neville

Question:

619. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the percentage of the mental health budget spent on prescription drugs. [2527/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Public Health Issues

Questions (620)

Seán Kenny

Question:

620. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of persons prosecuted under the Public Health Tobacco Act 2002 for selling a tobacco product to persons aged under 18 years in each of the past five years; his plans to increase the penalties for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2530/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under Section 45 of the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts, 2002 to 2013 it is prohibited to sell tobacco products to persons under 18 years of age.

The monitoring and enforcement of Section 45 is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and as such, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (621)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

621. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied). [2548/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Alex White)

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.