Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 January 2014
211. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the current annual cost of vision screening in the primary school sector; if he will provide a breakdown of the costs, including details of geography, administration, front-line workers and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3189/14]
View answer212. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of unnecessary referrals that arise annually from vision screening in the primary school sector; if any refinement schemes have been implemented in relation to this programme or are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3190/14]
View answer213. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the cost to the State for every visit by a child to an ophthalmologist in the public system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3191/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 211 to 213, inclusive, together.
Screening in Primary Schools is carried out by the School Health Team, made up of Public Health Doctors and Public Health Nurses. School vision screening is one of a range of services carried out by the School Health Team, specifically by Public Health Nurses. As their salaries are not split and coded to specific activities, it is not possible to identify the cost of vision screening separately from other activities. For similar reasons it is not possible to track the cost of every visit by a child to an ophthalmologist. Referrals arising out of the vision screening service in primary schools would not be regarded as unnecessary. The HSE is currently considering various proposals for vision screening to make it as efficient and cost effective as possible.
