Written Answers Nos. 723-745
723. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who has been waiting eight weeks to be transferred from Kerry General Hospital to Cork University Hospital for an important procedure will be transferred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5513/14]
View answerIn relation to the particular patient query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
724. Deputy Michael Conaghan asked the Minister for Health if he intends to add Crohn's disease to the long-term illness list. [5515/14]
View answerThere are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Long Term Illness scheme. Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines. In addition, people who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the Health Service Executive can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. Those who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of GP consultations.
725. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5528/14]
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.
726. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health when a dental clinic will be restored in Loughrea, County Galway; his plans to ensure that children in south Galway have proper access to dental services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5539/14]
View answerThe Health Service Executive provides a dental service to school children aged up to 16 years. The Health Service Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy regarding the provision of dental services in Loughrea, Co. Galway.
727. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason persons in Kerry and Cork must wait for more than two years to have cataracts removed; the action he will take to rectify this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5540/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
728. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if an earlier date will be provided for an appointment for a speech and language therapist assessment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5542/14]
View answerAs 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.
729. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding prescription charges in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5586/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
730. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health if the CT scanner in Louth County Hospital is in regular use; the number of times it has been used in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5587/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
731. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of public patients referred to Mount Carmel Hospital in 2013 for convalescence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5596/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
732. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will provide separate breakdowns in tabular form of all moneys allocated to Kerry General Hospital from 2007 to 2014. [5603/14]
View answer737. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of all public money used by Kerry General Hospital or his Department to treat patients in private hospitals. [5608/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 732 and 737 together.
In relation to the detailed information requested by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
733. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the timeframes within which the academic posts committed to Kerry General Hospital will be appointed. [5604/14]
View answer734. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the consultant posts that are to be filled in Kerry General Hospital; if the positions have been advertised; and when they will be filled. [5605/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 733 and 734 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
735. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of staff numbers employed in Kerry General Hospital from 2007 to 2014. [5606/14]
View answerThe 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.
736. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a full breakdown in tabular form of all money spent on agency staff at Kerry General Hospital from 2007 to 2014. [5607/14]
View answerThe detailed information sought by the Deputy in relation to agency staff is a matter for the HSE and, accordingly, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
738. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a separate breakdown of inpatient and outpatient waiting times for all specialities at Kerry General Hospital. [5609/14]
View answer739. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the number of elective procedures and surgeries cancelled at Kerry General Hospital between 2008 and 2014. [5610/14]
View answer740. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the number of elective surgical procedures cancelled or postponed at Kerry General Hospital in 2013; and the reason for same. [5611/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 738 to 740, inclusive, together.
In relation to the detailed information requested by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
741. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of applications on hand on 31 January 2014 for the nursing homes support scheme; the number approved awaiting funding on the same day; the average time from application to approval; the average time from approval to release of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5658/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
742. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals to child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, in 2013; the number who were accepted; the number refused; the reason for refusal; if he is satisfied there are sufficient resources to cover referrals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5662/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
743. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the services available to those aged between 16 and 18 years who present with a mental health issue, suicide ideation, an eating disorder or are in need of residential detox. [5663/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
744. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the ambulance service (details supplied). [5671/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
745. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the projected cost of the development of the children's hospital on the St. James's Hospital site; the estimated timetable for completion of the project; the further funding streams which will be made available to complete the development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5684/14]
View answerThe National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) is the body responsible for the planning, design, building and equipping of the new children's hospital capital project. The project is currently in the design procurement stage. A Procurement Open Day was held on 25 November last, the short-listing of design teams is now being completed and this will be followed by the invitation to tender for those short-listed. Decant planning, updating of the St James’s site masterplan and pre-application planning discussions have been ongoing in relation to the site. The aim is to have the site cleared by the end of this year, to have a planning decision and commence construction in Spring 2015, and to begin transition of services to the new children's hospital at the end of 2018.
In parallel with the construction of the new children's hospital, the operational integration of the three existing children's hospitals is of critical importance in ensuring that the new hospital functions effectively from the outset. A Children's Hospital Group involving the three hospitals has been established, the core function of which is to integrate the three children's hospitals staff and service provision, well in advance of the new hospital being built.
In October 2013, the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform announced that up to €200m would be made available for the new Children’s Hospital from the sale of the National Lottery, adding to the existing €450m Exchequer funding. The level of funding now in place underlines the Government’s commitment to this priority project. Also, philanthropic/non-Exchequer funding will be sought to the maximum and most appropriate degree. Estimated costs will be reviewed and refined at each stage as the project progresses.
