Written Answers Nos. 647-664
647. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health in view of the RTE "Prime Time Investigates" programme on Portlaoise Hospital if similar reviews into baby deaths have been performed in other maternity hospitals; the number of such incidents; if families have been informed of any such reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6855/14]
View answerThe Health Service Executive's Risk and Incident Investigation Process provides a framework for conducting investigations into serious incidents. Investigations of serious incidents including baby deaths have been conducted under the Process with support provided by the Executive's National Incident Management Team as appropriate.
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of my Department is currently preparing a report for me on the issues at Portlaoise. I have assured the families concerned that the process will be transparent, that they will be involved and will have the opportunity to see the report in advance of the release. The findings of the CMO's report will inform any subsequent work to be undertaken by HIQA or others including any wider review.
As the Deputy will be aware my Department is currently undertaking a review of maternity services and in conjunction with the HSE, will develop a new National Maternity Strategy this year. This will provide the strategic direction for the optimal development of our maternity services to ensure that women have access to safe, high quality maternity care in a setting most appropriate to their needs. Developing the strategy will provide the opportunity to take stock of current services and identify how the quality and safety of care provided to pregnant women and their babies can be improved further.
648. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the hospitals that have implemented the Health Service Executive open disclosure policy; the timeline for its roll-out out across all maternity units and hospitals respectively; if he intends to put the disclosure policy on a statutory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6856/14]
View answerA National Policy on Open Disclosure was developed jointly by the HSE and the State Claims Agency and launched in November 2013. The Policy is designed to ensure an open, consistent approach to communicating with patients when things go wrong in healthcare. Roll-out of the policy across all health and social services has now commenced. An implementation plan has been developed: Phase 1: Acute Hospitals, Phase 2: PCCC and Phase 3: Colleges and Educational Institutes. Two Project Leads are now working with 15 acute hospitals and a pilot programme is also running in one PCCC area (Donegal). By its nature the training for and full implementation of the policy will take time and will not be immediately fully in place in all sites at a given date.
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy with the specific information sought regarding the roll-out of the policy across maternity units and all hospitals respectively.
Ireland currently has no express protective legislation to assist the open disclosure process; it is envisaged that this status will change in the near future. It is anticipated that the upcoming Health Information Bill will contain provisions promoting open disclosure and affording some degree of protection for healthcare personnel. This is consistent with a recommendation in a consultation paper published by the Law Reform Commission in 2008 that "a statutory provision be considered which would allow medical practitioners to make an apology and explanation without these being construed as an admission of liability in a medical negligence claim".
649. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive have the legal right to refuse a medical card patient (details supplied) in County Galway two weeks free recuperative care after a serious operation on the basis that the person is a subscriber to a private health insurer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6876/14]
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.
650. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in redetermination of 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. [6891/14]
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.
651. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the mental health services available on the northside of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6902/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
652. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will initiate a full and detailed report into all the circumstances surrounding the appointment and employment of a doctor (details supplied) who worked at Portlaoise Hospital and who was the subject of a Medical Council fitness to practice inquiry which they failed to attend arising out of a series of allegations of incompetence against them; if he will seek confirmation of the interview process; if references supplied were read and/or acted upon; if reports were sought and obtained in respect of previous employment of this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6903/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have requested that the HSE respond to the Deputy on the issues raised. Given the issues raised I have also requested that the HSE provide me with a report on the matter.
653. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a child (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder two and a half years ago and has a disability, that they have been on an early intervention list for speech and language therapy but has not received any yet at Ashgrove House for over two years and that when they turn six years, they will not be eligible for this list; if he will personally intervene in this case to ensure that the child receives the therapy they are entitled to. [6913/14]
View answerAs the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
654. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health if he will consider chronic obstructive pulmonary disease qualifying for the long-term illness card; and to outline its exclusion to date as it is treatable but not curable [6958/14]
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 general practice consultation.
655. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form, the private hospitals which have received patients transferred from public lists; the costs paid to each hospital for patients transferred from public waiting lists for 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6959/14]
View answerIn 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.
656. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff that were employed by the Railway Procurement Agency in each year from 2010 to date in 2014; the staff grades; the annual salary costs; the duties carried out by each staff member at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6363/14]
View answerThe issues raised are matters for the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the RPA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
657. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the local improvement scheme grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6444/14]
View answerThe Local Improvements Scheme has not been discontinued, instead the scheme has been improved in 2014.
This Scheme provides funding for road and laneways that councils have not taken in charge. However, the maintenance and improvement of these roads is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner. As indicated to all local authorities on 24 January 2014, the Local Improvement Scheme was reinstated but with no separate allocation for this grant category. Instead, local authorities may use up to 15% (up from 7% in 2013) of their initial Discretionary Grant towards local improvement schemes should they wish to do so. The local contribution for these schemes remains at 20% of the total cost of the project and the same eligibility rules apply for these schemes.
Details of the 2014 regional and local roads grants were communicated to local authorities on 24 January and I note that Kerry County Council was allocated a Discretionary Grant of €3,264,800. This means that Kerry County Council can allocate up to €489,720 of this grant heading to the local improvement scheme if it so wishes. Furthermore, it is open to local authorities to supplement the percentage of their Discretionary Grant that they can use for the local improvement schemes with their own resources. Some local authorities want the LIS. Others perefer to put the money into public roads. I think this decision is best made locally by the councillors themselves.
658. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will name each company awarded a contract for the provision of professional services by his Department and agencies under his aegis since May 2011; the value and purpose of the contract; if a competitive tendering process was undertaken in line with public procurement best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6463/14]
View answer670. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total amount spent on advertising by his Department and each agency under his aegis in 2013; if he will provide a breakdown on the amount spent on each of TV, radio, print, outdoor, Internet and social media platform advertising; the amount spent on advertising agencies; if he will provide the information in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6590/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 658 and 670 together.
The information requested by the deputies is available on my Department's website at the following link
http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/expenditure-external-services and is regularly updated. Currently it covers the period to end October 2013. An update is in process and will be published within 2-3 weeks.
With regard to the agencies, this is a matter for themselves. I have forwarded the query to the agencies for direct reply. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days please contact my private office.
659. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the condition of a public road (details supplied) in County Clare following the recent storms; and if he will ensure that the necessary funding is provided to safeguard the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6479/14]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities own resources and are supplemented by State road grants. However, the initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
On 23 January, I announced details of the €331.9 million regional and local road investment programme this year, of which €11,922,100 was allocated to Clare County Council.
In addition I have given local authorities more discretion than ever about how they allocate funding under the various grant categories. It is hoped that this flexibility will allow local authorities, such as Clare County Council to target resources where they are most needed, including towards roads damaged by the recent storms.
I understand the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is co-ordinating the detailed cost estimates resulting from the recent severe weather for consideration of additional funding by Government.
660. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to increase the public bus transport service to and from Kentstown, County Meath. [6488/14]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the relevant transport providers and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
661. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason second level students, upon reaching the age of 18 but remaining in full-time secondary education, no longer qualify for school child DART fares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6518/14]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA), and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company and the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive replies within ten working days.
662. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the immediate steps Iarnród Eireann will take to improve the quality of the audio announcements on the DART; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6533/14]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
663. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is considering introducing any additional incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles, for example, freedom from tolls on motorways, tunnels and bridges. [6549/14]
View answerThe Government is incentivising the purchase of more energy efficient private cars through the motor tax and VRT systems. Specifically in relation to encouraging people to switch to more sustainable energy sources for private car users, my Department and the Department of Energy, Communications and Natural Resources (as lead Department) are actively promoting electric cars and the ESB is supporting the deployment of these vehicles by expanding the number of publicly accessible charge points.
With regard to making electric vehicles exempt from tolling, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is vested in the NRA under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007). There are no plans to make electric vehicles exempt from existing tolling points at present.
664. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has been consulted in the past 12 months on the introduction of a congestion charge for Dublin city centre. [6550/14]
View answer
