Written Answers Nos. 763-786
» ...
»
Written Answers Nos. 763-786
763. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce a protocol for the use of generic prescriptions here similar to that applied by the National Health Service in the UK which results in approximately 70% of all prescriptions being for generic medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8235/14]
View answerUnder the Memorandum of Understanding with the Troika, Ireland committed to increasing the share of generic drug usage in the medium-term. In Quarter 3 2013 generic products accounted for 55% of the total off-patent market by volume. My Department has set a target of achieving 70% generic penetration of the off-patent market by volume by 2016.
A number of enabling measures are being implemented to achieve this target, in particular, the introduction of generic substitution and reference pricing under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. In addition, it is intended to amend the relevant regulations to provide for the mandatory inclusion of the International Non-Proprietary Name (INN) on all prescriptions.
764. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on the option for pregnant women of having a home birth; if there is a national policy in place governing the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8236/14]
View answerMy Department and the Health Service Executive respect an individual's choice in childbirth and their right to have a home birth.
Currently in Ireland there is a National Domiciliary Midwifery service available to eligible expectant mothers who wish to avail of a home birth service under the care of a self-employed community midwife (SECM). This service is provided by the self-employed community midwife on behalf of the Health Service Executive who signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Health Service Executive. Each self-employed community midwife who agrees to be bound by the terms of this Memorandum of Understanding, is covered by the Clinical Indemnity Scheme (CIS), operated by the State Claims Agency for clinical negligence or medical malpractice arising from the provision of community midwifery services.
The criteria for eligibility for the home birth service provided by the self-employed community midwives on behalf of the Health Service Executive was drafted by a group of experts including midwives and obstetricians.
765. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to the Disability Federation of Ireland's recent paper Promises, Commitments, and Delivery: Mid-Term Review of the Programme for Government, his views on the recommendations including the appointment of a Minister with dedicated responsibility for disability inclusion; prioritising the funding of disability services in line with pre-election commitments; and the implementation of agreed measures, targets and timelines for disability. [8258/14]
View answerWhen the Government took office in March 2011, I was privileged to be appointed as Minister of State with responsibility for people with a disability. The remit spans the whole of Government. It is a pillar of Government policy that people with disabilities should be empowered by policy and programmes to participate meaningfully as citizens in Irish society. The National Disability Strategy is driven by this basic, but fundamentally important, objective. It is Government's goal to develop the most effective combination of legislation, policies, institutional arrangements and services to support and reinforce equal participation for all people with disabilities.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to publish a realistic implementation plan for the National Disability Strategy. That Implementation Plan was published in July 2013 and is the first such implementation plan to be put in place since the National Disability Strategy itself was launched in 2004. The Plan was prepared by the National Disability Strategy Implementation Group, which I established in 2011. I continue to chair the Group to oversee the implementation of the Strategy. The Implementation Group brings together representatives of the relevant Government Departments and representative organisations, including the Disability Federation of Ireland, and also a number of people with disabilities. Significant discussion was undertaken between disability stakeholders and Government Departments to reach agreement on the suite of actions contained in the Plan. The Plan sets out the practical measures across all Government Departments that will be taken to advance the Strategy and ensure that available resources are used to best effect. Progress on the Plan is kept under review by the Implementation Group and thematic meetings, at which all relevant bodies are present to ensure cross-sectoral input and review, are convened. Two such thematic meetings were held in 2013 and focused on the themes of Housing and Irish Sign Language.
The vision for the Health Service Executive's Disability Services Programme is to contribute to the realisation of a society where people with disabilities are supported, as far as possible, to participate to their full potential in economic and social life, and have access to a range of quality personal social supports and services to enhance their quality of life. The Health Service Executive National Service Plan 2014 and the recently published 2014 Operational Plan for the Social Care Division outline the quantum of specialist disability services, the key reform initiatives and the additional investment in 2014 which it has assured me will give effect to this vision in 2014. The HSE will spend €1.4 billion and employ a staff level of approximately 15,000 whole time equivalents in 2014 to provide specified levels of services. 2014 will also see an additional investment of €14 million to address deficits in disability services, a reform programme to transform services to a community based model of person centred supports, a focus on the implementation of the Health Information and Quality Authority standards for residential services for people with a disability. These developments and reform proposals will be carried out in an environment of effective communications and engagement with all those involved in services, including people with a disability and the Disability Federation of Ireland, through the HSE's National Consultative Forum.
766. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health his plans to tackle the emerging hospital consultant recruitment crisis. [8264/14]
View answerNotwithstanding the need to reduce the numbers employed across the public service in order to meet fiscal and budgetary targets, the HSE has the capacity to recruit consultants. Arrangements are in place in the HSE to allow the recruitment of front-line staff where there is an established service need. More generally, in order to mitigate the impact on front-line services of the reduction in employment numbers, the priority is to reform how health services are delivered in order to ensure a more productive and cost effective health system.
It is Government policy to move to a consultant delivered service and there has been a significant increase in the number of consultants (Whole Time Equivalents) over the past 5 years, the number increased from 2,260 in December 2008 to 2,555 in December 2013. However there are some specialties in which there is an international shortage and which have been traditionally difficult to fill, regardless of the salary scale. There are also some hospitals to which it has historically been difficult to attract applicants, in particular smaller hospitals that have onerous rosters due to the limited number of consultants. The establishment of Hospital Groups will help to address this issue, as this will allow doctors to be appointed as group resources - instead of to just one hospital.
The ability of the public service to attract and retain high quality consultants shapes the extent to which the HSE can maintain and develop the range of health services required. If the health services are to continue to provide consultant-level opportunities for doctors to replace consultants who retire and eventually to expand overall capacity, this can only happen on the basis of a lower-cost model, hence the decision to reduce the pay of new consultants by 30%. This decision is being modified to enable consultants currently working in permanent posts within the public service to move to different posts, while retaining their existing salaries. Application of the revised guidance will support consultant mobility. Allowing serving clinical consultants retain their existing salaries will remove a blockage on movement within the system at present. This mobility will, in due course, also facilitate the roll-out of the Hospital Group model with staff appointed to the Group rather than being confined to specific locations.
I set up a group under the chairmanship of Professor Brian McCraith last July to carry out a strategic review of medical training and career structures. The Group submitted an interim Report focused on training to me in December and is now progressing examination of the career structure to apply on completion of specialist training with a view to reporting to me by the end of March. Broader issues relating to recruitment and retention of NCHDs and consultants will be given further consideration on receipt of this report.
767. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the reason only one Calpa van covers the entire State in view of the potential for Calpa vans to decrease delays in picking up patients who have mental health issues and in some cases also save Garda time. [8277/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
768. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the hospitals which have yet to comply with the European working time directive; if these hospitals face financial sanctions for non-compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8331/14]
View answerThe provisions of the European Time Working Directive encompass a number of measures to protect workers' welfare and safety, including a maximum 48 hour working week - averaged over a reference period, daily and weekly rest periods and the granting of compensatory rest where the working day exceeds 13 hours. Considerable progress has been made over the last 12 months on progressing compliance with the provisions of the Working Time Directive in respect of NCHDs. Data from the HSE shows that average working hours for NCHDs in 2009 was 60 hours a week, 54 hours per week in 2012 and 51.4 hours in the third quarter of 2013.
The HSE is focused on advancing implementation of the Directive. Intensive negotiations conducted at the Labour Relations Commission in September and October resulted in agreement on a joint approach, involving hospital management, the IMO and NCHDs to achieving EWTD compliance. The agreement focused in particular on steps to be taken in the period up to the NCHD rotation on 13th January 2014 to eliminate shifts in excess of 24 hours. At a meeting between the HSE and the IMO on 6th February the progress made by the acute hospitals on achieving compliance with the agreed maximum 24 hour shift target was assessed. While the majority of hospitals have made significant progress, arising from that assessment the Director of Acute Hospitals will be imposing fines on a minority of hospitals where sufficient progress has not been achieved. This is in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
NCHD recruitment and retention is required in order to facilitate the achievement of EWTD compliance. Achievement of full compliance will also require reorganisation of the delivery of certain services within Hospital Groups. The number of NCHDs in the public health system has increased by over 200 in recent years and now exceeds 4,900. However, there are international shortages of NCHDs in certain categories and specialties. There are also some hospitals to which it has been difficult to attract NCHDS, for a range of reasons including training opportunities and rural location.
I set up the MacCraith Group to undertake a Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career structure last Summer. The Group is to make recommendations aimed at improving the retention of medical graduates in the public health system, planning for future service needs and achieving the maximum benefit from investment in medical education and training. The Group provided an Interim Report in December 2013 focusing on training and is now examining career structures and pathways following training with a view to preparing a report by the end of March 2014. It will provide the final report by the end of June 2014.
As it is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to revert directly to the Deputy in relation to the hospitals which have yet to comply with the EWTD.
769. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a proper urology care team will be put in situ in Temple Street children's hospital for children with spina bifida; the reason it has taken so long for this to happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8332/14]
View answerIn 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.
770. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10. [8351/14]
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.
771. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health if the Meath child and adolescent mental health services are fully staffed; if not, the positions that are vacant; when he expects them to be filled; the way a child or young person in County Meath can access the services; and the services a child or young person may expect to receive. [8377/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
772. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify whether all branches of the Civil Service in his Department are applying Department policy that staff progress or incremental salary scales on the basis of a single point per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8684/14]
View answerGovernment policy on the award of annual increments and long service increments (payable after three and six years satisfactory service on the maximum of standard incremental salary scales) is implemented for all staff in my Department subject to the restrictions and deferments which were set out in the Haddington Road Agreement.
773. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health as far as he is aware if any official bodies under the aegis of his Department subscribe to the daily inflation data for Ireland collected by a company (details supplied); if so, the cost of this service; if the data will be made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8700/14]
View answerAs far as I am aware, there are no bodies under the aegis of my Department which subscribe to the service referred to by the Deputy.
774. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to invest in and upgrade national heritage sites to make them attractive to the domestic and international tourist markets. [7910/14]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to priority question 90 on this topic today.
775. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the proposed budget for the centralised computerisation of the shipping and seafarers' registries. [8087/14]
View answerBoth IT projects, Seafarers and Ship Register, are included in my Department's plans for this year. The development and implementation of the Seafarers Register is currently out to tender and responses are due on 6 March 2014. The Ship Register is still in the scoping phase and has yet to reach the tender stage. It would not be appropriate to specify the budgets for projects which are currently out to tender or are yet to go to tender as it could impair our ability to secure the best price. However, I will ask my officials to ensure that the Deputy is appraised of the cost of these projects once the tendering process has been completed in each case.
776. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if local authorities can invoke section 76 of the Roads Act 1993 to remove water from public roads, removing the risk of flooding to private property; if he will confirm the section allows a local authority to take such action without the need to serve notice on the landowner in whose property the water may be discharged on or through; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8090/14]
View answerSection 76 subsection (1) of the Roads Act 1993 empowers road authorities to construct and maintain drains on any land for the purpose of draining water from, or preventing water flowing onto, a public road. It also provides that road authorities may use any land for the temporary storage or the preparation of materials required for the construction or maintenance of a public road.
Subsection (2) obliges a road authority to give at least one month’s notice to the landowner or occupier before entering on any land to construct or maintain drains on the land or using any land to temporarily store or prepare road construction or maintenance materials.
However, subsection (3)(a) provides that, where as a result of flooding, landslide, subsidence or other emergency there is an immediate and serious hazard to persons using a public road or serious damage has been, is being or will be caused to a public road, a road authority may take immediate action to remove or reduce the hazard or prevent or reduce the damage or any further damage. In any such case, a road authority is permitted, under subsection 3(b), to enter on any land and carry out any works or do anything it considers necessary. These provisions enable road authorities to act quickly in emergencies.
It should be noted that section 76 provides for powers dealing with the drainage of public roads and related matters but does not include any provision relating to flooding of private property.
777. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he argued for any extra provisions to be made in the forthcoming legislation on protection of whistleblowers to protect any employees of airlines or companies associated with the provision or operation of aircraft or flight crew, who may wish to disclose information which they consider to be of significance to protecting the safety of the travelling public; and in view of some serious incidents which have occurred in the aviation sector. [7996/14]
View answerThe Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has statutory responsibility for the regulation of safety standards of civil aviation in the State. Ireland has an excellent record and reputation in aviation safety and I am determined to maintain and defend that and ensure that public confidence is not undermined.
The importance of ensuring that all relevant information on aviation safety is reported, collected and evaluated is well recognised and Directive (EC) 2003/42 on occurrence reporting in civil aviation was adopted with this objective. This Directive was implemented in national law by S.I. 285/2007 under which the IAA is designated as the competent authority tasked with establishing and maintaining a mechanism for collecting, evaluating, processing and storing relevant civil aviation “occurrences”.
Under this legislation, people working within the aviation industry can disclose information to competent authorities across the EU on a confidential basis without fear of their identities being disclosed and consequently of retribution. The legislation also provides rights of redress where an employee believes that they have been subject to prejudice by their employer for reporting safety occurrences.
As there are already robust legislative arrangements in place at EU and national level dealing with safety reporting in civil aviation, I am not seeking to have additional provisions specific to this sector included in the Protected Disclosures Bill 2013.
779. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action he will take to protect the rights of a person (details supplied) whose driver licence application to the National Driver Licence Service to use the Irish language version of the name on the licence, as the person has done before, has been refused on the grounds all documentation which holds the PPSN has the English language version of the name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7594/14]
View answerAny question of either changing a person’s name, as legally established, or establishing different recognised forms for alternative Irish and English versions of the name of the same individual, is not a matter for the RSA, my Department, or any other body under the aegis of my Department. I shall therefore confine myself to the requirements for the driving licence.
The RSA has advised me that the NDLS has no objection in principle to putting the Irish form of a name on a driving licence. However, it has a responsibility to verify the identity of any individual to whom they issue a licence. Therefore, when a person who has a driving licence under the English form of their name applies for a new licence in the Irish form, the NDLS requires documentary proof that the person is the same individual.
The key issue here is that the RSA is not the appropriate organisation to decide on what form or forms of a person’s name may be used. Instead, it has a responsibility to ensure ID security by satisfying itself that a person receiving a licence is indeed the person he or she claims to be.
I have as a matter of course also contacted the office of An Coimisinéir Teanga, which has confirmed that the Official Languages Act 2003 does not mention a right to use the Irish form of a name.
780. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of his meetings with the European Investment Bank, the EU Commission and the Trans-European Transport Network, TEN-T, Executive Agency on the construction of the DART underground project as outlined at the Shift2Rail briefing on 16 December 2013; and if he will outline his Department's estimated timeframe and costs to the Exchequer for progressing this project. [7598/14]
View answerOn 4 December 2013 in Brussels, I met with Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas and later with officials from DG MOVE and the TEN-T Executive Agency, who confirmed their positive views towards DART Underground.
DART Underground has been included in the new Ten-T Core Network and is part of one of the nine Core Corridors crossing the EU. This means that if DART Underground or elements of the overall programme are funded by the Exchequer they will be eligible for some co-funding under Ten-T in the period 2014-2020.
The EIB had also indicated a keen interest in supporting DART Underground and this interest was confirmed to me at a meeting with the EIB Management Board including President Werner Hoyer and Secretary General Alfonso Querejeta on 29 April last. I expect to have a further meeting with senior EIB officials next month when access to funding for transport projects will be further discussed.
DART Underground remains a key element of the overall public transport integration strategy as it would deliver a quantum improvement in rail accessibility to the city centre with benefits for each of the four rail corridors radiating from the city centre. The National Transport Authority (NTA) which has statutory responsibility for planning and developing public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area has included DART Underground as a key project in their "Draft Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2011-2030".
Apart from some limited work related to supporting projects there is no funding for the overall DART Underground programme in the current capital plan to 2016. Advance work on preparations for the capital plan post-2016 has commenced and projects will be prioritised arising from that work taking account of their costs and benefits and the funding available.
The overall cost of DART Underground was estimated at just over €4 billion in 2010. Over €2.6 billion is the estimated cost of the Tunnel with associated works such as electrification, re-signalling and rolling-stock accounting for the balance.
781. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of the section of the Royal Canal towpath which will be upgraded at a cost of €750,000 as part of the €32.5 million funding for sustainable transport projects in the greater Dublin area. [7599/14]
View answer782. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the section of the Royal Canal towpath between Castleknock and Porterstown was considered for inclusion in the recently announced €32.5 million funding for sustainable transport projects in the greater Dublin area, and if he will provide a timeframe for when this investment can be expected as part of the longer-term proposal to develop a greenway across Ireland, alongside the Royal Canal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7600/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 781 and 782 together.
Funding for delivery of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of cycle lanes in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) is a matter for the National Transport Authority.
The NTA can provide details of expenditure on cycling routes in the GDA and I have asked them to forward the information to you directly. If you have not received a response within 7 days please contact me again.
783. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has plans to make funding available to Irish Rail to improve customer access to train platforms six and seven at Dublin Connolly Station by upgrading and opening the existing entrance and exit to Amiens Street; if he will provide an estimated cost for these works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7601/14]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as improving access and upgrading platforms at Dublin Connolly station comes under the remit of the NTA.
Noting this I have referred the Deputies question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
784. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding overcrowding on the Sligo to Dublin train. [7610/14]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. While the issue of reduced carriages is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA), I have been in contact with both in relation to this issue.
I have also raised public concerns about overcrowding with the Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann and I understand that the company has already responded and re-introduced larger carriages to accommodate passengers where this has been considered necessary. The Chief Executive has agreed to continuous monitoring of carriage levels on both DART and Intercity services to ensure they match passenger demand.
The most recent information I have now received from the Railway Safety Commission (RSC) is that a total of 64 trains services were inspected prior to Christmas and a further 36 inspections were undertaken last month. However, all recent instances of reported “overcrowding” have been determined to be well within the design capacity of the vehicles. Findings from individual service inspections have been brought to Iarnród Éireann's attention and, while these are more in relation to passenger comfort as opposed to safety, the company has confirmed that they have an ongoing process of monitoring passenger loading on its services.
The National Transport Authority (NTA), as public transport regulator, must approve any changes to train services. The NTA has confirmed that it is monitoring passenger loadings and peak crowding on all Iarnród Éireann services. The introduction of a 20-minute standing rule on those sections of Intercity services that operate a commuter service into Dublin has been discussed with Iarnród Éireann. The NTA is also undertaking a national rail review at present in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann and this is due to be completed early this year. The aim of the review is to better match service levels and service capacity with demand for travel.
During the course of 2014 both Minister of State Kelly and I will be meeting regularly with senior management in all of the publicly funded transport companies and the NTA to focus efforts to improve public patronage of our buses, trams and trains. I will ensure that both the NTA and Iarnród Éireann are made aware of the concerns raised by the Deputy with regard to the particular incident on the Sligo-Dublin service.
785. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form the number of staff in his Department on sabbatical or a career break broken down by zero to six months, six to 12 months, one year to two years, two to three years, four to five years and five years plus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7636/14]
View answerThe information as requested by the Deputy is set out in the table.
|
Duration |
Number of Staff |
|
0-6 months |
0 |
|
6-12 months |
2 |
|
1-2 years |
2 |
|
2-3 years |
0 |
|
4-5 years |
1 |
|
5 years plus |
0 |
There are two further staff who have completed their career break and requested a return to my Department. As part of the Department's efforts to comply with the Employment Control Framework both individuals have been placed on the Redeployment Panel and are awaiting assignment.
786. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form the total number of uncertified sick days taken by employees in his Department; the average number of uncertified sick days per employee taken; the total number of certified sick days taken by employees; the average number of certified sick days per employee; the total number of sick days taken by employees; the average total of sick days and the median overall sick days per employee in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. [7652/14]
View answerThe information as requested by the Deputy is set out in the table.
|
- |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Total uncertified sick |
582.97 |
477.06 |
439.63 |
367.36 |
|
Average uncertified per employee |
1.10 |
0.96 |
0.89 |
0.78 |
|
Total certified sick |
5464.52 |
6377.38 |
5051.15 |
4007.46 |
|
Average certified sick per employee |
10.33 |
7.60 |
10.17 |
8.47 |
|
Total |
6047.49 |
6854.44 |
5490.78 |
4374.82 |
|
Average Per Employee |
11.43 |
13.75 |
11.06 |
9.25 |
|
Median Per Employee |
2.00 |
2.00 |
2.00 |
2.00 |
The Deputy will note the downward trend in the sick leave numbers. This is due for the most part to concerted efforts by the Human Resources division of the Department to manage the sick leave issue.
