Written Answers Nos. 1200 - 1217
1200. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 746 of 4 February 2014, if he will provide an update on the project cost and the commencement date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14082/14]
View answerDelivery of healthcare facilities is a service matter. Therefore your question which is a follow up to the HSE's response of 25 February 2014 has been referred to the Executive for direct reply.
1202. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health when the capacity review of the national ambulance sector will be completed; and if the report on foot of the review will be published. [14086/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
1203. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided to Dublin Fire Brigade to provide the Dublin ambulance service in the years 2011 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if it is the case that arrears of funding due to Dublin Fire Brigade from the Health Service Executive have been outstanding in any of these years or are currently outstanding. [14087/14]
View answerIn relation to the detailed information requested by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
1204. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health the reason medical card application guidelines as administered by the PCRS will not take into account a credit union loan that has been classified by the credit union as a housing loan and not a home improvement loan on an application form for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14093/14]
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.
1205. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine a medical card renewal application in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will expedite these medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14099/14]
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.
1206. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment for a procedure can be arranged in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14101/14]
View answerIn relation to the particular patient query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service executive to respond to him directly.
1207. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update in tabular form of the commitments in the programme for Government that relate to his Department; and the progress that has been made in the implementation of each commitment. [14116/14]
View answerEach year the Department of the Taoiseach publishes a report setting out progress made on the implementation of the Programme for Government. The third annual report, published on 4 March 2014, sets out the work carried out across all Government Departments, including my Department. The report is available on the Department of the Taoiseach's website.
1208. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is given a date for their operation at the Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin without further delay [14155/14]
View answerThe 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.
In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
1209. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is reasonable for certain hospitals to engage the services of a debt collection agency if a patients bill is not paid within 14 days of being discharged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14157/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
1210. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the project regarding the upgrade of a health centre (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14172/14]
View answerThe primary care infrastructure model offers a good fit for public private financing. In 2012 the HSE completed a prioritisation exercise for all primary care centre locations. In addition to the locations' ranks as a result of the prioritisation exercise, the mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care infrastructure is dependent on a number of factors including GP participation. GP commitment to sharing accommodation with HSE staff and delivering health care services from these facilities is essential for primary care centre delivery. Therefore locations cannot proceed unless GPs are prepared to engage in the process. Regardless of the delivery mechanism, all potential primary care centres are also subject to suitable locations being offered/provided/available and to successful planning processes. Delivery of primary care infrastructure is a dynamic exercise, constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances including the feasibility of implementation.
As with all capital projects the primary care infrastructure programme must be considered within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. There is limited funding available for new projects over the period 2014-2018 given the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place. The HSE is concentrating on applying the limited funding available for capital works in the most effective way possible to meet needs now and in the future.
1215. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) in County Kerry regarding special assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14180/14]
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.
1216. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 602 of 11 February 2014 and 269 of 27 February 2014, if he will now ensure that a reply will issue in relation to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14183/14]
View answerI understand that the Health Service Executive responded on 21st March to the Deputy in this matter.
