Written Answers Nos. 247-256
247. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in respect of an appeal 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. [15775/14]
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.
248. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health of the proposed additional 30 early intervention teams to be reconfigured this year for children with special educational needs requiring assessments by speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and other professionals; where and when these new reconfigured teams will be put in place. [15784/14]
View answer249. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health when an early intervention team will be put in place for the Dublin region, particularly in north Dublin; and the number of staff that will be working under this team or teams. [15785/14]
View answer250. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the actions that will be taken to assess children with special educational needs, including speech difficulties, who have been subject to lengthy delays in receiving assessments by early intervention teams due to the absence of such teams in some areas, including Dublin; and if there will be additional personnel employed in the medium term to deal with the backlog of children requiring early intervention assessments. [15786/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 248 to 250, inclusive, together.
The HSE has recognised the need to increase the level of consistency and standardisation in the way services for children with disabilities are delivered. It is currently engaged in a reconfiguration of existing therapy resources to multidisciplinary geographic based teams for children as part of the National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18 years).
The aim of the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme is to achieve a national, unified approach to delivering disability health services so that there is a clear pathway to services for all children, regardless of where they live, what school they go to or the nature of their disability. An additional €4m has been specifically allocated in 2014 to drive implementation of the Programme. This equates to approximately 80 therapy posts.
Almost 60 geographic-based multi-disciplinary teams have been established to date under the Programme as part of the reconfigured service model. It is hoped that a further 30 teams will be reconfigured this year, bringing the overall total to approximately 90 teams by the end of 2014. These figures reflect all children's disability teams that provide early intervention and school age services to children aged up to eighteen years. The transition to this new model is taking place on a phased basis and, importantly, includes consultation and engagement with stakeholders, such as service users and their families.
My Department has asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in respect of the specific detailed operational issues that he has raised.
251. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been reinstated into the National Ambulance Service; his views on whether it is appropriate that such a person should be employed in a training school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15822/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
252. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will outline Ireland's proposed involvement in the EU's Health and Growth 2014-20 programme; and the person or agency responsible for Ireland's' involvement. [15828/14]
View answerRegulation (EU) No 282/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a third Programme for the Union's action in the field of health (2014-2020) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 21st March and entered into force on 22nd March 2014.
The programme is a tool to support EU health policy, to foster cooperation with Member States and health stakeholders, and to help improve health outcomes across the European Union. The programme is designed to support and complement Member States’ action in areas where cooperation at EU level is either indispensable or provides important added value.
The 4 main objectives of the third Health Programme (2014-2020) are to
strengthen action to promote health and prevent diseases;
be better prepared to protect citizens against health emergencies and to coordinate action at European level to address them;
increase the up-take of innovation in health; and
improve people's access to medical expertise and information for specific conditions; and improve healthcare quality and patient safety.
Ireland is represented on the Health Programme Committee (DGSANCO) and participates and contributes as appropriate to the formulation and adoption of annual workplans.
The Department of Health and the National Focal Point (based in the Health Research Board) review annual workplans and consider opportunities for participation. The Department liaises as appropriate with the Programme's National Focal Point. The role of the National Focal Point (NFP) is to
support and facilitate the implementation of the Health Programme at the level of the EU Member States
increase the efficacy of the proposals submitted under different financial mechanisms and to evaluate the process of the annual Call of proposals
relay appropriate information about the technical and financial requirements for the participation in the Call of Proposals and Calls for Tenders to potential proposing organisations,
facilitate the orientation of national applicants for the Call of Proposals and Calls for Tenders.
promote the Health Programme dissemination by sharing knowledge and good practices among EU networks of expertise (including hosting information days).
253. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was given incorrect information in relation to a medical card application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15837/14]
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.
254. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will provide this Deputy with a report, details supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15843/14]
View answerIn relation to the Deputy's further question in this matter, I have again asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
255. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the mileage-kilometre reading for each ambulance in the Health Service Executive fleet, by ambulance base; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15850/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
