Written Answers Nos. 676-698
676. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the total number of places on GP training schemes throughout the country in 2014; if he will outline same on a county basis; if he will outline on a county basis the number of places that have been taken up and the number that are still available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16706/14]
View answerThere are 14 GP Specialist (Vocational) Training Programmes currently in operation in Ireland. Doctors who wish to pursue GP training in Ireland may apply for a general practice training post in one of the 14 GP Training Programmes. In July 2010, the GP trainee intake increased from 120 to 157 training places per year.
As the breakdown by County of the number of GP training places is not routinely provided to the Department by the HSE, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
In July of last year, my colleague Dr James Reilly, Minister for Health, established a Working Group, chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU, to carry out a Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure. The Working Group will examine and make high-level recommendations relating to training and career pathways for doctors with a view to improving graduate retention in the public health system, planning for future service needs, and realising maximum benefit from investment in medical education and training.
Professor MacCraith was asked to furnish the Group's final report by the end of June 2014. In this context, I understand that the Working Group has had initial engagement with stakeholders including trainee doctors, the IMO, the Forum of Irish Postgraduate Medical Training Bodies, the Medical Council and the HSE. Engagement with stakeholders will continue throughout the process to prepare the final report.
The HSE is currently engaged in a medical workforce planning project, which will include a workforce plan for GPs. When this work has been completed, it will assist in identifying GP requirements.
677. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the GP rural practice allowance and the supports in place for GPs operating in rural areas. [16707/14]
View answerWhere a GP, who holds a General Medical Services (GMS) contract, lives and practices in a centre with a population of less than 500 and where there is not a town with a population of 1,500 or more within a 4.83 km (3 mile) radius of that centre, the GP will be entitled to a Rural Practice Allowance. The Rural Practice Allowance under the capitation agreement is currently set at €16,216.07 per annum.
As a result of satisfying the criteria for payment of the Rural Practice Allowance, the GP is also entitled to claim practice support subsidies (Practice Nurse, Practice Secretary and Practice Manager) at the maximum applicable rate which he/she would otherwise only be entitled to claim if he/she had a panel size of 1,200 and over. The GP would also be entitled to claim the maximum applicable contribution towards locum costs for periods of sick leave, annual leave, study leave, maternity leave and adoptive leave. In remote areas, where an alternative to dispensing by the GP is considered not to be feasible by the HSE, a dispensing GP is entitled to receive payment for dispensing to his/her GMS patients.
678. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the total number of GP referrals to each general hospital in the country over the past 12 months; if he will outline same on a hospital by hospital basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16708/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
679. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the draft contact for supplying GP care to under six year olds; the proposed timeline for the implementation of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16709/14]
View answerThe Government is committed to introducing a universal GP service without fees, on a phased basis, within its term of office. As announced in the Budget, the Government has decided to commence the roll-out of universal GP services by providing all children under six years with access to a GP service without fees. The implementation of this measure will require primary legislation, which is expected to be published shortly. The aim is to have this measure in place by mid-year.
The introduction of this service also requires a new contractual framework to be put in place between the HSE and individual general practitioners. In this regard, a draft contract is currently the subject of a consultation process. While there has been some negative reaction to the draft contract, I am pleased that the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), the primary representative body for general practitioners, has confirmed that it is supportive of Government policy to introduce GP care free at the point of access, albeit conditional on the provision of adequate resources and full and meaningful negotiations with the IMO.
I have assured the IMO, most recently in a letter dated 26th March, that the Department and the HSE are fully prepared to engage meaningfully with them and are prepared to negotiate with them on all aspects of the scope and content of the proposed contract. I have also explained that there will be an opportunity for input from the IMO on the fee structure, which will be addressed by means of a complementary consultation process.
I trust that the IMO will accept this invitation to commence negotiations with the Department and the HSE. This will afford them the fullest opportunity to obtain clarification from the Department and the HSE on any aspect of the draft contract and to raise any other issues which they may have regarding it. A process of open discussion has the potential to significantly enhance the draft contract for patients, GPs, the HSE and the Department, thus helping to progress our common goal of free GP care at the point of access.
680. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount the Health Service Executive paid in commercial rates in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16710/14]
View answerAs this is a matter for the Health Service Executive your question has been referred to the Executive for direct reply.
682. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the care plan in place in a nursing home (details supplied) in Dublin 6W for residents with Alzheimer's disease. [16712/14]
View answerThe Deputy’s question refers to a private nursing home. All nursing homes are subject to the same core standards and regulations in relation to quality and safety in order to ensure the well-being of their residents. Under the Health Act 2007, statutory responsibility is given to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), for the independent registration and inspection of designated centres providing residential services for older people.
The Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres) Regulations 2009 require that each resident’s needs are set out in an individual care plan developed and agreed with each resident. The Regulations, which underpin HIQA's National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for older People also require that suitable and sufficient care is provided to maintain the resident’s welfare and well-being, having regard to the nature and extent of the resident’s dependency and needs as set out in their care plan.
If the Deputy has concerns about a particular nursing home, it is a matter for HIQA to determine whether that nursing home is in breach of the Regulations or the quality standards. If a nursing home is found not to be in compliance with the Regulations it may either fail to achieve or lose its registration status. HIQA also has wide discretion in deciding whether to impose conditions of registration on nursing homes.
683. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the total income generated in 2013 under the public hospital statutory inpatient charge in 2013; the estimated figure for 2014; the corresponding figures for charges under section 55 of the Health Act 1970; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16735/14]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, I have asked the Health Service Executive to supply this information to me and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.
684. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the total number of medical cards as of 1 April 2014; the total number of general practitioner cards on the same date; and the total number for each type of card issued on a discretionary basis on that date. [16739/14]
View answerThe April figures requested by the Deputy are not as yet collated. The most current figures available relate to 1 March 2014 and are set out in the table below:
|
Card type |
Number of cards |
|
Medical cards |
1,826,578 |
|
of which granted on the basis of discretion |
50,009 |
|
GP Visit cards |
124,512 |
|
of which granted on the basis of discretion |
28,301 |
685. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the period patients in Longford and Westmeath must wait for hip replacement operations at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16741/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
686. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [16754/14]
View answerIn relation to the detailed patient query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
687. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Louth suffering from locked-in syndrome was refused funding from the Health Service Executive to be allowed return home from Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, considering the fact the HSE would save approximately €168,000 per annum if this request was accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16757/14]
View answer“Locked in” syndrome is a challenging condition in which a patient generally retains cognitive function but requires constant clinical supports, such as ventilation. It must be acknowledged that the person's needs are complex and patients with such needs are generally cared for in an intensive care setting. The Department has discussed this case with the Health Service Executive and I understand that an early meeting between the family and senior officials in the HSE is being arranged to discuss and consider the patient's request to transfer home from Beaumont and the significant complex issues associated with such a transfer.
I would note that there are unlikely to be savings associated with a transfer from Beaumont Hospital to home as the intensive care bed in Beaumont will be occupied and require to be funded into the future.
688. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health when a prosthesis will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16770/14]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
689. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure educational and awareness training among the medical profession regarding being alert to the symptoms of sepsis and taking prompt action. [16808/14]
View answerThe Health Information and Quality Authority's (HIQA) Report into the care and treatment provided of Ms Savita Halappanavar at University Hospital, Galway recommended that the HSE should develop a national clinical guideline on the management of sepsis and ensure that all hospitals put in place arrangements for formal staff training on the recognition and management of sepsis and on the clinically deteriorating patients including pregnant women in line with the guideline.
The report also recommended that the Department of Health should immediately review the current arrangements in place to ensure the national Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC) is adequately resourced to support the national endorsement of key national guidelines.
The NCEC through the processes of prioritisation and quality assurance of a clinical guideline has been developed using a quality methodology and is based on evidence.
Following on from the HIQA report I have requested that four national clinical guidelines are immediately commissioned and quality assured through the NCEC as a matter of urgency for the Irish health system. These guidelines are a National Maternity Early Warning Score Guideline, a National Paediatric Early Warning Score Guideline, a National Sepsis Management Guideline and a National Clinical Handover Guideline. I expect these guidelines to not only detail best practice but also to make recommendations for staff education and training. This is in order to provide for assurance of the competence of our doctors, nurses and midwives for these critical life-saving clinical issues.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that significant progress has been made on this work to date.
690. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16820/14]
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.
691. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that when a communication on wrongdoing is received in his Department that the communication will be deemed to have come to his attention; if he will confirm that, while he is not expected to exercise personally the function of dealing with wrongdoing, he is responsible for ensuring that the function is exercised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17106/14]
View answerProtocols in my Department regarding Ministerial correspondence are kept under regular review.
Any allegations of wrongdoing are taken very seriously and as Minister for Health, I seek to ensure that they are dealt with quickly and appropriately.
If the Deputy has any examples of the issue he raises that relate to my Department, I would be happy to deal with them.
692. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action his Department is taking to help Irish hauliers avoid the introduction of a heavy goods vehicle road user levy in the United Kingdom which will have a significant impact on Irish hauliers; particularly in Border areas; if he has spoken to his British counterpart regarding this levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15992/14]
View answerI am very aware that the UK HGV road user levy is a cause of considerable concern for Irish hauliers, particularly those operating in border areas. I have had extensive discussions with my UK and Northern Ireland counterparts on the matter and have made representations to the UK authorities to completely exempt certain significant sections of Northern Ireland roads infrastructure from the levy, as it is not possible under EU law to have an exemption for just one country. My Department officials and I are committed to pursuing this issue to the fullest possible extent. My officials are working closely with Northern Ireland Environment Minister Durkan’s office in making representations to UK Minister Hammond to exempt the A5 corridor for HGV traffic travelling to and from destinations in Ireland. A key reason for the Irish Government’s investment in the upgrade of the A5 is the fact that it will bring significant benefits to both economies in the region. I would have concerns that any increased costs levied on Irish operators who are simply transiting Northern Ireland will have a detrimental impact on this economic benefit. I believe, therefore, that there is a compelling case for exempting the A5 from the levy and I will continue to pursue this case.
The Taoiseach raised this issue at his recent bilateral meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron, while I understand Deputy Joe McHugh met Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers lately to discuss this issue as well. In addition, my colleague Jim Higgins MEP, Ireland's representative on the European Parliament Transport Committee has written to Commissioner for Transport, Siim Kallas, and the Internal Market Commissioner, Michel Barnier on the matter and is meeting with the European Parliament Transport Committee Chair soon to discuss it.
693. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding funding to develop an all-weather pitch in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16111/14]
View answerI can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme and the Deputy's support for the project is noted.
694. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department will take any action regarding Aer Lingus (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15979/14]
View answerAer Lingus is a publicly listed company. The remuneration package of the Chief Executive is decided by the remuneration committee and the Board of the company. It is not subject to Government decision. It would be inappropriate for my Department to seek to take action in this regard. However, the correspondent’s point regarding the contribution to pensions is well made.
695. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of motor vehicles in the possession of his Department or agencies of his Department that are not required to hold motor tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16036/14]
View answer696. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of motor vehicles in the possession of his Department or agencies of his Department that do not hold an insurance policy; the manner in which insurance claims arising in respect of vehicles in the possession of his Department or its agencies are handled; the amount of insurance claims paid on behalf of his Department in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16052/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 695 and 696 together.
Both the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) of my Department and the Irish Coast Guard have vehicles in their possession which are exempt from holding motor tax. The AAIU has two vehicles while the Irish Coast Guard has a fleet of approximately 170 vehicles incorporating tractors, all-terrain vehicles (quads) saloon cars and 4X4s.
The insurance of these vehicles are covered by State indemnity and claims are dealt with by the State Claims Agency. The information requested by the Deputy regarding the amount of insurance claims paid in each of the past five years on behalf of my Department is being collated and will be forwarded when it is at hand.
With regard to the agencies under the remit of my Department, these are matters for the agencies themselves. I have forwarded your request to the Agencies for direct reply to you. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days please contact my private office.
697. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the planned transport infrastructural spending by his Department for the period from 2014 to 2020 outside the greater Dublin area under the following headings: national heavy rail infrastructure; national light rail infrastructure; and national roads infrastructure. [16086/14]
View answerThe Government's policy in relation to capital infrastructure to 2016, including rail and road investments, is set out in the "Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-16: Medium Term Exchequer Framework". The priority is to maintain safety standards and to protect and extract maximum value from existing infrastructure, rather than the development of new transport infrastructure. In relation to heavy rail, the focus is on maintaining the existing network and renewing key infrastructure assets. The bulk of the capital funding available for heavy rail each year, amounting to over €114million in 2014, is allocated for the Infrastructure Manager Multi-Annual Contract (IMMAC), required under EU regulation to fund the maintenance and renewal of the heavy rail network. The IMMAC replaces the Railway Safety Programme which had an annual spend of approximately €100m across the entire network.
There are no plans for light rail investments outside of the Greater Dublin Area in the “Medium Term Exchequer Framework”.
Due to the reduced funding and the priority for maintaining existing road transport infrastructure, no direct Exchequer funded road development projects are scheduled to go to construction for the next number of years. A number of PPP projects, including the N7/N11, the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam, the N25 New Ross Bypass and the N11 Gorey-Enniscorthy projects are however being progressed. With the exception of the Newlands Cross interchange and the Rathnew N11 upgrade, all of these PPPs are outside the Greater Dublin Area.
Consideration of a new government capital investment plan to 2020 has begun. This will involve a focused review of the medium-term capital envelope to take account of investment priorities for the next 5 years.
My priority, as under the current plan, will be to protect investment made to date and maintain safety standards. If additional funds are available there will be many competing transport projects across all modes and from all regions. Only projects for which there is a clear identifiable need, which are affordable, have a robust business case and add value to existing infrastructure, will be prioritised for funding to 2020.
698. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied there will be an appropriate level of modal choice in terms of public transport options for the public following the merger of the Railway Procurement Agency and the National Roads Authority; and the way the new merged body will continue to promote light rail projects. [16087/14]
View answerThe legislative vehicle being used to merge the RPA into the NRA (Roads Bill 2014) does not diminish or change the functions of the RPA in any way. The new NRA/RPA merged entity will retain all the existing functions of both bodies. Funding allocations and work programmes will be based on the priorities set out in the relevant capital plans, currently the Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016: Medium Term Exchequer Framework.
The new merged body will continue to undertake public transport infrastructure projects, including light rail projects such as Luas Cross City, on receipt of direction from the National Transport Authority (NTA) to perform delivery functions on its behalf in the Greater Dublin Area, and it will receive funding from the NTA in respect of those projects.
In relation to roads the new body will remain as the Sanctioning Authority for national roads and will receive funding directly from my Department for this.
The benefits arising from the sharing of expertise within the new organisation will strengthen its capacity to interact with central government, local government and other relevant agencies, such as NTA, in formulating strategic plans and delivering key transport infrastructure projects.
