Thursday, 1 May 2014

Written Answers Nos. 166 - 177

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Questions (166)

Frank Feighan

Question:

166. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason an AEOS 2 payment for 2013 has not been received by a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [19900/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1 September 2011 and full entitlements have issued in respect of the 2011 and 2012 Scheme years. During a 2013 inspection, the person named was found to have non-compliances in respect of the Traditional Hay Meadow and Coppicing of Hedgerow actions. A letter issued to the person named notifying them of the inspection findings and setting out the appeal option. As no appeal was received, officials in my Department are processing the application based on the inspection findings and I expect 75% payment in respect of 2013 to issue shortly. The balancing 25% payment will follow on.

Beef Data Programme

Questions (167)

Heather Humphreys

Question:

167. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue on a beef data programme appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19910/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named submitted an application for the 2013 Beef Data Programme which was received in this Department on 14 June 2013. The closing date for this Scheme was 15 May 2013. Late applications were accepted up to 9 June 2013 with a 1% penalty per working day that the application was received after the closing date of the Scheme. As the application in question was not received until 14 June 2013 it was deemed inadmissible. A letter to this effect issued to the person named on 08 July 2013 giving him recourse to appeal the decision to the Agriculture Appeals Unit within 3 months of the date of the decision letter. An appeal has been submitted to the Agriculture Appeals Office from the person named but as yet no decision has been made.

Single Payment Scheme Eligibility

Questions (168)

Willie Penrose

Question:

168. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to ensure that single farm payment entitlements of a person (details supplied) are returned to them as they had leased the farm for one year in 2013 due to severe ill health, and therefore would qualify under force majeure circumstances, where they have now returned to reasonable health and wish to resume farming full time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19914/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

As the person named was not entitled to receive a direct payment in 2013, he does not have an automatic allocation right to receive payment entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme. Article 30.7.(c) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 allows a Member State to use their National Reserve to allocate payment entitlements to farmers who were prevented from being allocated payment entitlements as a result of force majeure or exceptional circumstances. Force majeure circumstances would include a severe illness which incapacitated the farmer in the 2013 reference year. As all force majeure applications are dealt with on a case by case basis, the person named would have to apply to my Department, giving supporting medical evidence before a decision can be made in his case. An official from my Department will contact the person named in the coming days.

Medical Inquiries

Questions (169)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

169. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health to outline the progress that has been made in relation to the inquiry into the death of a person (details supplied) who died in the street after a pharmacy refused a life-saving adrenaline injection when the person suffered an allergic reaction. [19757/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, the Pharmacy Regulator, is conducting an investigation into the case referred to by the Deputy. It would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment at this time. The Department is currently examining the feasibility of facilitating the wider availability of adrenaline pens without prescription in emergency situations, by persons trained in the administration of these pens.

Speech and Language Therapy

Questions (170)

Brian Stanley

Question:

170. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Laois will receive speech and language therapy. [19729/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the HSE to look into the particular matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Medical Card Administration

Questions (171)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

171. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the circumstances that exist that allow a general practitioner to bill a private health insurer for a minor surgical procedure when the person involved has a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19731/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Under the terms of the GMS contract ‘the medical practitioner shall provide for eligible persons, on behalf of the Health Service Executive, all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess’.  The medical practitioner shall not demand or accept any payment or consideration from a GMS patient other than payments from the HSE as outlined under the terms of the contract, which include fees for procedures such as excisions/cryotherapy/diathermy of skin lesions; suturing of cuts and lacerations; and recognised vein treatment.

If a general practitioner provides a service to a GMS patient that is covered by the GMS contract, the GP is precluded from accepting payment either from the patient directly or from other sources such as the patient’s private health insurer.  Claiming against a health insurance policy is a matter between the insured and the insurer. It is the insurer's responsibility to satisfy itself that a claim is valid under the terms of the policy.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (172)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

172. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the number of persons who have been adversely affected as a result of the swine flu vaccination provided, one example of this being narcolepsy; the steps being taken to compensate for such injuries following the vaccination; the steps being taken to help sufferers live normal lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19733/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE and the Department of Education and Skills continue to provide a range of services and supports to individuals diagnosed with narcolepsy following pandemic vaccination regardless of age, on an ex gratia basis. These services and supports which are co-ordinated by the HSE National Advocacy Unit are intended to provide that individuals receive tailored assistance to address their specific requirements, where appropriate. It is acknowledged that treatment and individual medical needs may need to be reassessed over time to take account of changes in their condition or circumstances.

To date, the Irish Medicines Board has received reports of 62 cases with clinical information confirming a diagnosis of narcolepsy in relation to individuals following pandemic influenza vaccination. As the Deputy’s question relates to an individual case it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme

Questions (173)

Robert Troy

Question:

173. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be approved for a tax concession for disabled drivers. [19735/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Medical Card Reviews

Questions (174)

Denis Naughten

Question:

174. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason a person who holds a medical card as a result of EU entitlement is being asked to complete a review form; the reason they are being asked to provide details of savings when their sole income is a UK pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19759/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The 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.

Prescription Charges

Questions (175)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

175. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding prescription charges for medical card holders (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19781/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Medical card holders are required to pay a €2.50 charge per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €25 per month for each person or family. Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the HSE or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the Methadone Treatment Scheme. As the HSE is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes, I have asked the HSE to investigate the circumstances of this case and respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Medical Card Appeals

Questions (176)

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

176. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health if he will review the refusal of a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19793/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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.

Health Screening Programmes

Questions (177)

Clare Daly

Question:

177. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health with regard to the national bowel screening programme, the reason only one sample is taken when in Britain a week's samples are examined; and the level of personal data requested without which the kit will not be released, including mother's date of birth, which would not be known. [19805/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

BowelScreen, the National Bowel Screening Programme, uses a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) as its primary screening tool. It is one of the first population-based bowel screening programmes internationally to utilise this test as the primary screening tool. One sample has been proven to be sufficient under FIT and this approach is also likely to maximise uptake. The NHS UK screening programmes use a different primary screening test which requires multiple samples. As with all population screening programmes in Ireland, some personal data is requested to verify the identity of individuals being screened. No request is made to give a mother’s date of birth. The personal details involved include name, date of birth, address, contact telephone number and GP details.