Written Answers Nos. 397-407
397. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a local meals on wheels service can be accommodated in the Branganstown area in Kilcock, County Kildare; his plans to implement such a service in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20131/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
398. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if additional documentation has been received in respect of medical card application in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if and when determination of eligibility will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20135/14]
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.
399. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate reports that a major problem has arisen with hearing aids in the County Donegal area following a decision by the Health Service Executive to employ a private contractor to supply same; that many of its customers have apparently been asked to pay in the region of €100 to this company for their new hearing aids, which it is reported are not fit for purpose and that the HSE has now had to replace the products itself at substantial cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20142/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
400. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if long-term residents with a disability in Stewarts Hospital service will be sent back to live in the community and if proper support will be provided. [20143/14]
View answerAs 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.
401. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the person who monitors the operation of health care systems and standards in special schools where pupils have acute health care needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20145/14]
View answer402. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the number of special schools that are block grant funded by the Health Service Executive to assist with nursing health and hygiene related costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20147/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 401 and 402 together.
The particular issues raised by the Deputy are service matters for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the Deputy's questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
403. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the number of special schools that have full-time or part-time nurses; the number of those that are nurses in the direct employment of the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20148/14]
View answerAs this is an operational matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
404. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health his views on oral surgery patients being transferred to Beaumont Hospital from the Letterkenny General Hospital waiting list; if the Health Service Executive exhausted all other options or potential solutions such as availing of services across the Border in Derry; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Western Trust, which operates Altnagalvin Hospital and previously accepted Letterkenny oral surgery referrals, has made a policy decision, based on costs, to refer its oral surgery patients to a private dental clinic in Derry city; if he will consider referring Letterkenny oral surgery patients to that same facility as an alternative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20155/14]
View answerIn relation to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
405. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide funding to Sligo Regional Hospital to enable it to take the remaining steps to become a fully functional diabetes centre for the north-west-west region for children and teens with type 1 diabetes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20157/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
406. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of children on waiting lists for speech and language therapy here; if speech and language therapists on maternity or long-term sick leave are replaced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20163/14]
View answerAs these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
407. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the total amount paid to medical doctors under the medical card and general medical services schemes by the Health Service Executive in 2013; if he will provide a breakdown of that figure in tabular form citing the names of the top 100 recipients under the schemes; and the amounts paid to each of these persons or companies. [20164/14]
View answerGeneral Practitioners (GPs) are reimbursed by the HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service for a range of services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
