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Tuesday, 8 Jul 2014

Written Answers Nos. 779-803

Medical Card Applications

Questions (779)

Finian McGrath

Question:

779. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29815/14]

View answer

Written answers

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.

Hospital Consultants Contract

Questions (780)

Gerry Adams

Question:

780. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 567 of 15 April 2014, the number of private patients seen by each of the consultants in each of the past five years; the type of contract each consultant is on and their individual speciality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29826/14]

View answer

Written answers

I understand that the Health Service Executive wrote to the Deputy on 23rd June in this matter. In relation to the Deputy's further question on this issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.

Hospital Transfers

Questions (781)

Billy Timmins

Question:

781. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow will be transferred to the National Rehabilitation Hospital as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29828/14]

View answer

Written answers

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.

Hospital Services

Questions (782)

Pat Deering

Question:

782. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have a procedure carried out in St. James Hospital, Dublin. [29829/14]

View answer

Written answers

In 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.

Medical Card Reviews

Questions (783)

Jack Wall

Question:

783. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health if a full medical card will be reinstated under the new discretionary guidelines in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29838/14]

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Written answers

In the context of the Government's decision to develop a policy framework for providing eligibility for health services on the basis of medical conditions, the Government recently announced that a medical card or GP visit card is to be issued to a person, with a serious illness, whose discretionary card was refused renewal since the centralisation of medical card assessments.

If the medical card or GP visit card to which the Deputy refers was awarded by way of discretion and was refused renewal in the period from 1 July 2011 to 31 May 2014 following the completion of an eligibility review, a card will issue by the HSE.

The HSE has commenced issuing letters to the persons concerned and this process should be concluded by the first two weeks of July. No action is required on the part of those affected as the HSE will be in contact. If people do not hear from the HSE by mid July, they should contact the HSE on its Lo-Call contact number: 1890 25 29 19. These individuals will be able to access medical card and GP visit card services in the normal manner when they have been advised by the HSE that their medical card or GP visit card is active.

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine the specific query raised 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.

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Eligibility

Questions (784)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

784. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 433 of 1 July 2014, the administrative basis upon which health care will be made available under the forthcoming redress for women who were in certain institutions Bill 2014, for qualifying women living abroad. [29845/14]

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Written answers

Access to health services for participants living abroad will be dealt with on an administrative basis by the HSE due to the wide variation of country health system's organisation.

Arrangements to be put in place will be dependent on, and appropriate to, the specific circumstances of the individual and the country of residence and its health system organisation.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (785)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

785. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29857/14]

View answer

Written answers

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.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (786)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

786. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the use of part of Dingle Hospital for office space (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29858/14]

View answer

Written answers

As the issue raised by the Deputy in Parliamentary Question 22864/14 was a service matter the question was forwarded to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. In this context I understand that the HSE replied to the Deputy on the 28th May

Hospital Appointment Delays

Questions (787)

John Browne

Question:

787. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange to have a person (details supplied) in County Wexford, who is in severe pain, dealt with as a matter of urgency by the Health Service Executive. [29869/14]

View answer

Written answers

The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Drugs Payment Scheme Threshold

Questions (788)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

788. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will consider reducing the ceiling of the drug refund scheme in Budget 2015. [29899/14]

View answer

Written answers

Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.

In addition, people who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the Health Service Executive can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. Those who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of GP consultations.

There are no plans to alter the Drug Payment Scheme threshold.

Insurance Levy

Questions (789)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

789. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on calls to reverse the levy on private health insurers for use of private beds in public hospitals in Budget 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29901/14]

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Written answers

Prior to January 2014 private in-patients in public hospitals were subject to maintenance charges that generally ranged from €586 to €1,046 per day when they were accommodated in a private designated bed. However, in an emergency admission if a private designated bed was not available and a private in-patient was accommodated in a public bed, the maintenance charge was not levied, although the private in-patient continued to pay the fees of his/her hospital consultant.

The Comptroller and Auditor General estimated in his 2010 Annual Report that 45% of in-patients treated privately by their consultants were not charged for their maintenance in public hospitals because they were not occupying designated private beds. That situation represented a significant loss of income to the public hospital system and an indirect subsidy to private insurance companies, who cover most private patients. In effect, private patients were not meeting the costs of the hospital services they used. It was, and is, my belief that situation could not continue and that the new charges makes sense.

While everyone is entitled to use a public hospital, an essential element of the eligibility arrangements is that the public or private status of a patient must be specified on admission to hospital. Where a patient elects to be treated privately by a consultant the hospital must treat that patient as a private patient.

The Government believes that users of private services should pay for the costs of providing these services even when they are provided by a public hospital and on that basis introduced legislation in 2013 to amend Section 55 of the Health Act 1970 which provides for the charging of private in-patients. Since 1 January 2014, private in-patients in public hospitals are subject to charges that range from €329 to €1,000 per day. It is not intended to reverse this policy.

Speech and Language Therapy Provision

Questions (790)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

790. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for speech and language therapy for public health patients in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29909/14]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Questions (791)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

791. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans to add iports to the category of approved products under the long term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29919/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Question No. 792 answered with Question No. 733.

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Questions (793)

Alan Farrell

Question:

793. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form details of increments paid since 2008 in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30532/14]

View answer

Written answers

The information requested by the Deputy has been obtained from PeoplePoint, the HR Shared Service and is outlined as follows.

Information for the years 2008 to 2010 includes staff of the Department of Children, which was established in 2011.

Year

No. of Increments Paid

2008

277

2009

241

2010

218

2011

165

2012

138

2013

128

2014

40

Departmental Staff Rehiring

Questions (794)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

794. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of retired civil and public servants that have been rehired on temporary contracts or as consultants under his remit; if he will provide a breakdown of those figures in tabular form, providing associated costs of such rehiring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30557/14]

View answer

Written answers

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of retired civil and public servants re-hired on temporary fixed term contracts in my Department is as follows.

Grade

Number

Current Annual Salary

Special Adviser

1

€61,966

Civilian Driver

2

€32,965

The pensions of these staff are subject to pension abatement rules.

The information in relation to retired civil and public servants re-hired as consultants to carry out work for my Department is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Road Traffic Offences

Questions (795)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

795. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department is working in conjunction with An Garda Síochána and the criminal justice working group in examining the feasibility of introducing an electronic system of recording all data relating to road-users and their vehicles, including information on road traffic offences, and similar to the system in place in the United Kingdom which has a centralised database known as the DVLA located in Swansea. [29550/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Criminal Justice Working Group was established following the publication, in March 2014, of the Report of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate into the Fixed Charge Processing System. The function of the Group is to oversee and facilitate the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Inspectorate Report.  

The National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) contains the centralised vehicle and driver records in Ireland, including details of driver licensing, penalty points, and motor taxation. A number of the recommendations in the Inspectorate Report highlight the need to maintain the most accurate and up-to-date driver licence information to be accessed by all relevant State bodies. The availability of this information will assist in the endorsement of penalty points on driving licences and the collection of unpaid fines. The Group is examining all possible options and will take into account systems operating in other jurisdictions. 

Rural Transport Programme

Questions (796, 797, 799, 815, 817, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 831, 832, 838, 843)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

796. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff currently employed by the rural transport programme who will be made redundant due to the restructuring of the programme into the 18 transport co-ordination units; the redundancy package that is being offered to those staff members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29718/14]

View answer

Mattie McGrath

Question:

797. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff currently employed by the rural transport programme who will be made redundant due to the restructuring of the programme into the 18 transport co-ordination units; the redundancy package that is being offered to those staff members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29721/14]

View answer

Frank Feighan

Question:

799. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff currently employed by the rural transport programme that will be made redundant due to the restructuring of the programme into the 18 transport co-ordination units and the redundancy package that is being offered to those staff. [29929/14]

View answer

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

815. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff currently employed by the Rural Transport Programme who will have their positions made redundant due to the restructuring of the programme into the 18 Transport co-ordination units; if there will be a specific redundancy package offered to staff that find themselves losing their jobs with this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29445/14]

View answer

Joan Collins

Question:

817. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff currently employed by the rural transport programme who will be made redundant due to the restructuring of the programme into the 18 transport co-ordination units; and the redundancy package that is being offered. [29497/14]

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Clare Daly

Question:

821. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff currently employed by the rural transport scheme who will be made redundant due to the restructuring of the programme into the 18 transport co-ordination units; and the redundancy package that is being offered. [29508/14]

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Mick Wallace

Question:

822. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of rural transport programme staff who will be made redundant as a result of the restructuring of the programme into the 18 transport co-ordination units; the terms of the redundancy package being offered to staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29510/14]

View answer

Robert Troy

Question:

823. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff currently employed by the rural transport programme who will be made redundant due to the restructuring of the programme into the 18 transport co-ordination units and the redundancy package being offered to those staff. [29513/14]

View answer

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy

Question:

824. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the rural transport programme being restructured into 18 transport co-ordination units, the number of staff currently employed by the rural transport programme who will be made redundant as a result of this change; if there will be a redundancy package offered to those staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29525/14]

View answer

Robert Troy

Question:

825. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff currently employed by the rural transport programme that will be made redundant due to the restructuring of the programme into the 18 transport co-ordination units; the redundancy package being offered to those staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29532/14]

View answer

James Bannon

Question:

831. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff currently employed by the rural transport programme who will be made redundant due to the restructuring of the programme into the 18 transport co-ordination units; and the redundancy package being offered to those staff. [29707/14]

View answer

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

832. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the detail of the proposed restructuring of the rural transport programme; the impact that the creation of the 18 transport co-ordination units will have on current employment levels across the sector; the terms that will apply in the case of staff being made redundant as a consequence of the changes taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29724/14]

View answer

Willie Penrose

Question:

838. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff currently employed under the rural transport programme who will be made redundant due to the restructuring of the said programme into the 18 transport co-ordination units; the redundancy package that is being offered to those staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29873/14]

View answer

Brendan Smith

Question:

843. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff currently employed by the rural transport programme who will be made redundant due to the restructuring of the programme into 18 transport co-ordination units; the redundancy package that is being offered to those staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29917/14]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 796, 797, 799, 815, 817, 821 to 825, inclusive, 831, 832, 838 and 843 together.

Following a Government Decision in January 2012, responsibility for the integration of local and rural transport services, including management of the Rural Transport Programme (RTP), was assigned to the National Transport Authority (NTA) with effect from 1st April 2012. This includes responsibility for implementing the restructuring of the RTP announced by me on 9th July 2013.

I have forwarded your specific questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.

Cross-Border Projects

Questions (798)

Micheál Martin

Question:

798. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Narrow Water Bridge will form part of the Government proposals under the new programme for cross-Border co-operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29865/14]

View answer

Written answers

As the Deputy is no doubt aware, I have confirmed many times through Parliamentary Questions and in other fora, the Government’s disappointment that the Narrow Water Bridge tender process resulted in a doubling of the initial costs budgeted for by the project partners for the construction of the bridge. I have also frequently confirmed, most recently in a Topical Issue Debate on 2 July, that given the budgetary constraints my Department is operating under it could not take on full responsibility for the increased project cost and the significant risks involved in the project.  While I was willing to consider assisting with the shortfall, this was explicitly contingent on significant contributions from other parties, including the Northern Ireland Executive.   These commitments were not forthcoming within the timescale required for the INTERREG IVA programme.  

SEUPB then decided to withdraw its funding for the project and to re-allocate the funding to other eligible projects in the transport sector so as to ensure that the EU funds were not lost. 

As to the possibility of the Narrow Water bridge qualifying for funding under the INTERREG V programme, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is the lead Department liaising with the SEUPB regarding the INTERREG V funding process. I understand that SEUPB has now published a draft Operational Programme for  public comment with a set of funding priorities.

Question No. 799 answered with Question No. 796.

Freedom of Information Data

Questions (800)

Seán Fleming

Question:

800. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline in tabular form the total number of FOI requests per annum received by his Department between 2009 and to date in 2014; the totals refused, granted, part-granted, appealed; the numbers of successful appeals, part-successful appeals and refusals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29076/14]

View answer

Written answers

The information being requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible

Departmental Staff Career Breaks

Questions (801)

Robert Troy

Question:

801. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form the number of staff in his Department currently on a sabbatical or career break, broken down by timeframe, that is, less than six months, six to 12 months, one to two years, two to three years, four to five years, and five years plus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29093/14]

View answer

Written answers

The information as requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.

 

Duration

 0-6 months

 6-12 months

 1-2 years

 2-3 tears

 4-5 years

 5 years +

Total  

Number of staff  

0

2

0

0

0

0

2

There are three further staff who completed their career break but as part of the Department's compliance with the Employment Control Framework, these individuals have been placed on the Redeployment Panel and are awaiting assignment.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (802)

Robert Troy

Question:

802. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form, the total photography costs for his Department since coming to office, inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; the list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29110/14]

View answer

Written answers

Photography costs incurred by my Department are on its website at the following link http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/photography-costs.

It is the policy of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport that photography costs are kept to a minimum and services are provided in-house by staff.  Where services are contracted, best value is sought and a number of quotes are obtained. Services are contracted out on an exceptional basis only.

Public Relations Contracts Expenditure

Questions (803)

Robert Troy

Question:

803. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide, in tabular form, the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department since coming to office; the list of uses of each external public relations firm; the internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29127/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Department uses its own press office for promotional and publicity purposes as a matter of course, and only uses external public relations consultants in exceptional cases for Department-led campaigns such as National Bike Week.  

Reduction of costs across all activities continues to be a major focus of my Department.  All expenditure without exception is only made in the context of the rigorous evaluation processes set out in the Public Spending Code to ensure that the expenditure is required and that best value options are selected.

The information requested by the Deputy regarding National Bike Week is published on my Department's website and can be found at the following link,  http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/expenditure-external-services  for the period to 31 December 2013. My Department is the process of updating these figures to include the early part of 2014.

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