Michael Healy-Rae
Question:152. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding accommodation issues at a hospital in County Kerry. [36113/14]
View answerHospital Accommodation Provision
Questions (152)
Written answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration
Questions (153)
Michael McCarthy
Question:153. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if he has given due consideration to a cap on the maximum percentage charge that can be applied to productive assets in the means assessment for the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36126/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme is a system of financial support for people who require long-term nursing home care. Under the Scheme, nursing home residents contribute towards the cost of their nursing home care based on their means, and the HSE pays the balance. The Scheme applies to public, private and voluntary nursing homes.
The person's contribution towards their cost of care is calculated based on 80% of their income and 7.5% per annum of their assets. If a person is a member of a couple, the assessment is based on half of the couple's combined income and assets. The Scheme contains several important safeguards which ensure that both the person in the nursing home and their spouse/partner, if applicable, are adequately provided for:
- Nobody will pay more than the actual cost of care;
- The first €36,000 of a person's assets, or €72,000 for a couple, is not taken into account during the financial assessment;
- The principal residence is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of a person's time in care. This three year cap can also apply to family farms/businesses in certain circumstances;
- Where an individual's assets include land and property in the State, the contribution based on such assets may be deferred and collected from their estate. This is the optional Nursing Home Loan element of the Scheme;
- Individuals keep a personal allowance of 20% of their income, or 20% of the maximum rate of the State Pension (Non-Contributory), whichever is the greater;
- If there is a spouse/partner remaining at home, s/he will retain 50% of the couples income, or the maximum rate of the State Pension (Non-Contributory), whichever is the greater;
- Certain items of expenditure, called allowable deductions, can be taken into account during the financial assessment. These allowable deductions include health expenses.
Hospital Consultants Remuneration
Questions (154)
Róisín Shortall
Question:154. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the number of medical consultants whose salary exceeds the public pay cap of €200,000 per annum; if he will provide a breakdown of these figures in bands of €50,000 above €200,000. [36129/14]
View answerWritten answers
A limited number of medical consultants, most academic consultants, have salaries exceeding €200,000. The consolidated salary scales can be found at: http://health.gov.ie/blog/publications/department-of-health-and-children-consolidated-salary-scales-clause-2-31-of-the-haddington-road-agreement
As I do not have this information, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the specific data sought.
Budget Submissions
Questions (155)
Róisín Shortall
Question:155. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a proposal for income tax relief for graduate entry medicine loans (details supplied); if he will consider the proposal in view of its potential for retaining Irish doctors in the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36130/14]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, a pre-budget submission has been made to the Minister for Finance in relation to this proposal and matters relating to taxation policy fall within the remit of the Department of Finance.
The recruitment and retention of doctors in the public health system is a priority for me as Minister for Health. That is why I am committed to the implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure completed earlier this year.
In July 2013 a Working Group, chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU, was established to carry out the Strategic Review. The Working Group was tasked with examining and making 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.
In the course of its work, the Group considered issues including:
- the pathway for training at every level from Intern to Specialist;
- mentoring practices and career planning supports for medical graduates;
- measures to improve the quality of the training experience;
- career structures for doctors on completion of training.
The Strategic Review reports address a range of barriers and issues relating to the recruitment and retention of doctors in the Irish public health system, and offer solutions and recommendations that will enable us to build a sustainable medical workforce for the future.
Hospital Services
Questions (156)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:156. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason the laboratory in Kerry General Hospital is not testing bloods for approximately one month; the affect this is having on patients awaiting results from tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36145/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Passport Applications Fees
Questions (157)
Seán Kenny
Question:157. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider removing the new passport fees for citizens over 66 years. [36024/14]
View answerWritten answers
In 2011 the Government found it necessary in light of the budgetary situation to discontinue the arrangement whereby over 65s could avail of a reduced passport fee. Were the Passport Office to reinstate this reduced fee for those aged 65 and over or for any other category of adult applicants the shortfall would have to be met by the taxpayer. The cost of exempting those aged 65 and over from passport fees was estimated in 2011 to be €2.4 million per annum in terms of lost revenue. Therefore I have no plans to introduce any such measures at this time. I would emphasise that the annualised fee for a standard Irish passport compares favourably with many other jurisdictions. At €8 per year the Irish passport fee compares with approximately €8 per year for a British passport, €9 per year for a French passport, €10 per year for a United States passport and €15 per year for an Australian passport.