Thursday, 25 Sep 2014

Written Answers Nos. 172-83

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (172)

John Halligan

Question:

172. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the level of funding which is being made available for residential placement in County Waterford; if it is acceptable for a parent now entering their 70th year to wait nine years for a residential placement for their son in view of the fact that their health is now failing and that their son has apparently been on a prioritised waiting list for the duration of this period; if he will acknowledge the serious shortfall within this sector of his Department and recognise the unacceptable position this person has been forced into; if he will now commit to calling for a full review by his Department of procedures and funding availability within this sector of his Department and if he will make the necessary funding available in order for this person's son to be adequately accommodated within the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36434/14]

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 Applications

Questions (173)

John O'Mahony

Question:

173. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on an application, made on 24 June, 2014 for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36168/14]

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.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (174)

John O'Mahony

Question:

174. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on an application for a medical card made on 19 June, 2014 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36170/14]

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.

Medical Card Data

Questions (175, 218)

John O'Mahony

Question:

175. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health following the decision to re-instate discretionary medical cards, the number of cards that have been restored; the number waiting a decision; when this process will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36172/14]

Dara Calleary

Question:

218. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical cards that have been returned since 1 June 2014; if he will provide same in a tabular form on a monthly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36370/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 218 together.

The Government decision announced in June 2014, enabled the HSE to make the necessary arrangements to return medical cards and GP visit cards to those with a lifelong medical condition, acute illness, or disability, who had been granted a card on a discretionary basis, and who lost their card following a review, since July 2011. The HSE has now completed the exercise and eligibility has been restored to 11,383 people in accordance with the Government decision. Final quality assurance tasks are in progress and enquiries can be made by calling 1890 252 919 - Monday to Friday - 8am to 8pm. At the time of the Government decision it was estimated that up to 15,305 people could have their cards restored. As the files have been reviewed in recent weeks it has become clear that some individuals included in the original estimate are no longer ill, some have had cards restored to one member of the family (as opposed to the entire family) and some have passed away.

This information is not available in tabular form on a monthly basis as it was not collated in that manner.

Medical Card Data

Questions (176)

John O'Mahony

Question:

176. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card applications currently with a medical officer awaiting a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36174/14]

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 Services

Questions (177)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

177. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the actions the Health Service Executive is taking to combat the rat infestation problem at a location (details supplied) in County Cork which is located in a highly populated area; when this eradication process will start; if there will be ongoing monitoring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36187/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal services which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act, 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the HSE to have the matter investigated and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (178)

John O'Mahony

Question:

178. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a decision on a medical card application will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay in making the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36189/14]

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.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (179)

John O'Mahony

Question:

179. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a decision on a medical card application will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay in making the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36190/14]

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.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (180)

John O'Mahony

Question:

180. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a decision on a medical card application will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay in making the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36192/14]

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.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (181)

John O'Mahony

Question:

181. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a decision on a medical card application will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay in making the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36193/14]

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.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (182)

John O'Mahony

Question:

182. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a decision on a medical card application will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay in making the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36194/14]

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.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (183)

John O'Mahony

Question:

183. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a decision on a medical card application will be made in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay in making the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36195/14]

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.