Written Answers Nos. 142-148
143. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding St. Michael's House Service in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40632/14]
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.
144. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 938 of 17 September 2014 regarding the cost of treatment referred to and in view of the cost difference between here and the United Kingdom, if a person (details supplied) in County Laois will qualify for this treatment under the cross border health care directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40635/14]
View answerThe Health Service Executive operates the Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare in Ireland under Statutory Instrument 203 of 2014 which commenced on 1st June 2014. The Directive provides rules for the reimbursement to patients’ of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State (Member State of Affiliation) and supplements the rights that patients already have at EU level through the legislation on the coordination of social security schemes (Regulation 883/04). The Directive seeks to ensure a clear and transparent framework for the provision of cross-border healthcare within the EU, for those occasions where the care patients seek is provided in another Member State rather than in their home country.
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine the position regarding the specific treatment in question and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
145. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determination of application for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40638/14]
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.
146. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if he will ascertain from the Health Service Executive if the water being provided by Irish Water to an area (details supplied) in County Kerry is suitable for human consumption, in view of the fact that each one of the of five houses results in tests carried out by Kerry County Council recently showed lead contamination beyond the HSE acceptable levels [40644/14]
View answerI am informed by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government that the Environmental Protection Agency has initiated enforcement proceedings against Kerry County Council and Irish Water. As the matter is currently before the courts, it is not appropriate for me to comment on the specifics of this case.
I am aware that the Health Service Executive has issued advice to Irish Water with regard to lead contamination of drinking water supplies and this advice should be followed.
147. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if he will ascertain from the Health Service Executive the public health notice protocol for dealing with housing estates where lead contamination is identified in all individual samples taken by Irish Water or local authorities acting as agencies of same [40645/14]
View answerThe Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government is responsible for policy and legislation in relation to drinking water quality. Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for the provision of public water services.
The EU (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014 require that where Irish Water or a local authority, having consulted with and subject to the agreement of the Health Service Executive, consider a supply of water intended for human consumption constitutes a potential danger to human health they must ensure that appropriate restrictions are put in place, that consumers are given necessary advice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is informed.
In practice the local authority engineer, acting on behalf of Irish Water contacts the Principal Environmental Health Officer (PEHO) of the HSE to consider whether an exceedance of a parametric value and the initial investigation into the exceedance warrant restrictions and/or notification of consumers. Where a potential danger to human health exists the PEHO liaises with the Specialist in Public Health Medicine (SPHM) before agreeing appropriate actions with Irish Water and/or the local authority as appropriate. Irish Water and the local authority are responsible for taking the necessary steps to bring the public water supply back into compliance and for issuing information and advice to consumers.
The Regulations also provide the EPA with supervisory powers for public water supplies. The EPA can direct Irish Water to improve the management or quality of a public water supply. The local authorities have a similar supervisory role in relation to group water schemes and private supplies. Under the regulations Irish Water must notify the EPA of drinking water non-compliances or risks to public health from a public water supply.
148. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that patients must wait two and a half years to be assessed for a hearing aid in County Laois; his plans to deal with this issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40669/14]
View answerThe Health Service Executive community audiology service administers and monitors hearing tests for adults who are at risk for hearing loss. Appointments for the audiology service are sent in a strict chronology according to clinical priorities and date of receipt of referral. The HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
