Terence Flanagan
Question:147. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the reason his Department does not provide funding to a hospice (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40825/14]
View answerHSE Funding
Questions (147)
Written answers
As the funding of individual hospices is a matter for the Health Service Executive, this matter has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Registration of Nurses
Questions (148)
Róisín Shortall
Question:148. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he has provided written consent to the increase in the nurses' and midwives' retention fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40829/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 does not require written consent of the Minister of Health to increase the nurses' and midwives' retention fee. As previously advised, my Department has no role in setting or approving registration fees by the Nursing and Midwifery Board (NMBI). The NMBI may set fees, determined by the Board, for the annual registration fee.
Medical Card Eligibility
Questions (149)
Bernard Durkan
Question:149. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason that eligibility for a medical card in respect of single person is €500 per week and for a couple €900 per week; if this differentiation meets with EU and equality legislation requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40857/14]
View answerWritten answers
The gross income limit for an over-70s medical card was set in law at €500 per week for a single person and at €900 per week for a couple from 1 January 2014. The Government recognises that the living costs of an individual living alone are more than half the living costs of a couple living together and that expenditure does not necessarily diminish relative to the number of people in the household. This is recognised, inter alia, through the provision of the Living Alone Increase and differential income limits for medical cards for persons aged under 70 years between individuals and couples. In that context, the over-70s income limit for a single person was reduced proportionately less than the income limit for a couple under this Budget change. There are no proposals to change this assessment process and it is not seen to constitute discrimination under equality legislation.
Medical Card Appeals
Questions (150)
Bernard Durkan
Question:150. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a review or appeal may be undertaken in respect of the refusal of a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40858/14]
View answerWritten 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.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (151)
Bernard Durkan
Question:151. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will be issued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40871/14]
View answerWritten 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.
Capital Expenditure Programme
Questions (152)
Billy Timmins
Question:152. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health if the capital budget for health will increase by €70 million from 2016 onwards as his budget speech referred to the capital expenditure incurred by the construction of the children's hospital as an annual portion of the proceeds of the sale of the national lottery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40890/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Health capital allocation for 2016 will be €450m and will be made up of a combination of Exchequer funding and funding from the proceeds of the sale of the National Lottery. Work on the Capital Plan 2015-2019 is under way and the overall funding available will be allocated across the relevant programmes for the period. As the Deputy will be aware, the health infrastructure programme currently contains a number of major construction projects, the timing of which may have an impact on the overall level of funding available for other projects.