Thursday, 6 Nov 2014

Written Answers Nos. 191-200

Health Services

Questions (191)

John Halligan

Question:

191. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the reason the grant available for cancer patients to recoup monies paid for wigs varies so radically from county to county with the maximum grant, as per the Health Service Executive website, available being €635 per year and the HSE in Waterford only granting a maximum of €220 twice per year with a six month interim period between claims; his views on whether the grant available for such items should be standard throughout the country; if he will review the inconsistencies within the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41387/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

A national group has been established in the HSE to review practices in the area of aids and appliances. As part of this work, the Group will develop a national policy on the provision of hairpieces, as well as prosthesis bras, for cancer patients. It is anticipated that the Group will complete its work by year end.

Medical Card Data

Questions (192)

Michael McGrath

Question:

192. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the full list of non-medical benefits given to persons who hold a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42696/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch)

A range of health services are provided to persons with full eligibility. The non-health benefits afforded to holders of medical cards are not a matter for the Minister for Health.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Expenditure

Questions (193)

Michael McGrath

Question:

193. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the total cost of nursing home provision in each year from 2011 to 2013; the amount of this which is funded by the State and the amount which is paid by residents based on 80% of their income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42697/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch)

The budget for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme for 2011, 2012 and 2013 is as follows:

Year	€
2011	€1,011m
2012	€994m
2013	€974m

As the HSE is responsible for the administration of the Scheme, the issue of resident contribution has been passed to the Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my private office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Health Services Provision

Questions (194)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

194. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding supports (details supplied) for families availing of fertility treatments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42700/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment is not provided by the Irish public health system. Patients who access IVF treatment privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme. In addition, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Scheme administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Medicines covered by the High Tech Scheme must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and approved by the HSE ‘High Tech Liaison Officers’. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (195, 196)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

195. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the details of average cuts paid by his Department and those under his aegis to recruitment and temporary employment agencies, that is the proportion of the fee paid from State funding to such agencies is received by the worker and the proportion by the agency. [42709/14]

Paul Murphy

Question:

196. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an annual breakdown of the fees paid to recruitment and employment agencies by his Department and those under his aegis. [42723/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 196 together.

My Department does not use recruitment or employment agencies to recruit Departmental staff. All such Departmental recruitment is carried out by or in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service. With regard to the HSE, and to non-commercial semi-state agencies under the remit of the Department, this information is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy on completion.

Military Aircraft Landings

Questions (197)

Seán Crowe

Question:

197. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views that US military aircraft that operate as refuelling tankers were recently sighted at Shannon airport; if they are connected to the mid-air refuelling of any US military aircraft in Irish airspace; and if so if this indicates that some or all of these aircraft were involved in military operations while there were on Irish territory or in Irish airspace. [42643/14]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Arrangements under which permission is granted for US military aircraft to land at Irish airports are governed by strict conditions. These include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question must not form part of military exercises or operations. Requests to permit the landing of military aircraft, including aircraft that can operate as refuelling tankers, are considered by my Department on the basis of the conditions outlined above. Permission is not granted for the conduct of military operations in Irish airspace.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (198, 199)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

198. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide the details of average cuts paid by his Department and those under his aegis to recruitment and temporary employment agencies, that is the proportion of the fee paid from State funding to such agencies is received by the worker and the proportion by the agency. [42708/14]

Paul Murphy

Question:

199. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an annual breakdown of the fees paid to recruitment and employment agencies by his Department and those under his aegis. [42722/14]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 199 together.

For the years in question, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has not engaged the services of any recruitment and employment agencies in Ireland. However, we have engaged the services of such agencies abroad and the figures requested by the Deputies in respect of the Department’s two Votes (Vote 27 and Vote 28) are set out as follows:

Vote 27	2011	2012	2013	2014 to date
Agency Fees	€24,571.80	€24,292.15	€14,103.96	€7,145.00

All expenditure under Vote 27 related to sourcing staff for vacancies. Upon hiring, the recruited staff are paid directly by those missions and no further payments are made to the agency.

Vote 28	2011	2012	2013	2014 to date
Agency Fees	€48,002.64	€56,173.34	€77,983.63	€55,115.38
Salary Paid to Employees at relevant missions	€268,357.39	€274,417.19	€277,500.18	€229,778.52

In the case of Vote 28, expenditure is in respect of 15 missions over the 4 year period. Given the number of jurisdictions in which our missions operate, agencies may be engaged to provide a range of services including assistance with recruitment, HR management, and facilitating our missions meeting their obligations under local labour law, including in respect of taxation, social insurance contributions etc. Agency staff have been hired to assist with the opening of our new Missions this year, with permanent recruitment scheduled to take place once the Mission is established.

In the case of two of our missions (Atlanta and Warsaw), the arrangements between the employee and the agency are covered by confidentiality agreements and the Mission does not have access to these arrangements. In these two cases, the total figure paid to the agency is included in the “Agency Fees” figure above.

Home Tuition Scheme Provision

Questions (200)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

200. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pregnant teenagers who availed of the home tuition scheme during each of the past five years; the number of these students who applied scheme having been asked to not attend their school by principals or teaching staff. [42484/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. I have asked my officials to compile the information and to forward it to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.