Written Answers Nos. 79-98
79. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; when a decision will issue [46398/14]
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.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
80. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form and in respect of each of the voluntary hospice organisations here, the number of homecare workers, nurses, who are employed per head of population for the area covered by that hospice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46414/14]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. 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.
81. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46421/14]
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.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
82. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46424/14]
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.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
83. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46426/14]
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.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
84. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health if a surgical appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46427/14]
View answerThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up with them.
85. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1036 of 17 September 2014, if he has received the report from the Health and Social Care Professionals Council on the regulation of psychotherapy and counselling; and when this report will be available for inspection [46429/14]
View answerPsychotherapists and counsellors are not currently regulated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. However, the Act provides that the Minister for Health may, under section 4(2), designate a health and social care profession not already designated if he or she considers that it is in the public interest to do so and if specified criteria have been met.
My predecessor, Minister James Reilly T.D, wrote to the The Health and Social Care Professionals Council in May of this year advising it of his intention, in the public interest, to designate by regulation the profession or professions of counsellor and psychotherapist under the Act. The Act provides that the Minister for Health is obliged to consult with the Council in the first instance concerning a proposed designation. The also gives interested persons, organisations and bodies an opportunity to make representations to the Minister. The Council has been asked to advise on a number of issues concerning the proposed designation and has been requested to take into consideration the recently published report of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) on the academic standards necessary for the accreditation of courses in Counselling and Psychotherapy. This is an essential element as it would inform, for the purpose of registration, the assessment by the registration board, when established, of the qualifications of those currently in practice.
This is the first stage in the consultation process under the Act and I expect to receive the Council's report in the coming weeks. I will then proceed to the next stage which will involve a much wider consultation when I have fully considered the Council's report. The question of making the Council's report publicly available can be considered at that stage. While a number of issues remain to be clarified including decisions on whether one or two professions are to be regulated, on the title or titles of the profession or professions, and on the minimum qualifications to be required of applicants for registration, I intend to progress the question of regulating of counsellors and psychotherapists as a priority.
86. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a fair deal scheme in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46435/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service 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.
87. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if further home-help may be offered in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46439/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service 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 it.
88. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Laois will receive a date for their heart bypass operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46451/14]
View answerThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up with it.
89. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that all local health offices are made aware of the hardship scheme and provided with the relevant application form; if he will provide a digital copy of this form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46454/14]
View answerAs the query raised is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. 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 it.
90. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46458/14]
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.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with it.
91. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be provided a required medical assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46460/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE 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 it.
92. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when public dental services will be provided in Ballybay, County Monaghan; if there are specific facilities for the provision of dental services in Ballybay; the primary schools in that general area will be serviced from the Ballybay centre; if specific consideration will be given to the request of parents for dental care for children who are in their final year at primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46466/14]
View answerThere has been a recent reorganisation of dental services for children in County Monaghan.
The HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy in relation to Ballybay and to reply to him as soon as possible. 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 it.
93. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will meet an organisation (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46473/14]
View answerI met with Galway East Life Support earlier this year. My Office has received a request for a further meeting but no details have been supplied on the matters to be raised. An agenda has been requested and when it is provided I will consider this request further.
94. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the ambulance service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46485/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
95. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when there will be a full 24 hour cover for all four ambulance stations in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46486/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
96. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath was refused a medical card for their use and benefit, when same was purely on medical grounds in relation to an ongoing medical condition and other significant issues which have been set out in a medical report which was furnished; if same will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46500/14]
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.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with it.
97. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if other funding supports are available through his Department, apart from the National Lottery funding, for groups that provide services to the elderly who may be isolated both physically and socially; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46501/14]
View answerFunding for such groups is by and large provided by the HSE rather than directly by the Department of Health. Section 39 of the Health Act 2004 provides that the HSE may give assistance to persons or bodies who provide a service similar or ancillary to what the HSE itself provides.
Agencies which provide services for older people receive approximately €110m per annum, and these include small social satellite services, day care centres, meals on wheels, home help and home care package providers, larger residential units, hospice facilities, advocacy groups etc. In 2013, this funding was spread over 1000 agencies and community based services providing a raft of services and activities throughout the country.
98. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on a recent request by Amnesty International and others that the Government should seek a re-opening of the case that Ireland took to the European Court of Human Rights in 1971, Ireland v. UK in relation to Britain breaching the European Convention on Human Rights; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an RTE documentary (details supplied) brought new evidence into the public domain; his views that this new evidence supports the re-opening of the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46512/14]
View answerThe RTÉ documentary ‘The Torture Files’ alleged that the British authorities purposely misled the European Commission on Human Rights and the Court by withholding information in the case. It also alleged that the decision to employ the interrogation techniques had been taken at UK Cabinet level.These and other allegations made in the documentary were taken very seriously by the Government. The Government is aware of the suffering of the individual men and of their families, of the significance of this case, and of the weight of these allegations. The archival material which underlay the RTÉ documentary was therefore subjected to thorough legal analysis and advice. On the basis of the new material uncovered and on the legal advice received, the Government has decided to request the European Court of Human Rights to revise its judgment in the case. It will be contended that the ill-treatment suffered by the fourteen men should be recognised as torture.
This decision was not taken lightly. As EU partners and as strong bilateral partners, the UK and Ireland have worked together to promote human rights in many fora and during the original case the UK did not contest that a breach of Article 3 of the European Convention of Human rights took place. The British and Irish Governments have both worked hard to build stronger, more trusting relations in recent years and I believe that this relationship will now stand to us as we work through the serious matters raised by this material which has come to light in recent months.
