Written Answers Nos. 166-172
166. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48610/14]
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.
167. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the steps he and his Department and the Health Service Executive will take to ensure, at the very least, a visiting dentist service to the town of Castleblayney in County Monaghan, an urgent need for its population and that of its considerable hinterland; if he will, in the context of this need, meet a delegation of Members of the Oireachtas from the Cavan-Monaghan constituency and a representative number of members of the Carrickmacross-Castleblayney municipal district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48611/14]
View answerThe HSE has been asked to examine your specific query concerning dental services in Castleblayney and to reply to you 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 them.
As this is a service matter, I have asked that appropriate HSE officials meet members of the Oireachtas from the Cavan Monaghan constituency and members of the Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District.
168. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the possibility of bringing forward a meeting with persons (details supplied) to an earlier date in view of the serious nature of the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48614/14]
View answerI am happy to have this meeting brought forward if a mutually agreeable date can be found in January 2015. My office will be in touch with the persons mentioned in order to try to identify a suitable date.
169. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 694 of 4 November 2014, the position regarding recognition by An Bord Altranais of nursing qualifications awarded in Australia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48616/14]
View answerThe Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) have informed me that they advise all overseas applicants on the website at the following link: http://www.nursingboard.ie/en/trained_outside_ireland.aspx that each application received is assessed on an individual basis and therefore NMBI does not pre-determine the outcome of any application until a full review is carried out on same.
Applications received from nurses/midwives who undertook their nursing programme in Australia are each assessed on an individual basis. This is based on assessment of a transcript of the applicant’s education programme(s), a detailed curriculum vitae, a professional reference and verification of the applicant’s registration status and good standing from any regulatory authority where the applicant has worked. The applicant’s education programme is assessed to see how it compares with the requirements and standards of NMBI for nurse/midwifery registration education programmes. The NMBI requirements are based on European Union Directive 2005/36/EC which clearly sets out the theoretical and clinical practice requirements for nurse registration education programmes throughout the EU. These have been in place for general nursing since 1977 and 1980 for midwifery and must be adhered to by all Member States of the EU. Taken into account in assessing an education programme are the specific subjects and quantity of the theoretical instruction and the variety and quantity of the clinical practice experience during the programme. If an individual’s initial nursing education programme does not meet the requirements then any post-registration nursing education and supervised clinical practice can be taken into account. The outcome of an application will be one of the following: if the requirements are met in full, then Direct Registration will be granted; if the requirements are not met in full but, taking into account all education and supervised clinical practice experience, are not significantly below the requirements then the applicant will be required to successfully undertake a period of adaptation and assessment in an approved site prior to registration with NMBI; if the applicants education programme is so significantly below the requirements for registration such that post-registration education and supervised clinical practice cannot compensate for the deficits within their programme, then registration will be refused; an internal appeals mechanism is in place for those applicants who have either been refused registration, been issued with an adaptation and assessment decision or who fail an adaptation placement.
Nursing/midwifery education programmes in Australia are not uniform in duration or content. The theoretical and clinical content of these programmes varies significantly. Some education programmes are such that registration is refused or an adaptation and assessment decision is reached. In other instances registration is granted. It is important again to note that each application is assessed and evaluated on an individual basis.
The central tenet of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) is the protection of the public and as such NMBI must be fully satisfied that each application that is considered for registration is fully reviewed and decisions reached are in full compliance with requirements and standards for registration. Individuals who have queries regarding the application process or outcome of an individual assessment should contact NMBI directly.
170. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to have a general practitioner visit card issued by the Health Service Executive in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who has supplied the requested information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48637/14]
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.
171. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will review a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as they have submitted all relevant information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48641/14]
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.
172. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the reason income is calculated differently for those under 70 years of age and over 70 years of age who apply for medical cards (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48642/14]
View answerApplications for persons aged 70 years and older can be assessed both on the basis of the standard national assessment guidelines and on the basis of the guidelines for persons aged 70 years or over.
Under the Health Act 2008, automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons aged 70 and over ended on 31 December 2008. Under the arrangements effected by the Act, a revised system of assessment for eligibility was introduced for those 70 years of age and over, based on the significantly higher gross income limits rather than the standard net income thresholds. Gross income, in respect of the over 70s medical card scheme refers to total basic income prior to any or all deductions being made. This advantageous arrangement for persons aged over 70 years has facilitated a much greater share of this cohort qualifying for a medical card compared to the general population as a whole. There are no proposals to change this assessment process and it is not seen to constitute discrimination under equality legislation.
In the main, persons in the over-70s age cohort do not have the same outlays and expenses as those under 70 years of age who are assessed on a means basis. The assessment of eligibility under the standard means tested medical card scheme is based on the combined income of the applicant and spouse or partner (if any) after tax, PRSI and USC have been deducted . Allowance may be made for rent/mortgage, travel to work and child care costs. Generally, for the over 70s, mortgages have been cleared, children have been catered for and they would not have travel to work related costs.
Furthermore, persons aged over 70 years may still be eligible for a medical card where discretion is exercised where they face undue hardship in arranging medical services as a result of medical or social circumstances.
