Written Answers Nos. 477 - 493
477. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an ambulance station at a location (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2825/15]
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.
478. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding capital funding for an ambulance station at a location (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2826/15]
View answerYour question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as the delivery of the health care infrastructure is a service matter. There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer through capital expenditure. There is limited funding available for new projects over the next multi-annual period 2015-2019 given the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place. The HSE is concentrating on applying the limited funding available for infrastructure delivery in the most effective way possible to meet needs now and in the future.
If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up on the matter.
479. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 128 of 5 November 2014, if he will provide an update on the application lodged with the Health Service Executive for the inclusion of the drug, Fampyra, for multiple sclerosis in the community drugs scheme; when he expects a decision to issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2829/15]
View answerAs was outlined in the reply to your question of the 5th November 2014, a revised application was received by the HSE on the 25th July for the inclusion of Fampridine (Fampyra) on the community drugs schemes. The HSE's Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit has since been engaging with the company seeking improved commercial offering. These engagements have been completed and the HSE is now considering the outcome of those commercial engagements. Fampridine will be assessed along with a range of other applications for reimbursement of medicines for multiple sclerosis and other diseases.
480. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when BreastCheck for 65 to 69 year old women in County Kerry will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2834/15]
View answerPlanning for the age extension of BreastCheck to 65 - 69 year olds is underway and screening of the extended cohort will commence in Quarter 4 of 2015. The additional eligible population is approximately 100,000.
The age extension will be expanded nationwide on an incremental basis, starting with those aged 65/66, in order to manage the additional screening and follow up involved. It will be fully rolled out by 2021.
481. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the number of home help hours available in the Kildare and west-Wicklow area of the Health Service Executive for 2015; the number employed as home helps for 2015; if both figures show an increase on 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2840/15]
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.
482. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the number of primary care centres planned for the Kildare and west-Wicklow area of the Health Service Executive for 2015-16; the number of actual contracts signed in regard to such centres or the number of sites identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2841/15]
View answerThe delivery of primary care infrastructure is currently underway at Kildare town, Rathangan/Monasterevin, Kilcock, Blessington and Wicklow town. The Kilcock development will be delivered as part of the PPP PCC project and it is expected to be completed by early 2017. The other locations are expected to be delivered in 2015/Q1 2016. Please see the HSE NSP 2015 page 77.
As regards the HSE's plans for other locations in Kildare and west Wicklow, the mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care infrastructure is dependent on a number of factors including staffing. Regardless of the delivery mechanism, all potential primary care infrastructure is subject to suitable locations being offered/provided/available, to successful planning processes and GP commitment to sharing accommodation and delivering health care services with HSE staff. In addition the operational lease mechanism is subject to market pressures such as the developers' access to sufficient financing. Also there will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer through current and capital expenditure. There is limited funding available for new projects over the next multi-annual period 2015-2019 given the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place. The HSE is concentrating on applying the limited funding available for infrastructure delivery in the most effective way possible to meet needs now and in the future.
Your question has been referred to the HSE to provide an update on plans for other Kildare/West Wicklow locations. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up on the matter.
483. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on the refusal by a doctor registered under the general medical services scheme to take on a patient in financial difficulty under the medical card scheme over a minor outstanding debt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2847/15]
View answerGPs are private contractors and issues relating to payment of fees outside the terms of the General Medical Services (GMS) contract are a matter of private contract between the clinician and the patient.
Under the terms of the GMS contract which general practitioners (GPs) hold with the Health Service Executive (HSE), a GP shall ordinarily accept all eligible persons, who so request, onto his / her GMS patient list. The number of persons on a GP's patient panel may not exceed 2,000, save in exceptional circumstances.
In some cases, a GP may decide not to accept an eligible person onto their list, the principal reason being where they already have a significant patient panel and coping with any additional workload would cause them difficulty.
Where a GP requests the HSE to arrange for the removal of a patient from his/her GMS list, he/she must give where requested the reason, in confidence, for such a request to a medical officer acting on behalf of the Executive. The HSE shall thereupon notify the person accordingly and supply them with information to enable them to apply for inclusion on the list of another GMS contracted GP.
The Executive has the power to assign an eligible person to a GP's GMS patient list where the person has been removed from another GP's list or refused entry onto a GP's list and the person has unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area, who are contracted to provide services under the GMS.
If the Deputy is aware of a particular case where a GP is inappropriately excluding a patient from his/her GMS panel, he may wish to refer the details to the HSE for investigation.
484. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if outreach genetics clinics, which were operated by the National Centre for Medical Genetics, will continue; the persons or body that will have responsibility for clinical governance of such clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2851/15]
View answer485. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health his plans and the timeframe for developing a national genetic and genomic medicine network, as recommended in the review of genetic services at Our Lady's Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2852/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 484 and 485 together.
A review of the genetics service at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, commissioned by the HSE was submitted in May last year. This report made a number of recommendations on both internal and national service issues, which will be addressed by the HSE in conjunction with Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and the Children's Hospital Group. The report included a recommendation that a Steering Group should be established to develop a National Genetic and Genomic Medicine Network that reflects best international practice. The Steering Group will be established in February to develop a plan for the National Network, which is expected to take a number of months and which will, when complete, be submitted to the HSE for approval and consideration of resources in the context of the Estimates process.
There has been no reduction in the scope of the services provided by the genetics service at Crumlin. The hub-and-spoke model for genetic services is a well-established and recognised model of service delivery and there are no plans to change this approach. The HSE considers the genetic counselling services as a networked service, with genetic counsellors working with families that need counselling and advice, working under the clinical governance of a consultant and linking into colleagues at Crumlin.
As with all patient services the governance for service delivery rests with the organisation that provides the service - therefore if a patient attends OLCH Crumlin for genetic services, OLCH Crumlin is accountable and if the genetics service is provided by another hospital, that hospital is accountable for their service.
486. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if laboratory genetic services have been provided for in the plans for the new national children's hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2853/15]
View answerThe new children's hospital will be co-located with St James's Hospital, and ultimately tri-located with a maternity hospital to be developed on campus. In addition to the main hospital, the project includes two satellite centres at the campuses of Tallaght and Connolly Hospitals. The paediatric clinical genetics service is included in the new children’s hospital, and children and, if required, their families will be provided with care and treatment on their genetic conditions. It is expected that adult patients, such as referrals from cancer or adult cardiology will access adult genetic services on the campus. Laboratory genetics services, which support both adult and paediatric services, will be provided separately to the new children's hospital building and options for the provision of these services are being considered by the HSE.
487. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the progress made in the regulation of psychotherapy and counselling under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act. [2854/15]
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 last 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 Act also requires that interested persons, organisations and other bodies be given an opportunity to make representations to the Minister concerning a proposed designation. 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 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 hope to receive the Council's report at an early date. I will then proceed to the next stage which will involve a much wider consultation when I have fully considered the Council's report. 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 hope to be in a position to progress the question of regulating counsellors and psychotherapists this year.
488. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has had a lunch-time service decreased from five days per week to three days per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2860/15]
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.
489. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if his Department's attention has been drawn to the system of waiting lists for residential rehabilitation care in Cluain Mhuire's Oropesa recovery programme which is run in conjunction with St. John of God's Housing Association; his views on a case of a person (details supplied) who is on its waiting lists for a placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2863/15]
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 them.
490. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála an ndearna Rialtas na hÉireann, mar a comhaontaíodh i gComhaontú Chill Rìmhinn, Acht Gaeilge do Thuaisceart Éireann a chur ar liosta tosaíochtaí Rialtas na hÉireann sna pléití a bhí ann idir na páirtithe ó thuaidh le déanaí; an dtacaíonn Rialtas na hÉireann le hAcht Gaeilge a chur ar fáil gan mhoill do phobal na Gaeilge ó thuaidh agus, má thacaíonn, an mbeidh sé sin ina dhlúthchuid d’ábhar na bpléití ó thuaidh sna seachtainí atá amach romhainn; an bhféadfadh sé tuairisc a thabhairt ar na bearta a dhéanfaidh Rialtas na hÉireann chun an tAcht Gaeilge sin a bhaint amach; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [2541/15]
View answerBhí Acht na Gaeilge mar chuid de dhoiciméad a leag an Rialtas faoi bhráid ó thús na bpléití agus bhí díoma orainn nach raibh tiomantas chun Acht na Gaeilge a achtú ag Westminster nó ag Tionól Thuaisceart Éireann, mar chuid den Aontas deireanach a rinneadh i dTeach Stormont ar an 23ú Nollaig 2014. In anneoin na gealltanais a rinneadh ag Cill Rímhinn chun Acht an Gaeilge a reachtáil, ní dhearna Rialtas na Breataine é seo roimh fhreagracht as an dteanga a dhéabhlóidiú go Tionól Thuaisceart Éireann in 2007. Tá Feidhmeannacht agus Tionól Thuaisceart Éireann anois freagrach as Acht na Gaeilge a reachtáil. Bhí sé soiléir i rith na bpléití le déanaí nach bhfuil an comhdhearcadh riachtanach san Fheidhmeannacht ó thaobh Acht na Gaeilge.
Ba mhaith liom dul chun cinn maidir leis an ábhar seo a fheiceáil i smaointeoireacht Fheidhmeannacht Thuaisceart Éireann. Agus dlús curtha thar n-ais chun Rialtas chomhpháirtaithe ag Comhaontú Stormont a chothú, bhéinn dóchasach go ndéanfar dul chun cinn ar an ábhar go luath sa tréimhse atá romhainn. Spreagfainn na páirtithe uilig a thacaíonn, i bprionsabal, le hAcht na Gaeilge do Thuaisceart na hÉireann, chun comhdhearcadh a chothú laistigh den Tionól chun Acht a reachtáil.
Cé nach raibh comhaontú i measc na bpáirtithe le linn na bpléití le déanaí, rinne Rialtas na Breataine agus Rialtas na hÉireann ráiteas tábahachtach i gComhaontú Theach Stormont faoin ghá atá ann chun meas agus aitheantas a thabhairt don Ghaeilge i dTuaisceart na hÉireann.
491. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funding available to assist a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2597/15]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through the Embassy of Ireland in Madrid and the Consular Assistance Section in Dublin, has been providing ongoing consular assistance to the family of the missing person since first being informed of this case. I wish to assure the Deputy that my Department and our Embassy in Madrid will continue to provide all possible consular assistance to the family concerned. However, the consular assistance available through my Department does not include financial assistance to cover travel expenditure costs.
492. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has made representations to the ambassador for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Ireland regarding the case of a person (details supplied) who has been sentenced to ten years' imprisonment and 1,000 lashes for criticism of the authorities in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2225/15]
View answer507. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the public flogging of rights activist, Raif Badawi, in Saudi Arabia for running a website advocating freedom of speech and that Walid Abu al-Khaira, a prominent Saudi Arabian human rights lawyer, has been given an additional five years in jail on charges that included breaking his allegiance to King Abdullah and showing disrespect for the authorities; and if he will raise these cases with the Saudi Arabian authorities. [2850/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 492 and 507 together.
The conviction in the case of Raif Badawi and the nature of the penalty imposed on him is clearly a cause of concern. There is also concern about the imprisonment of the prominent human rights activist Waleed Abu al-Khair, which may be connected with that of Mr. Badawi.
The case of Mr Badawi, and our concerns at his sentence have been raised by the European Union on behalf of its Member States, including Ireland, with the Saudi authorities, both when he was convicted and again now that punishment has commenced. In addition, the spokesperson of EU High Representative Mogherini issued a statement on the case of Mr Badawi on 9 January. This called on the Saudi authorities to suspend the flogging of Mr Badawi, a call which was echoed on 15 January by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. I hope that the Saudi Authorities will answer the High Commissioner’s call for Mr Badawi to be pardoned and for this harsh form of punishment to be urgently reviewed.
In the meantime, I welcome the fact that the second session of punishment for Mr Badawi has been postponed. I also welcome reports that his case has been referred to the Supreme Court by King Abdullah. I hope this will presage a wider rethink of the case by the Saudi authorities.
In July 2014, the human rights activist Walid Abu al-Khair was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with five years of his sentence suspended. Last week, the Court of Appeal reportedly reinstated this additional five years of imprisonment. The imprisonment of persons for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and association is a matter of concern wherever it occurs. Concerns about this case have also been directly raised with the Saudi authorities by the EU on behalf of its member states.
Ireland normally raises human rights issues, including specific cases, in conjunction with our EU partners in Saudi Arabia, as we do in many other locations. We carry more weight speaking as a unified group of 28 countries.
Ireland has always been at the forefront internationally in raising human rights issues. At the UN Human Rights Council Ireland has addressed human rights recommendations to Saudi Arabia during its review under the UN Universal Periodic Review procedure which took place in October 2013. Ireland also works to promote an active dialogue on the part of the EU with all major partners, including the Gulf countries, on matters pertaining to human rights. The Government’s review of foreign policy, The Global Island, which was launched last week, underlines the Government’s continuing commitment to promoting human rights.
493. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding support in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2266/15]
View answerA core objective of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the provision of high-quality consular assistance to Irish citizens who find themselves in difficulty abroad. This assistance is delivered through the Department’s network of diplomatic missions abroad and through the Department’s Consular Division based in Dublin. The individual citizen concerned was in touch with the relevant Embassy for the first time last week and made them aware of the case. A Consular officer from the Embassy has made contact with the citizen and I would like to assure the Deputy that all appropriate consular assistance is being provided by this Department to the individual concerned.
