Written Answers Nos. 374-387
374. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine a request in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork to have that person transferred to the Rehabilitation Unit in Kerry General Hospital [6902/15]
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.
375. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the Health Service Executive's plans to include the new drug, Regorasenib Stivarg,a from a pharmaceutical company (details supplied), for inclusion in the community drug scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6903/15]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the HSE on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. They are not political or Ministerial decisions.
The HSE received an application for the inclusion of Regorafenib in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application is being considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed by the Department of Health and the HSE with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association for the assessment of new medicines.
In accordance with these procedures, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics conducted a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of Regorafenib. The HSE is currently considering the results of that assessment and a subsequent commercial negotiation with the pharmaceutical company Bayer to seek to address some of the concerns raised in the assessment. No further comment is possible at this time.
376. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the possibility of legal challenges being taken against the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014, if enacted; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that ten member states of the European Union raised significant legal concerns in relation to the Bill through the European Union notification procedure; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that similar Australian legislation is currently being challenged before the World Trade Organisation; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that a case against the standardised packaging provisions of the European Union Tobacco Products Directive is currently before the Court of Justice of the European Union; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that similar legislation in the United Kingdom, which is expected to be enacted in March 2015, will face legal challenges; if, in view of these existing and expected legal challenges, he will take a prudent course of awaiting their outcome, before introducing similar legislation here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6906/15]
View answer377. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if his Department has set aside funds to defend any future legal challenges in relation to the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014; if his Department or any other Government agency has made any estimate of the likely costs involved with defending such a case; if his Department or any other Government agency has made any estimate of the possible compensation that might be paid out in the event of a successful legal challenge against the legislation; if his attention has been drawn to his predecessor's comments that the tobacco industry could sue, for the equivalent of our gross domestic product (details supplied), if this Bill is enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6907/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together.
As the Deputy is aware, the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 has been passed by the Seanad and Second Stage of the Bill concluded in the Dáil on 2 October 2014. Committee Stage of the Bill is scheduled to take place on 17 February 2015.
I am of the view that standardised packaging for tobacco products is a proportionate, evidence-based public health measure which will assist, together with the other many initiatives outlined in Tobacco Free Ireland, in reducing the overall prevalence of smoking in Ireland. The introduction of standardised packaging has the support of the Government and has been considered and approved by Government.
The threat of litigation should not be an obstacle to the introduction of important public health measures.
378. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce return-to-nursing-practice courses in County Galway, in order to assist nurses who wish to re-enter the workforce, after five or more years away from their profession; his further plans to assist nurses seeking to return to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6920/15]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for the question raised.
As this is a service issue it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply within 15 days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
379. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made in relation to an application, under the nursing home support scheme, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay in making a decision on this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6924/15]
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.
380. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an application for patient transport, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, will be expedited in view of that person's complex medical history [6925/15]
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.
381. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he satisfied with the inquiry currently underway at Portiuncula Hospital in County Galway; the independence of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6933/15]
View answerThe Saolta Healthcare Group is currently finalising the terms of reference and the membership of the Review Team, for the external review of practices and processes at the maternity unit at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe. I understand that the Review Team will comprise both national and international experts and will be independent of the Saolta Group.
I am confident that the outstanding issues will be resolved quickly, and this will enable the review to proceed immediately.
382. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there has been no speech and language therapist in attendance at a school (details supplied) in County Waterford since the end of November 2014; the reason this is the case; if she will confirm that recruitment is underway, to fill this vacant post, and continue the therapy; when a new speech and language therapist will be available to work with children at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6938/15]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. 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.
383. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a request for personnel data in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6941/15]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
384. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive an appointment for orthodontics treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6961/15]
View answerIn relation to the particular patient query raised by you, 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.
385. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Health the number of cases referred by general practitioners in County Roscommon to Roscommon hospital in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; to Castlebar hospital in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; to hospitals in Galway in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6963/15]
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.
386. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health the number and locations of community intervention teams throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7004/15]
View answer387. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health details on the community intervention teams in County Waterford; the care home facilities they support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7005/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 387 together.
There are currently 11 Community Intervention Teams (CITs) in place in Dublin North, Dublin South, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Carlow/Kilkenny, Wicklow, Naas and Drogheda.
The HSE published a call for Expressions of Interest for the Provision of Outpatient Pareneral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) Service (home IV antibiotics) in May 2014. This included the right to include the requirement for the provision of other similar services for non-hospital based patients by agreement with the contract Providers. This contract will facilitate a national roll-out of the OPAT service and other CIT services in 2015. These services will be made available in Waterford no later than Quarter 2, 2015.
