Written Answers Nos. 146-153
146. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if his Department will provide the necessary capital funding to keep a facility open (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7517/15]
View answerYour question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as it is the statutory body with responsibility for delivering health and personal social services. 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.
147. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if progress has been made on developing a helipad at Cork University Hospital; if he will provide the up-to-date position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7520/15]
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.
148. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his plans for legislative proposals that would have implications for cigarette vending machines; if so, his proposals; the aims of any such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7533/15]
View answerIn June 2014, the Government approved the drafting of legislation to provide for measures in relation to the sale of tobacco products and non-medicinal nicotine delivery systems, including e-cigarettes. My Department recently conducted a public consultation on this legislation and the results of this process will inform the Regulatory Impact Analysis and the General Scheme of a Bill. It is expected that Heads of Bill will be published during 2015.
149. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which respite or residential care will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7552/15]
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.
150. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if, and when, the Fair Deal provisions will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7554/15]
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.
151. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when it was decided to terminate payments, under the Rural Practice Allowance, for general practitioner practices, when the principal retires, and is replaced by another doctor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7559/15]
View answerWhere a General Practitioner (GP), who holds a General Medical Services (GMS) contract, lives and practices in a centre with a population of less than 500 and where there is not a town with a population of 1,500 or more within a 4.83 km (3 mile) radius of that centre, the GP is entitled to a Rural Practice Allowance.
Issues relating to the filling of vacant GMS panels are a matter for the HSE; therefore, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy 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.
152. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress, to date, in respect of an appeal for a medical card, in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, which was submitted on 9 December 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7560/15]
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.
153. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a charge, per item, for holders of the long-term illness card; his views on the potential negative impact of the charge on the health of the card holders, with a consequential increased cost in hospital fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7578/15]
View answerThe Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI scheme, which are as follows: Acute Leukaemia; Mental handicap; Cerebral Palsy; Mental Illness (in a person under 16); Cystic Fibrosis; Multiple Sclerosis; Diabetes Insipidus; Muscular Dystrophies; Diabetes Mellitus; Parkinsonism; Epilepsy; Phenylketonuria; Haemophilia; Spina Bifida; Hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
The LTI scheme enables persons suffering from the above prescribed conditions to be provided with drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances for the treatment of their condition, free of charge. While from time to time the Department examines policy options regarding the application of the GMS and community drugs schemes, there are no plans to introduce a co-payment for the LTI scheme.
