Written Answers Nos. 111-130
111. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners who were brought to prison, on foot of committal orders, for non-payment of fines, on 18 February 2015, and later released, or placed on temporary release, on that date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8413/15]
View answer112. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners who were committed to prison, for non-payment of fines, and brought to prison on 18 February 2015, and later released on that date, or given temporary release; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8414/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together.
I can advise the Deputy that on 18 February 2015 there were 55 committals to custody for the non-payment of a fine. Of this, 49 were released on temporary release on that day.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014 was signed into law by the President on 16 April 2014. The aim of the legislation is to seek to effectively eliminate, in so far as is possible, the need for judges to commit anyone to prison for the non-payment of a fine. As well as introducing an option for persons to pay fines by instalment, there are also changes in the way those who fail to pay fines are dealt with, with a range of options available to judges including recovery orders, attachment of earnings, community service and ultimately imprisonment.
Work is ongoing in preparing for the implementation of the Act. The area most directly affected by the changes is the Courts and the Courts Service is working on a number of developments which will ensure that the implementation of the legislation, and the new procedures which will operate under it, are as efficient as possible.
In relation to the introduction of payment of fines by instalment, a decision was taken to outsource all aspects of the recovery of fines to an external provider. The Courts Service is introducing new arrangements for the payment of fines which will allow payments to be made in a range of outlets across the country, and not just through Courts Service offices. There are significant changes in information technology required to ensure that the instalment payment system operates effectively and that the necessary accounting procedures are in place for the recording of payments. Changes are also required in the way that information is transferred between the Courts Service and An Garda Síochána to ensure that both organisations have fully up to date information on the cases and their current status.
It is expected that all the preparations for the new system will be completed by the third quarter of 2015. While it is desirable that the Act be commenced as soon as possible, it is important that these preparations are done correctly to ensure that the significant changes being implemented in the fines system as a result of this legislation are implemented smoothly and effectively from the start.
113. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to make changes to the register of kindred and affinity (details supplied). [8466/15]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the law on marriage contains provisions regarding certain 'prohibited degrees of relationships in marriage'. I am aware that certain case law in the area has pointed to the need to examine this complex issue further. My Department is liaising in this regard with the Department of Social Protection, which has responsibility for civil registration legislation.
114. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the planned implementation of palliative care facilities in University Hospital Waterford; his views that these facilities are desperately needed; if his attention has been drawn to representations made by this Deputy's office, to both his Department, the Health Service Executive and University Hospital Waterford, outlining the necessity for such a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8167/15]
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.
115. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the specific thresholds, parameters or guidelines in place to gauge and measure the cost effectiveness of new drugs and medications. [8321/15]
View answerUnder the terms of the 2012 Agreement between the Department of Health, the HSE and the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, the HSE has the right to assess new and existing technologies that may be a high cost or have a significant budget impact on the Irish healthcare system or to determine the cost effectiveness of products from time to time.
In accordance with the Agreement a Health Technology Assessment may be carried out on new drugs or medicines by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. As part of the pharmacoeconomic assessment a cost effectiveness threshold of €45,000 per quality adjusted life year is applied.
116. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae 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. [8331/15]
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.
117. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when the public consultation on increasing the availability of epinephrine auto-injectors will commence; as part of the review, his views on increasing the current special authorisations available to the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council emergency first responders, to include the use of epinephrine auto-injectors in an emergency, under the clinical practice guidelines, coupled with the prior medical direction of a registered medical practitioner for unnamed patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8336/15]
View answerI am happy to confirm to the Deputy that the consultation process on easier access to 'rescue' drugs in emergencies, including adrenaline auto-injectors, commenced on 20 February 2015.
The Prescription Regulations already permit advanced paramedics, paramedics and emergency medical technicians to administer adrenaline injections to unnamed patients in emergency circumstances, in the course of their duties, in accordance with clinical practice guidelines or in accordance with the instructions of a registered medical practitioner.
The Prescription Regulations do not permit a non-medical person to obtain a prescription-only medicine for use in an emergency situation unless they already have a prescription for that patient. The review of current arrangements being undertaken by the Department of Health aims to explore the feasibility of setting up a system to allow appropriately trained non-medical persons to have ready access to certain prescription-only medicines for use in emergency situations, while ensuring that medicines continue to be controlled in an appropriate manner.
Submissions to the public consultation are expected from a wide variety of respondents. It is anticipated that strong engagement from the public and other stakeholders will help to inform a policy decision in this area within the coming months. The details of the consultation process can be found on my Department's website www.health.gov.ie. The closing date for responses is 13 March 2015.
118. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be called for a procedure in University Hospital Galway; the reason the person was informed at an initial assessment in December 2014 that she would be called for surgery within four to eight weeks; if he will confirm the patient is listed as urgent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8345/15]
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.
119. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for an initial appointment for assessment for cataract surgery in University Hospital Galway; the waiting times for surgery following the initial assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8346/15]
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 with them.
120. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding home help in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8350/15]
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.
121. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will include dementia in the long-term illness scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8359/15]
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. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Under the provisions of the Health Acts, medical cards are provided to persons who are, in the opinion of the HSE, unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family.
122. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to any discarding of donated organs, by the Health Service Executive, due to the lack of resources to carry out operations, despite persons being on long waiting lists, across the country; if he will confirm if this is the current situation; if not, if there have been any issues in relation to the distribution of donated organs to patients, while the health care system is undergoing a crisis in management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8368/15]
View answerI am advised by the HSE that all donated organs are utilised to maximum clinical benefit for Irish patients.
Beaumont Hospital, one of the three transplant centres, is facing some challenges in the recruitment of transplant surgeons to fill current vacancies. Highly trained transplant surgeons can be difficult to locate and the hospital continues to carry out an international recruitment campaign.
123. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8377/15]
View answerThe scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved.
The Special Delivery Unit (SDU) Protocol: The Management of Outpatient Services Ver 2.0 (Jan 2014) sets out the process for referral and management of outpatient services. The protocol also helps to maximise efficiency and reduce duplications.
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.
124. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8393/15]
View answerWith regard to specific complaints in relation to experiences of individuals in our hospitals, there is a formal complaints policy, entitled “Your Service Your Say”,details of which are on the HSE website, at http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/yourhealthservice/feedback/complaints/.
In accordance with this procedure, a complaint must be made in the first instance to the hospital in which the incident causing the complaint occurred. If an individual is not satisfied with the response from the hospital, a review can be sought from the HSE Director of Advocacy and the Ombudsman, whose details are set out below.
HSE Director of Advocacy
Oak House
Millennium Park
Naas
Co Kildare
Tel 1890 424 555
Office of the Ombudsman
18, Lower Leeson Street
Dublin 2
Tel 1890 223 030
Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.ie
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.
125. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a public health nurse visit in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8394/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been 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.
126. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will utilise the beds in Abbeyleix Community Hospital, County Laois, to alleviate the crisis of the bed shortage in the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8400/15]
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.
127. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and expedite a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8408/15]
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.
128. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health in respect of the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014, the number of women expected to avail of the enhanced medical benefits under the Bill; the estimated cost of the provision of these enhanced medical benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8418/15]
View answer129. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health in respect of the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014, and the statement the Minister for Justice and Equality made in Dáil Éireann regarding the designation of a card for the women under this Bill, if he has made a decision on whether a specific card will be issued, to allow the women to demonstrate their eligibility to enhanced medical services; if so, the name of the card and the timeframe, after the enactment of the Bill, within which it will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8419/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 129 together.
I am advised by the Minister for Justice and Equality that the scheme of ex gratia payments to women who were admitted to and worked in the Magdalen laundries and two similar institutions is still open and will be for the foreseeable future. In view of this, it is difficult to estimate the final number of participants in the redress scheme.
As the Minister for Justice and Equality stated, it will be a matter for the HSE to decide on the practical arrangements, such as a type of card, to be put in place in order to ensure that the women can easily demonstrate their eligibility for services under this legislation. These arrangements are currently being considered by the HSE and will be put in place when the Oireachtas has completed its consideration of the Bill, the final provisions are determined and the legislation is commenced.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
130. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a group (details supplied) sought tenders to appoint a public relations consultant; the number of approved tenders; the period of the Setanta contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8420/15]
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 with them.
