Tuesday, 3 Mar 2015

Written Answers Nos. 403-418

Hospital Investigations

Questions (403)

Jack Wall

Question:

403. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health his views and actions regarding a submission in relation to a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9021/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE has informed my Department that Tallaght Hospital was also copied on this correspondence and that the hospital's Patient Advocacy Service is currently investigating the issues raised. In advance of the completion of the investigation, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.

General Practitioner Services Provision

Questions (404)

Seán Fleming

Question:

404. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a doctor will be appointed to a location (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9026/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

HSE Funding

Questions (405, 406, 414)

Finian McGrath

Question:

405. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health how the Health Service Executive can justifiably impose value-for-money part-year cuts for 2014 of up to 3% and full-year cuts in 2015 of up to 6% on the Camphill Communities of Ireland in November 2014 on what are historically-low capitation fees, which are comparably below the lower average capitation fees for the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9030/15]

Finian McGrath

Question:

406. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if the 2015 service plan of the Health Service Executive contains enough funding to fully cover all of the associated costs that arise from a recent Labour Court ruling around sleepover rates and a maximum working week for 39 agencies, such as Camphill Communities of Ireland, including payments dated back to September 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9031/15]

Finian McGrath

Question:

414. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support the vital and excellent service of Camphill Communities of Ireland for those with an intellectual disability; his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9156/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 405, 406 and 414 together.

In the Health Service Executive's (HSE's) National Service Plan and Social Care Division Operational Plan for 2014, the HSE confirmed that funding reductions for the Disability sector would be limited to the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA) & related measures and the Value-For-Money (VFM) target of €5m.

In order to arrive at a fair and equitable allocation of the efficiency targets, the HSE initiated a process through its Social Care Division in conjunction with the Section 38 & 39 organisations to assess the capacity for implementation of HRA and other measures within the voluntary sector, in particular, Section 39s.

In recognition of the time required to complete this work, only 50% of the 2014 requirement (€2.5 m) was assigned to agencies and accordingly the value of the efficiency measures were reflected in agency budgets from July 2014. The HSE undertook an evaluation of the impact of this reduction on voluntary agencies and decided that it would not be prudent to apply the full reduction in 2015, so only 50% will be applied again this year.

The HSE is currently in discussion with all voluntary health service providers regarding funding and service arrangements for 2015.

As the other issues raised in the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the 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.

Rare Diseases Strategy Implementation

Questions (407)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

407. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health in view of his meeting with mothers from County Donegal of children with life-limiting conditions, his plans to look into cross-Border access to medical services, especially in paediatric and hospice care; if he has made representations to the relevant officials in Northern Ireland regarding the potential of cross-Border access to services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9043/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases has been established, led by Professor Eileen Treacy. This will ultimately be a channel for advancing and implementing recommendations in the HSE Rare Diseases Plan. To support the Clinical Programme, a Rare Disease Office is being established by the HSE and it is anticipated that this office will be in place later this year.

Work is ongoing within my Department and the HSE to identify potential opportunities for improving the delivery of healthcare through clinical linkages and partnerships on an all-island basis, such as the provision of radiotherapy services at Altnagelvin or the development of an all-island model of care for congenital heart disease. The Rare Disease plan recognises that efforts should be made to realise shared benefits for rare disease patients on the island of Ireland. Officials from my Department have met with their counterparts in Northern Ireland to consider these issues. The subject of Rare Diseases has also been discussed as a bilateral issue at the North South Ministerial Council. There is broad agreement in principle to identify specialist areas for future rare disease collaboration and develop these further.

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) in Northern Ireland has carried out a public consultation on its draft implementation plan for the UK Strategy for Rare Diseases, which was published in November 2013. Under theme 6, “Collaboration between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland”, the Northern Ireland draft Plan commits the DHSSPS to identifying opportunities to work with healthcare policy makers, commissioners and providers in the Republic of Ireland and organisations involved in research in the field of rare diseases. The intention of this would be to maximise the potential benefits arising from collaboration to meet the respective needs of both jurisdictions.

Hospital Services

Questions (408)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

408. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health in view of the end of cutbacks in the health service, if he will address the accumulated effects of cutbacks to Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal, especially while a new consultant is being recruited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9044/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

National Positive Ageing Strategy Implementation

Questions (409)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

409. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health in view of the increasing isolation felt by elderly residents in remote locations in County Donegal, his plans to promote social inclusion for persons living in remote areas and provide funding for organisations that work to combat the social isolation of elderly residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9045/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 2011-2016 Programme for Government committed to completing and implementing the National Positive Ageing Strategy (NPAS) so that older people are recognised, supported and enabled to live independent full lives. In our statement of Health priorities for 2015, the Minister for Health and I have reiterated our commitment to implementing the Strategy.

The Strategy recognises that older people may be financially vulnerable in their later years, or may be prone to social isolation and loneliness brought about by family circumstances or as a consequence of where they live.

Implementation of the Strategy involves a wide range of Departments and agencies, all of which must operate within the resources available to them.

My Department does not operate a specific fund for organisations that work to combat social isolation in elderly residents. However, such organisations may apply to be considered for the discretionary National Lottery funding administered by my Department. The 2015 application form is now available on the Department of Health website (www.health.gov.ie).

The Health Service Executive was established under the Health Act 2004 as the single body with statutory responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services in the Republic of Ireland. As this is a service matter it 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.

Legislative Measures

Questions (410)

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

410. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health his views on amendment of the public health Bill 2015 to include a ban on alcohol sponsorship for sporting events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9051/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The General Scheme of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill was approved by Government on the 3rd February 2015. The Scheme includes provisions for minimum unit pricing, health labelling on products that contain alcohol, restrictions on the advertising and marketing of alcohol and the regulation of sports sponsorship. The existing Code of Practice for Sponsorships by Drinks Companies will be put on a legal footing with statutory powers and penalties. The provisions in relation to marketing and advertising will be reviewed after three years to gauge their effectiveness.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (411)

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy

Question:

411. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health the reason a company (details supplied) has been prevented from installing telephone charging stations and Internet kiosks at a hospital, at no charge to the hospital, even though this would be a very useful service for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9056/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

HSE Expenditure

Questions (412)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

412. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive showed a net current deficit, against profile, at the end of January 2015; if so, the details of same; the net expenditure figure for the executive to the end of January 2015 and the profiled budget for same; and the net expenditure figure for the acute hospital sector at the end of January 2015 and the profiled budget for same. [9130/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Vote of the Health Service Executive was disestablished with effect from 31 December, 2014. All funding for the Executive is now provided through the Vote of the Minister for Health – Vote 38.

Monthly expenditure profiles for 2015 are currently being finalised.

My Department has processed payments of €1,276 million to the HSE for January 2015 comprising €1,262 million current and €14 million capital.

Health Services Staff

Questions (413)

John O'Mahony

Question:

413. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if the post of speech and language therapist for an area (details supplied) in County Mayo has been advertised, to fill a vacancy in existence since November 2014; when this post will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9137/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to look into this matter and to respond to the Deputy directly. 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.

Question No. 414 answered with Question No. 405.

Hospital Appointments Administration

Questions (415)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

415. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if, and when, an appointment will be made for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9164/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The 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. In relation to the specific case 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.

Question No. 416 answered with Question No. 396.

Question No. 417 answered with Question No. 390.

Health Services Staff

Questions (418)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

418. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of dental nurse posts currently vacant in community care area 8; and the measures he is taking to fill these posts as soon as possible. [9183/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.