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Tuesday, 3 Mar 2015

Written Answers Nos. 419 - 435

Medical Card Applications

Questions (419)

Jack Wall

Question:

419. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for a medical card in respect of a person in County Kildare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9184/15]

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Written answers

The 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.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (420)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

420. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if his Department, or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department, use solicitors' firms (details supplied); the amount paid to these solicitors each year from 2011 to 2014 by his Department, or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department; the date until which his Department, or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department, are contracted to use these solicitors' firms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9196/15]

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Written answers

In respect of Departmental expenditure, the details requested are set out in the following table. Payments made to Arthur Cox are in relation to third party legal fees.

Year

Arthur Cox

McCann Fitzgerald

2011

0

16,867

2012

35,995

0

2013

63,555

0

2014

0

0

Expenditure by other bodies under the aegis of the Department is an operational matter for the body concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly. I have requested the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in respect of relevant expenditure. 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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (421)

Tom Fleming

Question:

421. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment at Mallow General Hospital, County Cork, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9203/15]

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Written answers

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.

Health Services

Questions (422)

Martin Ferris

Question:

422. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a person in County Kerry (details supplied) receives adequate care hours, as those being recommended at present are insufficient. [9204/15]

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Written answers

As 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.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (423)

Regina Doherty

Question:

423. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) who has always contributed fully to pay as you earn, pay related social insurance and the universal social charge, and who is now living with a permanent colostomy bag as a result of extensive surgery to remove a malignant tumour, is entitled to a discretionary medical card on the basis of medical grounds and the permanent change to that person's body and not on the basis of that person's means. [9217/15]

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Written answers

The 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.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (424)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

424. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determination of eligibility for a medical card in the case of a person in County Kildare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9228/15]

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Written answers

The 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.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Questions (425)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Question:

425. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to make EpiPens more widely available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9246/15]

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Written answers

I am happy to confirm to the Deputy that a public consultation process on easier access to 'rescue' drugs in emergencies, including adrenaline auto-injectors, commenced on 20 February 2015.

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.

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Questions (426)

David Stanton

Question:

426. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of existing frameworks for consultancy services entered into by his Department and the Health Service Executive, including the nature of the frameworks, the members of the framework, the dates these frameworks were established, when they are due to expire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9251/15]

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Written answers

The Department holds no framework agreements for consultancy services. Consultancy is procured on an as required basis ensuring that value for money is achieved. This Department participates in the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform procurement framework in the areas of ICT, Telecoms, and Data Networking services.

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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (427)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

427. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a hospital appointment will be offered to a person in County Kildare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9254/15]

View answer

Written answers

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.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (428)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

428. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the funding difficulties affecting Camphill Communities of Ireland; his views on whether Camphill Communities of Ireland has been disproportionately impacted by cuts in recent years; if he will take action to redress this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9256/15]

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Written answers

As 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.

Dental Services Provision

Questions (429)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

429. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the extent of the school dental service in County Kildare; the centres from which the service is delivered; if full staffing of the service is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9257/15]

View answer

Written answers

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.

Medical Card Administration

Questions (430)

Martin Heydon

Question:

430. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person in County Kildare (details supplied) who incurred hospital charges while awaiting a medical card renewal. [9264/15]

View answer

Written answers

The 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.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (431)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

431. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will itemise the public car parks at each acute Health Service Executive hospital and voluntary hospital in the State; the private companies which operate them, where applicable; the income derived through car park fees and clamping activities at each car park; if his attention has been drawn to any case where the proceeds derived accrue to hospital consultants, as the owners of said private companies, and, if so, if he will provide these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9266/15]

View answer

Written answers

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.

Departmental Funding

Questions (432, 433, 434, 435)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

432. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if grants are available from his Department for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9278/15]

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Terence Flanagan

Question:

433. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if changes will be made to capitation fees (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9279/15]

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Terence Flanagan

Question:

434. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if funding is available from his Department towards housing for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9280/15]

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Terence Flanagan

Question:

435. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding sleepover rates (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9281/15]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 432 to 435, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy's questions relates to service matters, I have arranged for the questions 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.

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