Written Answers Nos 451-466
451. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if, given that the equivalent data for 2013 were available at the end of February 2014, he will provide details of the number of persons availing of private health insurance, at the end of 2014, in each of the following age groups: 17 years and under, 18 to 29 years, 30 to 39 years, 40 to 49 years, 50 to 59 years, 60 to 69 years, 70 to 79 years, and 80 years and over. [9362/15]
View answerThe table provides a breakdown of the requested data which is compiled in respect of the commercial health insurers and excludes members of Restricted Membership Undertakings (which provide insurance to people who are members of a particular group, normally a vocational group or employees of a particular organisation).
|
Age Group |
Membership for the Market as of 31 December 2014 |
|
Aged 17 and under |
453,873 |
|
Aged 18 to age 29 |
203,077 |
|
Aged 30 to age 39 |
281,282 |
|
Aged 40 to age 49 |
293,155 |
|
Aged 50 to age 59 |
261,365 |
|
Aged 60 to age 69 |
217,455 |
|
Aged 70 to age 79 |
125,118 |
|
Aged 80 and over |
51,880 |
|
Total |
1,887,205 |
*Source: Health Insurance Authority
452. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of requests that the Health Service Executive made in 2013, and in 2014, under section 8 of the Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2013, to the Minister for Social Protection to provide it with personal data, which it required for assessing, or reviewing, the eligibility of persons for services provided under Health Acts currently in force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9363/15]
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.
453. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of requests that the Health Service Executive made in 2013, and in 2014, under section 8 of the Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2013, to the Revenue Commissioners to provide it with personal data, which it required for assessing, or reviewing, the eligibility of persons for services provided under Health Acts currently in force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9364/15]
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.
454. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of requests that the Health Service Executive received in 2013, and in 2014, under section 8 of the Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2013, from the Minister for Social Protection to provide her with personal data, which were required to calculate the means of a person to assess, or review, entitlements to benefits and services provided under the Social Welfare Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9365/15]
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.
455. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of requests that the Health Service Executive received in 2013, and in 2014, under section 8 of the Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2013, from the Revenue Commissioners to provide the commissioners with personal data for the purpose of assessing, or collecting, any tax, duty, or other charge payable to the commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9366/15]
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.
456. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 138 and 139 of 29 January 2015 if he will provide details of the appropriate actions taken, as referred to in the reply, and stated to be in compliance with regulations and national standards; if he will highlight the relevant points of compliance, vis-à-vis the actions taken; the date on which he referred the matter, addressed in the parliamentary questions, to the Health Service Executive for investigation, under the terms of the national policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable persons at risk of abuse; the designated reporting person in this case; when and to whom that person will report; if the report will be made available to the siblings and next of kin of the persons who are the subject of the report; the reason that the next of kin were neither contacted nor consulted regarding their vulnerable relatives' experiences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9376/15]
View answerI have been informed that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has raised this matter with the service provider and it is satisfied that the provider has met their responsibility in relation to this matter, and that the provider has dealt with the allegations appropriately.
I can confirm that the matter was referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) on 29/1/15. As the allegations are currently being investigated by the HSE, it is inappropriate for me to comment on this issue.
457. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the waiting lists for consultant neurological review in Cavan hospital; the current allocation of consultant neurologists; the way this compares to the national target per area and population; if a full-time neurologist will be appointed in view of the current waiting list length; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9377/15]
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.
458. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding under-funding issues in respect of an organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9379/15]
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.
459. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress, to date, in determining a review in respect of a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9382/15]
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.
460. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal may expect an appointment in Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9383/15]
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. 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.
461. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a discretionary medical card in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9391/15]
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.
462. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he will accede to this Deputy's request for a meeting on behalf of this Deputy and on behalf of other Teachtaí Dála and Senators, who regularly visit prisoners in Northern Ireland; the reason for the delay with this meeting, despite numerous requests, and in view of the heightened tensions in the prisons there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8758/15]
View answerI approach prison issues in the North with great seriousness and am very conscious of the increase in tensions in Roe House, Maghaberry Prison over recent weeks. I have discussed these issues with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with a member of the Independent Assessment Team, which undertook the stock take of the August 2010 agreement between prisoners and the Prison Service. I have also spoken with the Northern Ireland Minister for Justice David Ford regarding prison issues, including in the margins of the recent negotiations on the Stormont House Agreement.
My officials in the Belfast Secretariat are in regular and continuing contact with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Office, with officials in the Northern Ireland Prison Service, and a range of other relevant parties to seek to ensure that the prison dispensation in the North is safe, dignified and equitable for both prison staff and for prisoners, and they have been keeping me closely informed of developments.
I am conscious of the Deputy’s long-standing interest in prison issues and am happy to meet him to discuss the matter. I have asked my office to make contact with the Deputy to arrange a mutually suitable time for a meeting.
463. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if resolution is close to hand, for the release of a person (details supplied), who is currently incarcerated in Cairo, Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8764/15]
View answerI remain deeply concerned at this individual’s continued detention as well as the recent further postponement of his trial.
I am not in a position to predict the timing of developments in this case that are dependent on decisions of the Egyptian authorities.
However, I would like to assure the deputy that officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, both in Dublin and in Cairo, are in ongoing contact with this individual and his family, and will continue to work actively towards the achievement of a positive outcome to this case while continuing to offer full consular support to this Irish citizen.
464. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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. [9195/15]
View answerMy Department is responsible for two Votes: Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Vote 27 - International Cooperation. No payments have been made to the firms listed in the Deputy’s question by my Department from 2011 to 2014 nor is my Department contracted to use these firms. There are no agencies or State bodies under the aegis of my Department.
465. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the involvement her Department should have in setting the training, educational and professional development requirements and standards preschool child care professionals should have; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9069/15]
View answerA considerable amount of work has been done on occupational profiles in early childhood care and education. This culminated in the 2002 publication of Quality Childcare and Lifelong Learning: A Model Framework for Education, Training and Professional Development. This Model Framework identified a number of occupational profiles and associated skills/attributes depending on the role of the childcare practitioner. The roles vary from that of Basic Practitioner to Expert Practitioner. These role descriptors remain valid. At European level, the type of key competencies required of the early years workforce was the subject of a detailed study by the European Commission in 2011 ('Competence Requirements in Early Childhood Education and Care', or the 'CoRe report').
While I do not see the necessity to add to the existing body of work in setting out the professional development requirements for childcare practitioners, my Department is conducting a review of courses in early childhood care and education which will examine the extent to which these courses equip graduates with the skills, knowledge and dispositions to work in the area of early years education. While Further and Higher Education training providers have to comply with the quality assurance procedures set by Quality and Qualifications Ireland, this review will seek the views of early childcare professionals themselves on how their professional development requirements have been met.
466. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that, in Dublin alone, there are approximately 9,000 children attending national schools who have been illegally discriminated against on religious grounds in seeking admission to these schools and, as a consequence, the parents of these children have in some cases been forced to adopt a religion, in which they do not believe, by getting their child baptised (details supplied); and her plans to address this issue. [8761/15]
View answer493. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to a matter (details supplied) regarding a redress scheme that may be required for children and parents, who are suffering illegal religious discrimination in admissions policies in national schools in view of the fact, in Dublin alone, there is approximately 9,000 children attending national schools who have been illegally discriminated against on religious grounds; and if she will address the illegal religious discrimination in admission policies in national schools. [9085/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 466 and 493 together.
It is important to be clear that it is a parent who decides the religious denomination of their child. It is not a decision of a school.
Parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
Schools are not permitted to discriminate against an applicant for admission on any of the nine grounds set out in the Equal Status Act.
The Equal Status Act provides that any primary or post primary school whose objective is to provide education in an environment that promotes certain religious values may admit a student of a particular religious denomination in preference to other students. The legislation also provides that such a school can also refuse to admit a student who is not of that religion but only where the school proves that this refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.
Schools that comply with the requirements of the equality legislation do not therefore discriminate on religious grounds. I do not accept the Deputy's references to illegal discrimination and therefore I consider that the issue of redress does not arise.
The draft Education (Admission to Schools) Bill does not propose changes to the existing equality legislation. However, the draft Bill will provide for schools to explicitly state in the school's admission policy that it will not discriminate against an applicant for admission on the grounds of disability, special educational needs, sexual orientation, family status, membership of the traveller community, race, civil status, gender or religion.
The draft Bill will also provide for schools to publish an enrolment policy which will include details of the school's arrangements for students who do not want to attend religious instruction.
The issue of choice of school is separately being considered by my Department with a focus on providing for diversity when recognising new schools.
