Jonathan O'Brien
Question:140. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the remuneration package of the SouthDoc general manager (details supplied) [12299/15]
View answerHealth Services Staff Remuneration
Questions (140)
Written answers
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.
Legislative Programme
Questions (141)
Michael McGrath
Question:141. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to progress the Autism Bill 2012 through Committee Stage in the lifetime of the current Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12303/15]
View answerWritten answers
In March 2013, a Private Members Bill entitled the Autism Bill 2012 was debated and passed Second Stage in the Dail. The Bill, as introduced, makes provision for the preparation of an autism strategy and a national framework for addressing the specific needs of adults with autism. The broad thrust of the Bill was accepted by Government and it was not opposed at Second Stage. Although the needs of people with autism have received some recognition in recent years, the Bill is seen as contributing to a more enlightened and educated public debate.
In the context of the Autism Bill, it is important to note that the Government is already committed under the National Disability Strategy (NDS) to ensuring that people with autism are empowered by policy and programmes to participate meaningfully as citizens in Irish society. The NDS is driven by this basic but fundamentally important objective and is the most effective combination of legislation, policies, institutional arrangements and services to support and reinforce equal participation for all people with disabilities.
The Cabinet Committee on Social Policy has been examining issues around autism across Government Departments in association with the National Disability Authority (NDA). This work by the NDA, which has included consultation with families, will be of significant assistance in informing how best to address the needs of people with ASD, so that we can be sure that they are appropriately reflected and included in policies and actions.
The National Disability Strategy Implementation Group has already discussed the findings of the NDA consultation and mapping of services to people with autism. Further to the recommendations of this exercise, the NDA is now engaging bilaterally with Departments and agencies to guide the development of actions under the umbrella of the National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan.
Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions
Questions (142)
Paul Murphy
Question:142. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the measures he will take following the opinion of the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice maintaining the State is in breach of European working time directives in relation to medical doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12322/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Court of Justice heard the case covering breaches of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) on Wednesday, 4 March. The preliminary opinion of the Judge Advocate General was published on 19 March and he found that Ireland has failed to fulfil its obligations under the EWTD for NCHDs, in particular by excluding in practice the training hours of non-consultant hospital doctors. This is not however the definitive position of the European Court of Justice. Full judgement is expected by the Court before the summer.
The Government is committed to achieving compliance with the provisions of the Directive. The HSE has made significant progress implementing the EWTD for NCHDs, particularly in the last year, and is close to full compliance with all of the provisions of the Directive apart from compliance with the 48 hour week, which stands at 68% at the end of January 2015, up from 40% compliance in the last quarter of 2013, and the 30% level of compliance in 2011. It has achieved 98% compliance with 30 minute daily rest breaks, 95% compliance with 11 hour daily rest breaks and 98% compliance with weekly/fortnightly rest breaks in the past two years.
The HSE has implemented a number of measures to progress compliance. These include changes to medical, nursing and midwifery and other work practices, redeployment of staff, aligning work patterns to work load and reducing the number of tiers of on-call cover. The HSE has increased the number of NCHDs by 400 over the last 2 years and is currently recruiting additional consultants.
The HSE submitted an updated Implementation Plan to my Department last month which identifies 2017 as the earliest date by which most NCHDs could be fully compliant, as in some instances compliance with the 48 hour week cannot be achieved without significant service reconfiguration. Measures identified within the report to improve compliance include the recruitment of additional NCHDs and consultants, the transfer of some of the NCHD tasks to other grades of staff, the reconfiguration of acute services in conjunction with the implementation of a Smaller Hospitals Framework and the development of the National Maternity Strategy and a single National Paediatric Hospital to replace three existing stand-alone paediatric hospitals.
My Department and the HSE will continue to focus on achieving compliance on EWTD in respect of the 48 hour requirement by the earliest possible date.
Medical Card Eligibility
Questions (143)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Question:143. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) who pays for a Belgian medical card has been refused a medical card here, when under European Union entitlement, that person should be issued a full medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12341/15]
View answerWritten answers
Regulation (EC) 883/2004 deals with the coordination of social security, including health care, for those moving within the European Union. Under its provisions, persons residing in Ireland who are attached to the social security system of another member state, are entitled to receive health care services in Ireland at the cost of that member state provided they are not subject to Irish social security legislation. Persons in this category are entitled to full eligibility and receive a medical card as evidence of their entitlement.
The HSE aims to ensure that every person who is entitled to a medical card or a GP visit card is given the opportunity to avail of his or her entitlement. In assessing an application under the EU Regulations the HSE will establish if the person is subject to Irish social security legislation. A person is considered subject to Irish social security legislation if s/he is in receipt of a contributory Irish social welfare payment or engaged in work in Ireland and subject to PRSI. If so, the person will not qualify for a medical card under EU legislation, but may qualify for a means-tested medical card under national legislation.
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. 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 Applications
Questions (144)
Thomas Pringle
Question:144. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the length of time a person (details supplied) in County Donegal must wait before a decision is made on an application for a medical card which has been with a deciding officer since 26 January 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12343/15]
View answerWritten 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 Contracts
Questions (145)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:145. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the contracts a person's businesses and-or subsidiaries (details supplied) have with his Department; the value of these contracts; their length; and the other companies who entered the tendering process that resulted in this person's companies winning the contract. [12356/15]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available within my Department. Should the Department hold any contract with known subsidiaries in relation to the details supplied, I will revert to the Deputy with the details as soon as possible. However, if the Deputy has a particular interest in any company or companies, please provide details to my private office and I will ensure a prompt response from the Department.