Thursday, 26 Mar 2015

Written Answers Nos. 180-189

Departmental Contracts Data

Questions (180)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

180. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a list in tabular form of all contracts and tenders awarded by his Department to a company (details supplied) since 1 January 2004, including any such awarded singularly or as a joint bid or consortium including said company; if he will indicate which Department, agency or semi-State company was the contacting party in each case; the value in each case; the purpose of each contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13107/15]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Deputy might note that my Department did not award any contract or tender to the company in question.

Autism Support Services

Questions (181)

Finian McGrath

Question:

181. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a waiting list for an appointment with a paediatrician in respect of a child (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12497/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE 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 (182)

Barry Cowen

Question:

182. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and when the person will receive an appointment in Cappagh hospital in Dublin 11. [12367/15]

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 should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, 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.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications

Questions (183)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

183. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a payment under the nursing home support scheme will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12371/15]

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. 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.

Dental Services Waiting Lists

Questions (184)

Finian McGrath

Question:

184. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding dental treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12372/15]

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.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (185)

Finian McGrath

Question:

185. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide support in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11. [12386/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Each Local Health Office Area in the Health Service Executive (HSE) has a dedicated Disability Manager to coordinate the delivery of services to people with disabilities. It is open to an individual and their family to pursue this matter with the Disability Manager for their area who can be contacted at Ground Floor, Unit 4 & 5, Nexus Building, Block 6A, Blanchardstown, Corporate Park, Dublin 15, telephone [phone].

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to him. 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 them.

Counselling Services Provision

Questions (186)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

186. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of persons on waiting lists to access counselling in the years 2012 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; the length of time these persons are on the waiting list; the number of sessions of counselling that each person received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12397/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Counselling in Primary Care (CIPC) Service is a national service provided under the governance framework of the National Counselling Service (NCS) within the HSE Mental Health Division. It is being funded from the Programme for Government investment in Mental Health, to increase the access to counselling and psychotherapy and supplement existing services provided by Primary Care. Since 2012, this Government has provided funding totalling €7.5 million to develop the CIPC service. The service provides short term counselling for adults with non-complex psychological problems aged 18 and over and who hold a valid medical card. Referral into the service is by the person's GP or other member of the Primary Care Team. The establishment of the CIPC initiative is aimed at providing a more immediate response to wider community for persons in need of counselling and advice.

In relation to the specific issues raised by the Deputy as these are service issues the question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a response within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Counselling Services Provision

Questions (187)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

187. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of persons on waiting lists to access counselling specifically relating to sexual abuse in the years 2012 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; the length of time these persons are on the waiting list; the number of sessions of counselling that each person received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12398/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the information sought is not readily available in my Department I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly 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 Process

Questions (188)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

188. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of pieces of legislation that were submitted for pre-legislative scrutiny by his Department since 2011; his plans to allow pre-legislative scrutiny for any upcoming pieces of legislation from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12415/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

To date, the following Bills have been referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for pre-legislative scrutiny.

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013;

Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014;

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill;

Public Health (Alcohol) Bill.

I also expect to refer the following Bills to the Joint Oireachtas Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny.

Health Information Bill;

Health Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill;

Health Reform Bill;

Health (Transport Support) Bill;

Human Tissue Bill;

Patient Safety Licensing Bill;

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill;

National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (Amendment) Bill;

New Children's Hospital Establishment Bill;

Nursing Home Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill;

Public Health (Retail Licensing of Tobacco Products) Bill;

Assisted Human Reproduction Bill.

Medical Card Data

Questions (189)

John Halligan

Question:

189. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Waterford who hold a full medical card; and the number of persons who hold a discretionary medical card. [12422/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.