Brendan Smith
Question:96. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in the provision of a new health facility (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15852/15]
View answerPrimary Care Centres Provision
Questions (96)
Written answers
The HSE has responsibility for the provision, maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and 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.
Home Help Service
Questions (97)
Brendan Griffin
Question:97. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be re-imbursed for the costs of their home help care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15856/15]
View answerWritten 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.
Health Services
Questions (98)
Billy Kelleher
Question:98. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive facility, Cuan Ros on the Navan Road, Dublin 7, is under consideration to be used as a step-down facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15858/15]
View answerWritten 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.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (99, 100)
Billy Kelleher
Question:99. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason there are no crisis intervention beds available for adults with an intellectual disability in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15859/15]
View answerBilly Kelleher
Question:100. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will reverse the cuts to the Daughters of Charity budget; the reason respite provision for children and adults with an intellectual disability has been reduced and sidelined in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15860/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together.
The Government is committed to protecting frontline health and personal social services needs for people with disabilities. The Government currently provides funding of approximately €1.5 billion to the Disability Services Programme through the Health Service Executive's National Service Plan for 2015.
The HSE works with voluntary disability service providers to ensure that available resources are used in order to be responsive to the health and personal social services needs of people with a disability.
In 2015, the HSE is seeking to maximise the provision of services within available resources and to maintaining a consistent level to that provided in 2014, by providing the following specialist disability services:
- residential services to around 9,000 people with a disability;
- day services to over 22,000 people with intellectual and physical disabilities;
- respite residential support of 190,000 overnights for people with intellectual and physical disabilities;
- 3.9 million hours of Personal Assistant / Home Support Hours.
In order to maintain current service levels while supporting people with disabilities to achieve their full potential, including living as independently as possible, a significant change programme involving a realignment and reconfiguration of existing resources is being undertaken by the HSE. The reconfiguration will be in line with the recommendations in the Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services and will see new and sustainable models of service being implemented to meet the changing needs of service users, increased demographic pressures and individuals wish for more choice and control.
In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply. 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 up the matter with the HSE.
Dental Services Expenditure
Questions (101)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:101. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding cuts to dental care here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15865/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Public Dental Service (PDS) of the HSE provides emergency, routine and preventive oral health services to children under 16 and people of all ages with special needs. Orthodontic services, also delivered by salaried dental staff of the HSE, are provided to eligible patients based on the level of clinical need. The budgets for the PDS and orthodontic services have been maintained at approximately €60 million and approximately €16 million respectively. Oral health care is provided to medical card holders by dental practitioners contracted by the HSE under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS). Since 2011, when expenditure was €53 million, there has been a significant increase in expenditure on the DTSS. €63 million was spent in 2012, €70 million in 2013 and 2014 and the budget for 2015 is €76 million.
At present a new oral health policy is being developed by the Department of Health. This three-year project commenced in 2014 and is being led by the Chief Dental Officer. The project has three key parts. The first is a needs assessment, which will inform how new services should be provided. The second part will be a review of resources. Thirdly, there will be consultation on new ways of delivering oral health services. On 6 May there will be a consultation day involving key stakeholders, including dental professionals. I look forward to continued collaboration with and input from the dental profession as this project progresses.