Written Answers Nos. 317-339
317. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the details of funding for children's mental health services in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17423/15]
View answerAs this is a service issue this 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.
318. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the range of services that will be available in the Laytown/Bettystown Primary Care Centre, County Meath; the expected staffing for each such service; the expected cost of fitting out the centre; the start date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17426/15]
View answerThe 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.
319. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the proposed primary care centre for Drogheda north, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17430/15]
View answerThe 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.
320. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if legislation will be introduced to regulate the practice of using toxic bleach (details supplied) to treat persons on the autistic spectrum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17434/15]
View answerUnder the Medicinal Products (Control of Placing on the Market) Regulations 2007, as amended, a medicine cannot be placed on the market in Ireland unless it has a marketing authorisation from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) or a community marketing authorisation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Any product which makes a medicinal claim to treat medical conditions such as autism is considered to be a medicine and requires an authorisation under this legislation.
The product referred to as Chlorine Dioxide or CD Protocol, otherwise known as Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) is not authorised as a medicine for sale or supply in Ireland. Any manufacture, supply or sale of this product for the purposes of treating a medical condition is illegal.
The HPRA, the competent authority for the implementation of the medicines legislation, has led a number of investigations into the alleged supply of CD Protocol in various parts of Ireland during the past year. It is pursuing a number of avenues of enquiry in what continues to be an open investigation into the manufacture, supply and sale of this product.
During its investigations to date, the HPRA has carried out searches at a number of premises assisted, where necessary, by An Garda Síochána and has also spoken to a number of individuals. In each case, substances and/or equipment have been detained for further examination.
The HPRA continues to advise consumers not to seek to purchase or take this product.
321. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on general practitioner charges for blood testing, for management of conditions, when blood testing is available free of charge in hospitals with a general practitioner letter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17450/15]
View answerPersons covered by the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme should not be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP, or the Practice Nurse on behalf of the GP, which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of a patient or to monitor a diagnosed condition.
I have been advised by the HSE that its Local Health Offices will fully investigate any reported incidents of eligible patients being charged for phlebotomy services which form part of the investigation and necessary treatment of patients' symptoms or conditions.
A Memorandum of Understanding signed in February commits the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO to substantive negotiations on a new comprehensive GP contract commencing no later than 31 March 2015 with a view to concluding within 12 months. These discussions have commenced and the appropriate arrangements in relation to phlebotomy services will be considered in this context.
322. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene with the Health Service Executive to ensure that Fampridine, Fampyra, which helps multiple sclerosis patients, is included on the community drugs scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17462/15]
View answer362. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health when the multiple sclerosis drug, Fampyra, will be covered as part of the drugs payment scheme, in view of the fact that multiple sclerosis sufferers continue to pay hundreds of euros every four weeks for this drug. [17682/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 362 together.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Prior to reimbursing any medicine, the HSE considers of a range of statutory criteria including clinical need, cost-effectiveness and the resources available to the HSE.
The decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the HSE on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. They are not political or Ministerial decisions.
The HSE received an application for the inclusion of Fampridine in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application was considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed by the Department of Health and the HSE with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association for the assessment of new medicines.
In accordance with these procedures, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics conducted a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of Fampridine and concluded that, as the manufacturer was unable to demonstrate sufficient effectiveness and a fair price for Fampridine in the Irish healthcare setting, it was unable to recommend the reimbursement of the product.
On foot of this, the HSE decided that it was not in a position to add the drug to the List of Reimbursable Items supplied under the GMS and other community drug schemes.
It is open to the supplier, at any time, to submit a new application to the HSE for the inclusion of Fampridine on the community drugs schemes incorporating new evidence which demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of the drug, by offering a reduced price or both. A revised application was received by the HSE on 25 July 2014. The HSE has since been engaging with the company seeking an improved commercial offering and these engagements have been completed. It is not possible to say when a decision on the funding of this medication will be made as the HSE is considering the outcome of those commercial engagements as well as the outcome of discussions which the HSE has had with clinical experts regarding this drug.
323. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will increase the number of home help hours for residents in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17469/15]
View answerAs 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.
324. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will increase the number of home care packages for residents in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17470/15]
View answerAs 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.
325. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the status of provision of the pre-school placement special needs assistant resources for children with special needs for the upcoming school year; if there have been any changes to the system of allocation of these resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17475/15]
View answer326. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that parents of children with special needs fear that they may be faced with reduced resource special needs assistant hours in the upcoming school year; the assurances he will provide to alleviate such fears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17476/15]
View answer327. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the reason some families have been advised that their children with special needs will be subject to an assessment regarding special needs assistant hours; if there will be an imposed limit of resource hours provided further to such assessments in the upcoming school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17477/15]
View answer328. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if current providers of pre-school placements and associated special needs assistant resource hours will be, or have been, consulted with, in regard to the allocation of resources for the upcoming school year; if the considered opinion of these service providers will be considered, as part of an assessment to allocate resource special needs assistant hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17478/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 325 to 328, inclusive, together.
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, which is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, provides for a free pre-school year to eligible children in the year before they commence primary school. The objective of this scheme is to support early learning in a formal setting in advance of starting school. I understand that certain flexibilities are built into the scheme in an effort to accommodate children with special needs, such as an overage exemption, or waiver, for children with special needs who do not meet the age criteria and the option to avail of the free pre-school year over two years.
The Health Service Executive has no statutory obligation to provide assistant supports for children with special needs wishing to avail of the free pre-school year. However, the HSE does work at local level and in partnership with the relevant disability service providers to address individual needs as they arise. This is done, for example, by funding special pre-schools that cater specifically for children with disabilities. In some limited cases at local level, disability services have also facilitated children with disabilities to attend mainstream pre-schools by providing assistant supports where possible and where resources are available. The provision of such pre-school assistant supports should not be confused with the Special Needs Assistants who are funded by the Department of Education and Skills to support children with special educational needs in primary and post-primary school settings.
In general terms, the HSE’s role in supporting children with disabilities involves it working in close co-operation with the disability service providers that it funds, with the education sector, with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and with the parents and families of the children in question. At national level, the Departments of Children and Youth Affairs, Education and Skills and Health are actively looking at the issue of the integration of children with disabilities into mainstream pre-school settings, informed by work undertaken by the Cross Sectoral Team on children's disability issues.
The particular issues raised by the Deputy are service matters for the Health Services Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the questions 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.
329. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the assistance that is available to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who was refused transport for a hospital appointment from the Health Service Executive and had to travel by taxi and return by taxi from a village in County Tipperary to attend an appointment at Kilcreene Hospital in County Kilkenny, who was charged €324.75 for the taxi, and who was only awarded an exceptional needs payment of €33.60 from the Department of Social Protection, as the Department has stated that the responsibility to provide transport to hospital appointments lies with the Health Service Executive; if he will confirm that responsibility for transport to hospital appointments does lie with the Executive; the support that will be provided to this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17485/15]
View answerWith regard to the detailed query raised by the Deputy, 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.
330. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan is waiting three years for a follow-up procedure from a knee replacement operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17493/15]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular patient query 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.
331. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if an early date for a hip replacement operation at Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dublin 11, will be arranged in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 [17496/15]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query 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.
332. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive an appointment date for an operation on that child's spine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17499/15]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query 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.
333. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on recruitment of posts for mental health services for persons with an intellectual disability; if he will provide an update on the development of a model of care for mental health and intellectual disability, committed to in the Health Service Executive's mental health division operational plan 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17504/15]
View answerAs at 17 April 2015, 397.5 or 95.5% of the 416 posts approved in 2012 and 405.5 or 85%, of the 477 posts approved in 2013, have been filled. Of the 250 posts allocated in 2014, 50 have started and a further 71 are at various stages in the recruitment process. The remainder of vacant posts are at various stages of recruitment, with some difficulties in identifying outstanding candidates, primarily for geographic and qualification reasons.
In relation to the recruitment of posts for mental health services for persons with an intellectual disability, and the development of a model of care for mental health and intellectual disability, as these service issues are outlined in the HSE's Operational Plan for 2015, this 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.
334. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of recorded incidents at the acute psychiatric unit at Galway University Hospital in each month of 2013, 2014 and 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17510/15]
View answer335. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of recorded incidents at the acute psychiatric unit at Roscommon County Hospital, in each month of 2013, 2014 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17511/15]
View answer336. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of recorded incidents at the acute psychiatric unit at St. Luke's, Ballinasloe, County Galway, in each month of 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17512/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 334 to 336, inclusive, together.
As these are service issues this 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.
337. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive has failed to issue public notices to homes served by public water supplies containing trihalomethanes, warning them not to give such water to young children, in view of the fact that parents are advised by the Executive to use cool boiled water rather than bottled water for babies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17518/15]
View answerThis is a matter for the HSE, therefore I have referred the question to the HSE for attention and 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.
338. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive has failed to issue public notices to homes served by public water supplies containing trihalomethanes, warning them not to consume the supply, if pregnant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17519/15]
View answerThis is a matter for the HSE, therefore I have referred the question to the HSE for attention and 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.
339. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the ongoing review of the mobility allowance scheme; the options available to those who are not currently in receipt of the payment, but require financial assistance, due to health conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17524/15]
View answerConscious of the reports of the Ombudsman regarding the legal status of the Motorised Transport Grant and Mobility Allowance Scheme, in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes. The Government decided that the preparatory work required for a new travel subsidy scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health. The Department is seeking a solution which would best meet the aim of supporting people with severe disabilities who require additional income to contribute towards the cost of their mobility needs, while remaining within the available budget and satisfying all legal and equality concerns. Work is ongoing on the policy proposals to be brought to Government for the drafting of primary legislation for a new scheme. Once policy proposals have been finalised and approved by Government, the time frame for the introduction of a new scheme will become clearer. The Health (Transport Supports) Bill is included in the Government's legislative programme for 2015. In the meantime, monthly payments have continued to be made by the Health Service Executive to 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance at the time that the scheme closed, in the interests of preventing hardship.
The Revenue Commissioners operate a scheme - Disabled Drivers and Passengers Tax Relief for Vehicles Purchased for use by People with Disabilities - which provides for a range of tax reliefs in connection with the purchase and use of motor vehicles. Information on the scheme is available at www.revenue.ie.
