Written Answers Nos. 298-317
298. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the level of funding provided to, and the percentage of cuts to, local drugs task force funding for each year from 2011 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19239/15]
View answer299. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the level of funding for each individual drugs task force for each year from 2011 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19240/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 298 and 299 together.
In line with the National Drugs Strategy, the Department of Health (DOH) administers a Drugs Initiative which primarily funds community based drugs initiatives supported by Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces. In addition, the Health Service Executive (HSE) also funds community based drugs initiatives supported by the Task Forces.
The following tables set out the budget allocation for each Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force (LDATF) and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force (RDATF) for each of the years referred to by the Deputy:
|
LDATFs |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 DOH |
2014 HSE |
2015 DOH |
2015 HSE |
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
|
Ballyfermot |
1.492 |
1.570 |
1.522 |
0.461 |
1.026 |
0.255 |
1.231 |
|
Ballymun |
1.210 |
1.181 |
1.145 |
0.633 |
0.488 |
0.423 |
0.698 |
|
Blanchardstown |
1.152 |
1.124 |
1.091 |
0.179 |
0.914 |
0.179 |
0.914 |
|
Bray |
1.612 |
1.573 |
1.526 |
0.574 |
0.916 |
0.574 |
0.916 |
|
Canal Communities |
1.601 |
1.562 |
1.515 |
0.339 |
1.141 |
0.339 |
1.141 |
|
Clondalkin |
1.455 |
1.422 |
1.429 |
0.388 |
1.008 |
0.388 |
1.007 |
|
Cork |
1.618 |
1.579 |
1.531 |
0.412 |
1.108 |
0.412 |
1.108 |
|
Dublin 12 |
1.148 |
1.120 |
1.087 |
0.074 |
0.990 |
0.071 |
0.993 |
|
Dublin North East |
1.259 |
1.229 |
0.988 |
0.422 |
0.595 |
0.422 |
0.595 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
0.949 |
0.926 |
0.898 |
0.095 |
0.787 |
0.095 |
0.787 |
|
Finglas Cabra |
0.960 |
0.937 |
0.908 |
0.263 |
0.628 |
0.263 |
0.628 |
|
North Inner City |
2.428 |
2.370 |
2.299 |
0.577 |
1.653 |
0.495 |
1.735 |
|
South Inner City |
2.215 |
2.162 |
2.097 |
0.256 |
1.788 |
0.176 |
1.868 |
|
Tallaght |
1.281 |
1.250 |
1.263 |
0.453 |
0.782 |
0.341 |
0.894 |
|
Total |
20.38 |
20.005 |
19.298 |
5.126 |
13.824 |
4.432 |
14.515 |
|
Percentage Reduction |
2.51 |
1.86 |
3.52 |
1.82 |
0.00 |
The same percentage reduction has been applied in all cases. However, variations in allocation levels in certain cases are attributable to changing levels of service provision from year to year.
|
RDATFs |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 DOH |
2014 HSE |
2015 DOH |
2015 HSE |
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
|
East Coast |
0.873 |
0.852 |
0.584 |
0.058 |
0.509 |
0.058 |
0.509 |
|
Midlands |
0.871 |
0.850 |
0.824 |
0.308 |
0.491 |
0.137 |
0.662 |
|
Mid West |
1.534 |
1.496 |
1.452 |
0.148 |
1.260 |
0.148 |
1.260 |
|
North East |
1.011 |
0.986 |
0.957 |
0 |
0.928 |
0 |
0.928 |
|
North West |
0.785 |
0.766 |
0.743 |
0.272 |
0.448 |
0.259 |
0.462 |
|
North Dublin |
0.847 |
0.826 |
0.801 |
0.456 |
0.321 |
0.310 |
0.467 |
|
South East |
1.161 |
1.133 |
1.099 |
0 |
1.066 |
0 |
1.066 |
|
South West |
0.871 |
0.850 |
0.824 |
0.103 |
0.696 |
0.103 |
0.696 |
|
Southern |
1.060 |
1.034 |
1.003 |
0 |
0.973 |
0 |
0.973 |
|
Western |
0.720 |
0.703 |
0.682 |
0.137 |
0.524 |
0.137 |
0.524 |
|
Total |
9.733 |
9.496 |
8.969 |
1.482 |
7.216 |
1.152 |
7.547 |
The data in respect of 2014 and 2015 respectively reflects the fact that the Department of Health transferred €21.04m in funding relating to Drug and Alcohol Task Force projects to the HSE on 1 January 2014, with a further €1.02m transferring on 1 January 2015.
300. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of specialised chairs in respect of a child (details supplied) who has special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19247/15]
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.
301. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the long waiting times for an appointment with a consultant orthopaedic surgeon (details supplied) in County Cork; his views that patients are being told that they will have to wait for up to three years for an appointment; the actions he will take to address these waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19268/15]
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.
302. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19286/15]
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.
304. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 306 of 6 May 2015, his plans to accommodate the remaining 2,850 persons from congregated settings, following the housing of the 150 persons being prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19345/15]
View answerThe HSE’s report “Time to Move on from Congregated Settings – A Strategy for Community Inclusion”,(2011) proposes a new model of support in the community by moving people from institutional settings to the community, over a seven year time frame. The plan will be rolled out at a regional and local level and will involve full consultation.
In terms of housing, the Department of Health and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government are working in collaboration to support the transition of people with a disability from institutions to social housing in the community under the Government's National Housing Strategy for People with Disability 2011 to 2016.
As part of the implementation process, in 2013 and 2014 one million euro was transferred from the Department of Health’s Vote to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government’s (DECLG) Vote to provide for the ring-fenced social housing costs of up to 150 people leaving disability or mental health institutions. At the end of December 2014, it is estimated that there were circa 3,000 people with a disability living in congregated settings. The HSE has prioritised the transition of 150 people from congregated settings in 2015. In 2015, one million euro has been allocated to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to continue this process.
As the HSE is responsible for leading out on the recommendations on “Time to Move on from Congregated Settings – A Strategy for Community Inclusion”, 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, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
305. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will reschedule an operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [19350/15]
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.
306. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the public consultation he commenced, regarding easier access to rescue drugs in emergencies, including epipens adrenaline, salbutamol, glucagon, naloxone, and glyceryl trinitrate; when consultation will be complete; when actions will be taken following the consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19355/15]
View answerI launched a public consultation process on the wider availability of a number of prescription-only medicines used in emergency situations on 20 February. Members of the public and other stakeholders were asked to respond to the consultation by mid-March. Submissions have been received from a wide variety of respondents and analysis of these responses is underway.
The consultation forms part of a wider review which aims to explore the feasibility of setting up a system to allow appropriately trained non-medical persons to have ready access to certain prescription-only medicines for use in emergency situations, while ensuring that medicines continue to be controlled in an appropriate manner. My Department has also consulted with a number of healthcare organisations and agencies to ensure that the various options for extending the availability of certain prescription-only medicines for use in emergency situations are fully explored.
The outcome of these discussions and feedback from the public consultation are currently being considered. I expect to receive a report and policy recommendations shortly. I will then consider the report and make a policy decision on the best way to proceed. The report of the consultation will be made available on my Department's website once this process is complete.
307. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the percentage of assessments of need under the disability Acts that were delivered within the statutory timeframes, in counties Laois and Offaly, per year, in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19401/15]
View answerThe particular issue raised by the Deputy 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.
308. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the extent of waiting lists for psychology assessments and for occupational therapy in counties Laois and Offaly, per year, in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19402/15]
View answerThe particular issue raised by the Deputy 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.
309. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the current status of disability services in counties Laois and Offaly; his plans to re-arrange these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19403/15]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive 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.
310. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the specific arrangements that were made in industrial relations discussions in the health sector, in relation to pay, hours, and practice; the way they differed from the Haddington Road agreement; if it is envisaged that these will be changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19404/15]
View answerThe first official engagement between public sector employers and ICTU took place on Tuesday 12th May and the unions were provided with a fiscal briefing on Thursday.
The approach to the discussions and the way in which it will differ from the Haddington Road Agreement process will become clearer as the talks progress.
311. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Health the cost of increasing the medical card income thresholds by 20%; the estimated change in numbers eligible for a medical card as a result of this measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19408/15]
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.
312. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of medical card recipients, broken down by eligibility criteria, by income range in bands of €10,000, and by household type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19409/15]
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.
313. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to the State of providing free access to all prescribed medicines for all citizens; the cost for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19427/15]
View answerAs I outlined in my reply to you of the 4th of March, it is not possible to provide data on the full cost to the State of providing free access to all prescribed medicines for all citizens as neither the Department or the HSE collects data on the level of private spending that is incurred by individuals purchasing medications.
Data is however available on the cost to the State of providing medicines for the GMS and community drugs schemes. In 2014 the cost of medicines for these scheme was €1.702 billion which includes the ingredient cost and appropriate fees but is net of manufacturers rebate income. Additionally the revenue associated with the prescription charge would be foregone if free access to all prescribed medicines was provided for all citizens. In 2014 the prescription charge income is projected to be €120 million.
314. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the savings that would be made if all public subsidies for private health care were removed; the tax breaks there are for private hospitals; if a land gift scheme exists in any form, or it is planned to introduce one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19428/15]
View answer315. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if charges for use of all beds in public and voluntary hospitals, for the purpose of private medical practice, are currently based on the full economic cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19429/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 315 together.
Government policy has been to move towards charging the full economic cost for the provision of private acute in-patient services, while being sensitive to the need for continuing stability in the private health insurance market. In that context, the Government introduced the Health (Amendment) Act 2013, which provides for the charging of all private in-patients in public acute hospitals. The Government believes that the charge for private care in public hospitals should cover the hospitals' costs of providing the service, including the non-consultant hospital doctors, nursing staff, medical and surgical supplies, diagnostics, operating theatres, administration and support staff.
Section 55 of the Health Act 1970, as amended by the Health (Amendment) Act 2013, provides for the making available of private in-patient services and the charging for those private in-patient services. The charge relates to the provision of in-patient services, rather than the use of a bed in a hospital. Persons who opt to be treated on a private basis on admission to hospital are liable for the fees of all consultants involved in his or her care and for hospital charges under Section 55 for that episode of care. The charge is a per diem rate, which is a flat rate daily charge, dependent on the category of hospital treating the patient and on whether a person is accommodated in a single or multiple occupancy room or on a day case basis. The per diem charges set out in the 2013 legislation were informed by overall cost of the provision of the private in-patient services and the policy of moving towards the recovery of full economic cost. While a per diem charging system has the advantage of being relatively straightforward for the hospital, patient and insurer to understand, it does not directly relate to the cost of specific treatments provided to individual private patients, the level of complexity of a case or the costs of individual hospitals.
Regarding the Deputy's questions concerning tax breaks for private hospitals and a land gift scheme, these are matters for the Department of Finance and should be referred to that Department for reply.
316. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the various current level of salaries of hospital consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19430/15]
View answerThere are a broad range of consultant salaries depending on type of contract held. These can be found from pages 42 to page 58 within the current consolidated pay scales which are available to view or download here: http://health.gov.ie/blog/publications/department-of-health-and-children-consolidated-salary-scales-clause-2-31-of-the-haddington-road-agreement/.
317. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the provision of primary dental care services; how they are funded; the costs to the general public; the procedures covered by medical cards; the cost for providing free at-the-point-of-care dental care to all citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19431/15]
View answerThe Dental Treatment Service Scheme (DTSS) provides access to dental treatment for medical card holders over the age of 16. All medical card holders are entitled to specific dental treatments e.g., an annual dental examination, two fillings in each calendar year, extractions as necessary. Additional treatments are available to persons with specific medical conditions, including persons in receipt of care or services for a disability, persons on a register of disability and more vulnerable clients. The HSE prioritises for treatment patients with special needs, high risk patients and those who have greater clinical needs and will continue to monitor the operation of the DTSS to ensure the most beneficial, effective and efficient use of available resources. The budget for the DTSS is €76 million this year. The Minister for Social Protection is responsible for the Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme (DTBS), which provides an annual dental examination to qualified people. The budget for the DTBS is approximately €11 million.
Dental services for children up to 16 years of age and persons of all ages with special needs are provided by the Public Dental Service of the HSE through its dental clinics. All HSE dental clinics prioritise emergency care for children up to 16 years of age, treatment for special needs patients and screening of children aged from 11 to 13 years, including referral for orthodontic services where necessary. Other services, including screening of children 6 to 8 years, are provided but may be deferred in clinics where there is pressure on resources. The budget for the PDS is estimated at €60 million.
The full cost to the State of providing free dental care for all citizens would depend on numerous factors, including the underlying oral health of the population, the level of take-up of dental services, the level of service provided, and the cost of contracting such services on behalf of the State. Neither the Department nor the HSE collects data on private spending that is incurred by individuals paying for dental care. Future service provision will be informed by the National Oral Health Policy, which the Department of Health is currently developing.
