Written Answers Nos. 477-495
477. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the percentage of assessments of need under the Disability Act 2015 that were delivered within the statutory timeframes, in all regions-counties across the State, for each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24992/15]
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 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.
478. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of discretionary medical cards issued on medical grounds; the number of reviews issued by the Health Service Executive for each month since January 2013 to date in 2015. [24993/15]
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.
479. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if he will take immediate steps to have a person (details supplied) in County Longford admitted for a total hip replacement, which has been necessitated as the person's former hip replacement, performed in 2007, has led to significant health issues which have been publicly documented, and whereby the person has been placed on the urgent list for the procedure, with an indicated date some 12 months away; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24999/15]
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.
480. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if patients who are referred by their doctor to a private or public hospital abroad to have a procedure carried out, will be reimbursed their costs from the Health Service Executive within two weeks of returning home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25009/15]
View answerThe Health Service Executive operates the EU Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare in Ireland. Through the National Contact Point (NCP) office the HSE provides information for patients on the Cross-Border Directive on its website - http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/cbd/ - and also by phone.
Where a patient has adhered to the published administrative process in seeking a refund of the cost of healthcare incurred in another member state that qualifies under the Cross Border Directive, the NCP endeavours to reimburse the cost of treatment incurred or the cost of providing such healthcare in the State, whichever is the lesser, to the applicant within 30 days in line with Prompt Payment legislation.
481. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for the Health Service Executive national lottery grants 2015 in respect of a group (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25012/15]
View answerMy Department has received an application for funding from the 2015 National Lottery allocation from the organisation in question. This is among a large number of applications currently being assessed by my Department. The organisation will be informed of the outcome of the application as soon as a decision has been made.
482. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason a certain medication has been taken off the medical card scheme list of medications in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [25016/15]
View answerAs the particular issue raised relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to you. 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.
483. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the way moneys received from the national lottery fund in 2013 were spent on each project to which they were directed, including projects that were part-funded and wholly-funded from the fund; if he will indicate, for each such part-funded project, where the balance of funding was sourced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25029/15]
View answer484. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the amount of money that was received by his Department from the national lottery fund in each of the years 2009 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; if he will provide a detailed breakdown indicating the way this money was spent, or otherwise directed, for each of these years; if any moneys are held in reserve arising from funds received over this period or before; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25045/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 483 and 484 together.
My Department administers a National Lottery Discretionary Fund from which once-off grants are paid to community and voluntary organisations providing a range of health related services. Any additional funding that may be required for a project, over and above the lottery grant, is a matter for the organisation.
Details of grants paid from my Department's National Lottery Discretionary Fund for each of the years 2009 to 2014 are available on my Department's website at http://health.gov.ie/about-us/national-lottery-grant-scheme/
The full lottery allocation was disbursed each year over the period referred to by the Deputy.
486. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the reason payment of an injury grant to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo by the Health Service Executive ceased in September 2014; when a review of the decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25080/15]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. 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.
487. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce a scheme, similar to that in the National Health Service, where in vitro fertilisation treatment is covered, as a public entitlement, by the Health Service Executive. [25101/15]
View answerIn February of this year I received Government approval to draft the General Scheme of a Bill for assisted human reproduction, which will include provisions relating to numerous aspects from the beginning to the end of the assisted human reproduction process.
As I have previously stated it is currently not the case that the public funding of fertility treatments will be included as part of these provisions.
Although in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment is not provided by the Irish public health service, there is some support available in that patients who access IVF treatment privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme. In addition, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Scheme administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Medicines covered by the High Tech Scheme must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and approved by the HSE ‘High Tech Liaison Officers’. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme.
488. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding public health concerns in connection with lead in pipes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25105/15]
View answerThe Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government is responsible for policy and legislation in relation to drinking water quality. Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for the provision of public water services.
The Government recently approved a National Strategy to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water which was prepared by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG) and my Department, in consultation with Irish Water, the HSE and the EPA. Part of the Strategy will see the establishment of a new grant scheme to assist low income households to replace lead pipes in their home. It is envisaged that the grant scheme will be administered by local authorities and that the available resources will be prioritised to areas of highest risk. The terms and conditions of the scheme will be publicised as soon as they are finalised by the DECLG, who will have responsibility for the scheme.
One of the main health risks associated with lead in water is that it can affect the development of a child’s brain leading to problems with learning and behaviour. Lead may harm the kidneys and may contribute to high blood pressure. It has also been linked to cancer.
The HSE have advised that no level of lead in drinking water is now considered to be completely safe. It is therefore best to keep everybody’s exposure to lead, from all sources (drinking, eating, inhaling), as low as possible. Everybody should therefore try to drink water with as little lead in it as possible. Further advice can be obtained on the following websites.
HSE consumer advice
http://www.hse.ie/eng/health/hl/water/drinkingwater/lead/EPA_HSE_Drinking_Water_Consumer_Advice_Note_Lead.pdf
Joint position paper of the EPA and HSE
http://www.hse.ie/eng/health/hl/water/drinkingwater/lead/HSE_EPA_JointPositionPaperLeadinDrinkingWater.pdf.
489. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if a primary care centre is planned for Cobh in County Cork; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25118/15]
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.
490. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; when the person may expect an appointment with a consultant orthopaedic surgeon in the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore in County Offaly. [25137/15]
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 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 up the matter.
491. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the amount paid to private ambulance services by each hospital in the Saolta hospital group in each of the years 2013 and 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25145/15]
View answerWith regard to the specific queries 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 up the matter.
492. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number and location of the intermediate care vehicles in the national advocacy service western region; the plan for additional vehicles and the locations concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25146/15]
View answerWith regard to the specific queries 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.
493. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if funds will be provided to upgrade facilities at Cuan Dara in Cherry Orchard Hospital in Dublin 10, to make them wheelchair friendly and accessible, to cater for the needs of patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25148/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
494. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently being treated by podiatrists at the centre in Grattan Street in Cork; his plans to replace the two podiatrists who have left the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25149/15]
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 up the matter.
495. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if a person’s advocate may make an application to change the doctor allocated to that person's son, in the context where the son is unable to make his own independent decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25154/15]
View answerAs 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.
