Written Answers Nos. 223 - 231
223. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of wheelchairs in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26641/15]
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.
224. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the waiting list for St. Michael's House services in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26642/15]
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.
225. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in processing an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal which was submitted and received along with the requested medical evidence in January 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26645/15]
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.
226. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health when a nursing home (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive clearance to employ a nurse at the facility; the reason for the delay in having the nurse's registration finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26647/15]
View answerThe Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 provides for the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland to register, regulate and control nurses and midwives with the purpose of protection of the public.
In this regard, I would like to advise that this is an operational matter and it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the NMBI. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NMBI for attention and direct reply.
If you have not received a reply from the NMBI within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
227. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the annual savings to his Department and the bodies under its aegis in reducing all commercial semi-State bodies chief executive officers' pay by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26912/15]
View answerThe Voluntary Health Insurance Board (VHI) is the only Commercial semi-State body under the aegis of my Department. The VHI generates its income through its commercial activities. The total remuneration paid to its Chief Executive, including pension contribution, is included in the VHI's operating expenses each year.
The remuneration package of the Chief Executive forms part of his contract of employment and is sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. There would be no savings to my Department from such a proposal.
228. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the annual saving to his Department if spending on education and training was reduced by 2.5%, 5% and 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26922/15]
View answerThe annual saving to my department of a 2.5%, 5% and 10% reduction on education and training, based on budget allocation for 2015, is set out in the following table.
|
Budget Allocation for Education and Training in 2015 |
2.5% Reduction |
5% Reduction |
10% Reduction |
|
€240,000 |
€6,000 |
€12,000 |
€24,000 |
229. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the annual saving to his Department if spending on professional fees, including but not limited to legal, IT-related, accountancy and other advisory and consultancy fees, was reduced by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26951/15]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. The information will be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
230. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the annual saving to the Exchequer if the Minister's special advisers' salaries were capped at the first point of the principal officer grade, that is, €75,647; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26965/15]
View answerThe Special Advisors in my Department are as follows:
|
NAME |
POSITION |
ANNUAL SALARY |
|
Mr. Brian Murphy |
Special Advisor |
€99,370 |
|
Mr. Dominic Miller |
Press Advisor |
€84,706 |
|
Ms Patricia Ryan |
Special Advisor |
€65,000 |
Both Mr. Murphy and Mr. Miller were employed as my Special Advisors while in my previous role as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. Mr. Murphy's rate of pay was approved on an exceptional basis in 2011 by the Department of Finance in view of his previous salary. Mr. Miller's salary currently equates to the fourth point of the Principal Officer Standard (Non PPC) salary scale and is in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines in respect of Ministerial appointments. Ms Patricia Ryan is Special Advisor to my colleague the Minister of State, Ms Kathleen Lynch T.D. If Special Advisor's salaries were capped at the first point of the Principal Officer scale, the annual saving in my Department would be €32,782.
231. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the annual saving to his Department and the bodies under its aegis if all the fees for all State agency, non-commercial State- sponsored bodies and commercial semi-State board members were reduced by 25%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26979/15]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. The Department will compile the information and I will reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
