Thursday, 2 Jul 2015

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Questions (166)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

166. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if salary increments are paid in section 39 agencies. [26774/15]

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Written answers

Staff in agencies funded under Section 39 of the Health Act are not classified as public servants and are not bound by my Department's public health sector pay scales. As such I cannot comment on whether increments are paid in Section 39 agencies.

Health Services Funding

Questions (167)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

167. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of additional costs being incurred by disability organisations which receive funding from the Health Service Executive; if there is any estimate of additional costs arising from Health Information and Quality Authority compliance, the changing need of service users, water charges, employers’ PRSI rate changes, VAT rate changes and changes to sick leave entitlements. [26775/15]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Under 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, including disability services. The HSE either directly provides or contracts disability service providers to provide a range of disability services through a service level arrangement (SLA).

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.

Additional funding of €6 million has been allocated in the HSE National Service Plan in 2015 to provide day places for an estimated 1,400 young people finishing school and rehabilitative (life-skills) training. €4m in additional funding has also been allocated in the Plan to deliver an increase in the services for children with disabilities and reduce waiting lists under the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18s) Programme.

In relation to the health service 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.

Universal Health Insurance

Questions (168)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

168. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if media reports of a €3,000 average cost per adult for universal health insurance are correct; if he has received the results of the costing exercise; if he will publish same; his plans to confine any such scheme to hospital services only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26776/15]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The White Paper on Universal Health Insurance was published on 2 April 2014 and provides detailed information on the model of universal healthcare for Ireland. Under the White Paper model, everyone will be insured for a standard package of health services and will have their choice of health insurer from a mix of private health insurers and a publicly owned health insurer.

Following publication of the White Paper, a major costing exercise, involving the Department of Health, the ESRI and others, was initiated. The purpose of the exercise is to examine the cost implications of a change to a multi-payer, universal health insurance model, as proposed in the White Paper on UHI. Draft results from the initial phase of the costing exercise were presented to me at the end of May and these are now informing deliberation on next steps, including the necessity for further research and cost modelling.

Ultimately, the UHI costing exercise is a major research project with a number of phases. The next phases in the costing exercise are likely to include deeper analysis of the key issue of unmet need and a more detailed comparative analysis of the relative costs and benefits of alternative funding models using bottom-up costing techniques. The draft results from the initial phase, as well as the plans for the next phase of research, will inform discussions with the Taoiseach and the Cabinet Subcommittee on the best long-term approach to achieving universal healthcare, and on the development of a roadmap for healthcare reform.

Questions (174, 175)

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

174. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for assessment and reregistration of nurses with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland; the longest time it has taken a nurse to register with the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26810/15]

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Jerry Buttimer

Question:

175. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health how the average waiting time for assessment and reregistration of nurses with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland compares to the aims of the board in respect of such processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26811/15]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 175 together.

I wish to thank Deputy Buttimer for the questions raised.

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) is the independent, statutory organisation which regulates the nursing and midwifery professions in Ireland. 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 questions 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.