Mary Lou McDonald
Question:175. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the legal basis for the confidential committee of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes. [28206/15]
View answerMother and Baby Homes Inquiries
Questions (175)
Written answers
The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters was established by Government Order on the 17th February 2015 (S.I. No 57 of 2015) pursuant to Sections 3 and 7(2)(a) of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004.
The Confidential Committee module of the Commission is provided for in Articles 3 and 4 of the Schedule to the Order. The Government Order and a number of related explanatory documents are available on my Department’s website (www.dcya.gov.ie).
Questions Nos. 176 and 177 answered with Question No. 168.
Mobility Allowance Decision
Questions (178)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:178. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to restoring the mobility allowance in budget 2016; the amount it cost in the years 2008 to 2013; the number of persons who benefited from the allowance in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28084/15]
View answerWritten answers
Conscious 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 transport support 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 costs of their mobility needs, while remaining within the available budget and satisfying all legal and equality concerns. 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.
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 timeframe 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 relation to specific details around the cost and numbers benefiting from the scheme between 2008 and 2013, 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.
Health Services Provision
Questions (179)
Bernard Durkan
Question:179. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which appropriate support will continue to be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28125/15]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them
Water Fluoridation
Questions (180)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:180. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding fluoride; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28189/15]
View answerWritten answers
A number of studies from China, and the systematic review of these by Choi (from the Harvard Medical School) which claim an effect on children's IQ at very high levels of naturally occurring fluoride, were assessed by the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health in 2011. They were found to be of no relevance to Ireland, given our regulated fluoridation levels. The view of the Expert Body is that the overall design of the studies is poor and they do not provide evidence of any effect on children's IQ from either high or low fluoride levels. This view was shared by EU Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) in its Report in 2011. The evidence review by the Health Research Board, "Health Effects of Water Fluoridation", which was published in June 2015 also supports this view. It found that there was only one study carried out in an area like Ireland where there is community water fluoridation that examined fluoride and IQ. This was a prospective cohort study in New Zealand. The study concluded that there was no evidence of a detrimental effect on IQ as a result of exposure to community water fluoridation. The other study referred to by the Deputy was published very recently and is currently under review.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (181)
Bernard Durkan
Question:181. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determining an application for a medical card for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27982/15]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.