Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:241. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the average pay of consultants, per consultant, in the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29548/15]
View answerHospital Consultant Remuneration
Questions (241)
Written answers
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the 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.
Drugs Payment Scheme Threshold
Questions (242)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:242. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to set out the numbers who have reached the maximum of €144 under the drugs payment scheme in the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29549/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore, the 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.
Drugs Payment Scheme Threshold
Questions (243)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:243. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of the changes made to the drugs payment scheme in the past four years; at what points were the thresholds increased and by what amount; the estimated savings target on each occasion that the threshold was increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29550/15]
View answerWritten answers
In the past four years, the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold has been increased on two occasions. The threshold changes and estimated savings targeted on each occasion are outlined in the following table:
|
Date effective |
Threshold Change |
Estimated Targeted Savings |
|
01/01/2012 |
€120 to €132 |
€12 million |
|
01/01/2013 |
€132 to €144 |
€10 million |
Nursing Staff Remuneration
Questions (244)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:244. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of average pay received by nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29551/15]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the 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.
HIQA Expenditure
Questions (245)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:245. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of the yearly cost of the Health Information and Quality Authority; the numbers employed by same; his plans to increase the numbers and budget of the authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29553/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Information and Quality Authority's expenditure in 2014 was €16,881,000 of which €9,400,000 was provided by my Department. The Authority's also receives income from registration fees and annual fees. As at 31 March 2015, the Authority employed 184 staff.
Any increase in my Department's annual allocation to HIQA or any increase in the staffing complement as a result of the commencement of any additional functions or responsibilities will be dealt with in the context of the annual estimates process.
Health Promotion
Questions (246)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:246. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of the yearly spend on health promotion programmes and Healthy Ireland for the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29554/15]
View answerWritten answers
Since Healthy Ireland was launched in March 2013, expenditure on its implementation has primarily been met from within the budget of the Department of Health. This has amounted to the following: 2013 - 89,315.07; 2014 - 586,470.90; 2015 - 48,766.42 (to date).
As the Deputy is aware, Healthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025, is the national framework for action to improve the health and well-being of the country over the coming generation. Health promotion programmes are just one aspect of the Framework which takes a “whole of Government” and “whole of society” approach to improving health and well-being which is based on the international experience and thinking in addressing the broad social determinants of health. Health promotion programmes are primarily a matter for the HSE. As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 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.
Primary Care Services Provision
Questions (247)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:247. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to set out details of the yearly spend on medications by the State in hospitals, in pharmacy settings, on branded and non-branded medications and on out-of-pocket spending in the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29555/15]
View answerWritten answers
It is not possible to provide data on out of pocket spending on medications as neither the Department or the Health Service Executive (HSE) collects data on the level of private spending that is incurred by individuals purchasing medications.
With regard to the other data requested, under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes; therefore the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and 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.
HSE Staff Remuneration
Questions (248)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:248. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of the pay profile of non-clinical staff in the Health Service Executive; the number receiving over €100,000, over €150,000 and over €200,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29556/15]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the 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.
Hospital Services
Questions (249)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:249. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of the total public funding for hospitals by size status; whether the hospital is under full public control or under the control of a private board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29557/15]
View answerWritten answers
With regard to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, 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.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications
Questions (250)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:250. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of the average fair deal scheme waiting time at present; the numbers on the list; if any updated plan for its continued financing has been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29558/15]
View answerWritten answers
As of July 10 2015, there were 488 approved applicants awaiting funding under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, and the average waiting time was 4 weeks.
In Budget 2015, additional funding of €25m was provided under the Delayed Discharges Initiative to help alleviate the support services that provide alternatives to, and relieve pressures on, acute hospitals. Of this, €10m was used to provide an additional 300 places under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. This reduced the waiting time for approved applicants from 17 weeks to 11 weeks.
In April 2015 the Government provided a further €74m to address issues that impact on delayed discharges. Of this, €44m was allocated to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme to provide an additional 1,600 places and to further reduce waiting times for approved applicants from 11 to 4 weeks. It is expected that a waiting period of 4 weeks will be maintained for approved applicants for the rest of the year.
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) budget in 2015 is €993 million. The latest information available to me is that there are about 22,600 people now receiving financial support under the NHSS. The Scheme is continuing to take on new clients and it is estimated that we will be supporting in excess of 23,900 people by the end of this year.
The NHSS is currently the subject of a review, the Terms of Reference of which are: "Taking account of Government policy, demographic trends and the fiscal situation:
1. To examine the on-going sustainability of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme;
2. To examine the overall cost of long-term residential care in public and private nursing homes and the effectiveness of the current methods of negotiating/setting prices;
3. Having regard to 1. and 2. above, to consider the balance of funding between long-term residential care and community based services;
4. To consider the extension of the scheme to community based services and to other sectors (Disability and Mental Health); and
5. To make recommendations for the future operation and management of the scheme."
The review will be published very shortly.
Cross-Border Health Initiatives
Questions (251)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:251. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of the various health initiatives that are being supported on an all-island basis; the yearly spend on same in the past four years; his further plans for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29559/15]
View answerWritten answers
North-South Cooperation on health matters takes place through the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) as well as Joint Departmental Projects. There has been significant activity in cross-border health and social care activity over the last decade. Collaboration takes place on a wide range of health and social care issues including, for example, Radiotherapy Services, Paediatric Congenital Cardiac Services, Health Promotion (Alcohol, Tobacco and Obesity, Cancer Research, Food Safety, Suicide Prevention and GP out of Hours Service.
A new Radiotherapy Unit at Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry is being developed by the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland). The Radiotherapy Unit, which is due to open in Autumn 2016, will provide access to radiotherapy services to people in the north west of the island, including patients from this jurisdiction. A Service Level Agreement (SLA) between the Trust and the Health Service Executive has been agreed for the provision of services to patients from this jurisdiction. The HSE will pay the trust for the provision of these services. The Irish Government has committed capital funding of one third of the cost (up to €19m) of the project. €3m of this amount was paid in 2014, with the balance to be paid in 2015 and 2016.
There is continued engagement between my Department and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland on progressing co-operation and finding a solution for Paediatric Cardiology Services on an all-Island basis. Work is progressing on the procurement of Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) procedures in Altnagelvin for the population of the North-West. Looking further ahead, there is a recommendation to establish a joint cardiology Department between Letterkenny and Altnagelvin, which will be the first ever joint cross-border Department in medicine or surgery.
The Food Safety Promotion Board/Safefood's budget for 2015 is €7.820m (£6.334m). The Board is involved on an all-island and cross-border basis, with tasks involving food safety awareness. It has run a number of successful campaigns in recent years such as the Operation Transformation TV programme, the Community Food initiative which aims to promote greater access and availability of healthy and safe food in low-income areas and Eatright.eu a new website with a focus on healthy eating, food safety and physical activity. Safefoods’s Knowledge Networks continue to enhance linkages across the island among food safety professionals working in the food production and processing sectors, in research and academia, and the wider public sectors.
€30 million was allocated under Interreg IVA to Cooperation and Working Together (CAWT Partnership) for cross-border health and social care initiatives. Interreg IVA supported one project, diverse in nature which CAWT delivered on behalf of the two health departments north and south, across 12 strands of activity with a strong focus on improving access to services, promoting health and well-being, reducing health inequalities and promoting social inclusion.
The new Interreg V programme has been agreed and I understand a call in the health area will issue in the coming months. €53m ERDF funding will be available under the theme "Promoting social inclusion, combating poverty and any discrimination".
I am committed to continuing to work together with my Northern colleagues on issues of common concern and benefit.
Health Services Provision
Questions (252)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:252. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of the plan for deep brain stimulation treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29560/15]
View answerWritten answers
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.