Written Answers Nos. 788-803
788. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of necessary services for children under 18 years of age who have special needs and who need such services as physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiological services and others in the Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30692/15]
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 HSE 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.
789. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason in most cases only limited information on the adverse drug reactions is provided to the Health Products Regulatory Authority in association with roaccutane since 1983; the other essential information concerning roaccutane that is withheld; by whom and the reason it is withheld; if he will provide details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30696/15]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my composite reply 26767/15 of 2 July which sets out all the available information relating to the reporting of adverse drug reactions.
790. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason the drug roaccutane, that according to the Health Products Regulatory Authority records has caused at least three fatalities, numerous mental and physical health injuries is allowed maintain its licence and continue to be prescribed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30697/15]
View answer791. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the purpose for which the drug roaccutane was developed; if he has requested this information from a pharmaceutical company (details supplied); if any employees of the Health Products Regulatory Authority have knowledge of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30698/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 790 and 791 together.
I refer the Deputy to my composite reply 19166/15 of 19 May which provides a detailed reply to the questions asked by the Deputy.
792. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who were dispensed roaccutane here as per Health Service Executive records each year between its authorisation on 19 April 1983 and 2005; if he will provide details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30699/15]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for the administration of the GMS and Community Drugs Schemes. Only data on the number of prescriptions dispensed for Roaccutane under the GMS and Community Drugs Schemes can be provided by the HSE.
This 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.
793. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the action he will take on the commitment to protect persons with disabilities by implementing a number of the ten points recommended by the Disability Federation of Ireland relevant to his Department, namely the granting of medical cards based on medical need, not income; cutting waiting lists for specialist and mainstream health services by 50% by 2017; increasing the disability health budget by at least €50 million each year for the next three years; increasing the budget for personal assistant services by at least €15 million each year for the next three years; and investing an additional €20 million in capital expenditure and €10 million in revenue on a multi-annual basis, in order to implement the Time to Move on from Congregated Settings report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30702/15]
View answer1150. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the action he will take on the commitment to protect persons with disabilities by implementing a number of the ten points recommended by the Disability Federation of Ireland relevant to his Department, namely, introducing a disability tax credit, similar to the blind person’s tax credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32290/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 793 and 1150 together.
The Disability Federation of Ireland statement raises a wide range of issues relating to people with a disability. The Government values the role which people with disabilities play in Irish society and is committed to facilitating the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the life of the community through access to individualised personal social supports and services. Many of the points made in the correspondence touch on the responsibilities of a number of my colleagues as well as myself and I will make sure that my colleagues are made aware of these views. My response will refer specifically to health service supports.
Work is currently underway in the Department of Health in relation to the preparation of budget estimates for 2016. As part of this process, the HSE has submitted an estimate of its proposed expenditure for 2016 including for health and personal social services for people with a disability. As discussions on budgetary issues are ongoing within the Department of Health, with the HSE and with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
I am not in a position to comment at this stage on the outcome of this process and it is not possible to predict the service levels to be provided in 2016 and beyond for the disability sector.
The Disability Federation of Ireland's recommendation in relation to medical cards, cutting waiting lists for specialist and mainstream health services by 2017, increasing the disability health budget by at least €50 million each year for the next three years, increasing the budget for Personal Assistant services by at least €15 million each year for the next three years and investing an additional €20 million in capital expenditure and €10 million in revenue on a multi-annual basis in order to implement the Time to Move on from Congregated Settings report have been noted.
794. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number and location of community intervention teams in place across the State; the institutions they are linked with; the functions currently undertaken and envisaged to be undertaken by same; the number of patients treated by same; if these community intervention teams are public or privately run; if he will provide a breakdown of numbers and various clinical roles involved; the number of hospital bed days that have been saved by use of this service; if he has a development plan for their further use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30704/15]
View answer864. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of community response teams in counties Louth and Meath. [30869/15]
View answer867. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health his plans for community response teams in counties Louth and Meath. [30872/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 794, 864 and 867 together.
As these are service matters, they have 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.
795. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health the number of Irish persons travelling abroad to avail of the cross-border directive for each of the years since its inception, 2011 to 2015; if he will provide in tabular form the cost paid by the Health Service Executive to fund this treatment for each of the years since the directive took effect here; if he will provide a breakdown or overview by treatment type for which treatments are sought though this scheme; if he will provide a breakdown showing in detail which jurisdictions persons are travelling to for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30709/15]
View answerThe Health Service Executive operates the EU Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare in Ireland. The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine the matter of the data requested and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. 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.
796. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the roll-out of service delivery reform in the area of mental health as envisaged under A Vision for Change, particularly in counties Louth and Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30720/15]
View answerAs 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.
797. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the out-of-hours psychiatric assessment services provided in counties Louth and Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30721/15]
View answerAs 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.
798. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the additional resources that have been allocated to counties Louth and Meath further to the pledge in A Vision for Change that 24-7 assessment will be provided for mental health patients; the progress that has been made to date. [30722/15]
View answerAs 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.
800. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on initiatives and proposals undertaken to which he identifies and addresses shortages of nursing staff and consultants throughout the public health service; his plans to adequately address this issue in the short and medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30724/15]
View answerAn extra 475 nurses and midwives have been employed between May 2014 and May 2015. In addition, the HSE is planning to recruit over 500 nurses across a number of nursing disciplines. There is significant work being undertaken to achieve this. This includes recent and ongoing national and local interviewing of all categories of nurses and midwives. The HSE has also developed an International Nurse Recruitment Project for filling posts. This initiative is a targeted recruitment drive in the UK primarily focused on Irish trained nurses who left during the moratorium. In order to facilitate this the services of a recruitment agency has been secured. At least 90 interviews have taken place and over 30 posts have been offered to candidates.
There has been a significant increase in the number of consultants (Whole Time Equivalents) since 1st January 2015:
- 72 doctors have been nominated to hospital consultant posts, by the Public Appointment Service (this includes some doctors who were interviewed by the PAS in 2014), and
- 65 doctors have accepted offers of contract (this includes some doctors who were offered contracts in 2014).
The number of consultants has also grown significantly in recent years to 2,700. This includes 700 more consultants in the last decade and 320 in the last five years, in spite of the economic crisis. The Government is committed to future growth. However, there are some specialties in which there is an international shortage and which have been traditionally difficult to fill, regardless of the salary scale. There are also some hospitals to which it has historically been difficult to attract applicants, in particular smaller hospitals. The establishment of Hospital Groups will help to address this difficulty, as this will allow doctors to be appointed as group resources. The number of NCHDs has also increased significantly in recent years, by over 600 since the end of 2010, and now exceeds 5,000. This increase will help to address service needs and progress EWTD compliance, thereby improving the working conditions of doctors.
The ability of the HSE and the health service to attract and retain high quality frontline staff shapes the extent to which the HSE can maintain and develop the range of health services required. The MacCraith Group was established to carry out a strategic review of medical training and career structures. The Group made a series of recommendations in its three reports aimed at improving the retention of medical graduates in the public health system and importantly, planning for future service needs. The implementation of the Group's recommendations is being actively pursued and monitored. It is noted in particular that revised pay rates for new entrant consultants, incorporating incremental credit for relevant experience and qualifications, were proposed by the LRC in January this year to address the barrier caused by the variation in rates of remuneration between new entrant consultants and their established peers that had emerged since 2012 and that these are now being implemented.
801. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be provided to restoring the mobility allowance in budget 2016; the 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. [30725/15]
View answer802. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health his views that the length of time lapsed in respect of the removal of the motorised transport grant is acceptable; when the policy will be brought to Government for the drafting of primary legislation; the timeframe for the introduction of a new scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30726/15]
View answer821. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position on the replacement for the motorised transport grant which was abolished some time ago; when a replacement will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30821/15]
View answer899. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will establish a scheme to replace the motorised transport grant and the mobility allowance scheme; the details of the scheme; when he intends this to be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31030/15]
View answer1027. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on the replacement schemes for the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant which was discontinued in February 2013 with a promise of a replacement within months. [31532/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 801, 802, 821, 899 and 1027 together.
Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman regarding the legal status of the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant, 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 cost of their mobility needs, while remaining within the available budget and satisfying all legal and equality concerns. Policy proposals are in development and will be brought to Government for consideration and decision. Once policy proposals have been finalised and approved by Government, the time frame for the introduction of a new scheme will become clearer. The Health (Transport Supports) Bill is included in the Governments legislative programme for 2015.
In the years leading up to the closure of the scheme, approximately 4,700 people were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance, at an annual cost in the region of €9 million. The Government is aware of the needs of people with a disability who rely on individual payments which support choice and independence. Monthly payments of up to €208.50 have continued to be made by the Health Service Executive to the 4,700 people who were in receipt of Mobility Allowance at the time that the scheme was closed. These payments are continuing in order to prevent hardship and alleviate stress, anxiety and uncertainty among a vulnerable group in society.
803. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding social workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30727/15]
View answerThe correspondence regarding social workers is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. James Reilly.
I have forwarded this query onto his Department.
