Tuesday, 6 Oct 2015

Written Answers Nos. 467-91

Public Sector Staff Sick Leave

Questions (467)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

467. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position in relation to sick leave for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34499/15]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The details supplied relate to the implementation of HR policies regarding terms and conditions of employment of a staff member of Tusla. As such this is an operational matter for Tusla to deal with. I have forwarded the Deputy's concerns to senior management in Tusla and requested that they clarify the position for him.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (468)

Finian McGrath

Question:

468. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of increasing the capitation fee from €62.50 per child to €66 per child for 38 weeks and for 52 weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34558/15]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children before commencing primary school. Funding of over €170 million is provided for the ECCE programme annually in which some 67,000 children participate.

The programme is designed to be delivered for three hours per day, five days per week, over 38 weeks (183 days per year), and capitation fees are paid to participating services on the basis of this provision. A standard capitation fee of €62.50 per week per eligible child is paid to participating childcare services. A higher capitation fee of €73 per week is paid per eligible child to services with more highly qualified staff.

On an enrolment figure of 67,000 children, the additional annual capitation required to provide for an increase in the standard weekly capitation rate from €62.50 per child to €66 per child for 38 weeks is approximately €6 million and for 52 weeks is approximately €70 million. These estimates assume no change to the higher capitation rate.

Question No. 469 answered with Question No. 462.

Health Services Provision

Questions (470)

Finian McGrath

Question:

470. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding additional support required by a child (details supplied). [34072/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this 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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (471)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

471. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (detsil supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment in Letterkenny General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33984/15]

Written answers

Minister for 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. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, 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 Education

Questions (472)

Gabrielle McFadden

Question:

472. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health the number of places available on third level nursing courses for students who complete pre-nursing Further Education and Training Awards Council courses; if he is satisfied that there are enough places at third level to accommodate these students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33985/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The matter raised by the Deputy is primarily a matter for the Department of Education and Skills.

However, I would like to advise the Deputy that Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI ) was established in 2012 as a new integrated quality assurance agency replacing FETAC and a number of other agencies. QQI makes awards based on standards it has developed or has inherited from the former Further Education and Training Awards Council or the former Higher Education and Training Awards Council.

Most institutions offering the pre-registration honours degree programmes in nursing/midwifery consider specific Level 5 and some Level 6 awards as an equivalent (i.e. equivalent to the Leaving Certificate Examination) entry route for applicants to nursing/midwifery, using the CAO application process. Each independent Higher Educational Institute individually determines the number of places available, within their capacity, from such courses to the undergraduate and midwifery programmes.

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Questions (473)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

473. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the recruitment of nurses at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33989/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

With a recovering economy, the Health Service Executive is now in a position to offer a wide range of challenging career opportunities for nurses and midwives. There are many initiatives currently underway to improve nursing staff levels throughout the country. These include the retention of 2015 degree programme graduates, offering full time permanent contracts, and an international recruitment campaign. In addition the conversion of agency usage to permanent staffing in line with agreed processes is a key objective of the National Service Plan 2015.

In July, the HSE launched an International Staff Nurse Recruitment Campaign which focused on the UK to attract Staff Nurses to jobs in Ireland. In this campaign, there was a particular emphasis on targeting Irish Nurses who have left Ireland in recent years and want to return home. It is envisaged that the HSE will expand this recruitment initiative outside the UK and Europe in order to fill service vacancies. The Irish Health Service has an excellent reputation for providing quality nursing care and is ideally suited to the development of a rewarding and respected career in nursing.

With regard specifically to nursing posts in Beaumont Hospital, 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.

Health Insurance

Questions (474)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

474. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his plans to make health insurance more affordable (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33992/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Since my appointment as Minister for Health, keeping the health insurance market stable and increasing the numbers taking out health insurance has been one of my key priorities. An increase in the numbers taking out health insurance helps to control premium inflation, thereby keeping health insurance affordable for all.

From May of this year, Lifetime Community Rating and reduced premiums for Young Adults apply, both of which promote the sustainability of the insurance market as a whole. Without these measures, there would be a continued deterioration in the age profile of the insured population, which in turn would contribute to claims inflation and result in higher insurance premiums.

The number of people now holding private health insurance is 2.118 million, or 46% of the Irish population (end June 2015). This is an increase of over 93,000 since the start of this year and the number has now risen for four quarters in a row. This increase is extremely welcome as it helps to control premium inflation and thus keep health insurance affordable for all who wish to avail of it.

We have a highly competitive insurance market and I urge customers to shop around for the best value for their desired level of cover. Many consumers can make savings on their health insurance premiums by reviewing the level of cover to ensure that their needs are being met, without being over-insured. The Health Insurance Authority website is a good place to start as it offers a clear price comparison and can be accessed at www.hia.ie.

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Questions (475)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

475. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of children with type 1 diabetes attending Letterkenny General Hospital in County Donegal; his plans to appoint an additional paediatric diabetes clinical nurse specialist at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33994/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Diabetes Strategy

Questions (476)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

476. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times at Letterkenny General Hospital in County Donegal for adult patients with type 1 diabetes to be seen by a consultant; if these are within existing Health Service Executive guidelines for diabetes care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33995/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Health Services Provision

Questions (477)

John Lyons

Question:

477. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for funding by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34002/15]

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. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

As this is a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the 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 (478)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

478. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for a personal assistant by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34003/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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, please contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

Health Services Staff Data

Questions (479)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

479. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of agency staff employed by the Health Service Executive; the annual cost of these for 2013; for 2014; the estimated projected annual cost for 2015; for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34006/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

By year end, if current progress can be maintained, hospitals will have reduced total agency costs by €25m in 2015 compared to 2014. Within this, 31 of our 49 Hospitals are expected to reduce total agency costs by €39m.

In respect of the specific data requested by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to respond directly. 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.

Health Services Staff Data

Questions (480)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

480. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the net reduction in staffing, in whole-time equivalent, across the health service who have left the Health Service since the embargo on recruitment in total and by category; the total yearly saving to the payroll bill as a result of these reductions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34007/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 Charges

Questions (481)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

481. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the annual cost of collecting fees in public hospitals, including administrative costs, the cost of debt collection agencies and legal costs for each year from 2011 to 2015, in total, by hospital and by category of fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34008/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Questions (482)

Martin Ferris

Question:

482. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the Kerry branch of Arthritis Ireland has offered to fund the position of a rheumatologist nurse at Kerry General Hospital for a period of two years, on condition that the Health Service Executive will continue to fund the position after the two-year period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34020/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (483)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

483. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34024/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (484)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

484. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards, in tabular form, in circulation generally for persons over 70 years of age, in each local health area for 31 July 2014 and for 31 July 2015 and of each of these, the number that were issued on a discretionary basis. [34037/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (485)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

485. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an appointment for a surgical procedure at the South Infirmary Hospital in County Cork for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34039/15]

Written answers

Minister for 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. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.

In relation to the particular query raised, 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.

Home Help Service Expenditure

Questions (486)

Áine Collins

Question:

486. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that extra funding is made available for the home help package; and the home care package, in the upcoming budget. [34040/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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 Health Service Executive (HSE) has submitted an estimate of its proposed expenditure for 2016, including health and personal social services for people with a disability.

As discussions on budgetary issues are ongoing between the Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, I am not in a position to comment on the outcome of the process at this stage.

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

Questions (487)

Robert Dowds

Question:

487. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the reason Crohn's disease is not on the long-term illness scheme; the estimated number of persons who suffer from this condition; the projected change in this figure in the next ten years; his plans to add this disease to the list of conditions covered by the long-term illness scheme. [34046/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973, and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme, which are as follows: Acute Leukaemia; Intellectual Disability; Cerebral Palsy; Mental Illness (in a person under 16); Cystic Fibrosis; Multiple Sclerosis; Diabetes Insipidus; Muscular Dystrophies; Diabetes Mellitus; Parkinsonism; Epilepsy; Phenylketonuria; Haemophilia; Spina Bifida; Hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme.

There is no official database which provides accurate figures on numbers suffering from Crohn's disease in Ireland; therefore, it is not possible to provide projections for the next ten years.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Data

Questions (488)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

488. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting placement under the fair deal scheme; the average waiting time; if he will provide, in tabular form, by local health area, the numbers of persons awaiting placement under the scheme on 30 September 2015; and the length of time waiting. [34060/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Questions (489)

Joe Carey

Question:

489. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to the recruitment of a permanent full-time consultant endocrinologist to University Hospital Limerick, to support the care and treatment of children under six years of age with type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34061/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Health Services Staff

Questions (490)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

490. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with section 39 funded organisations to discuss the opportunity of pay restoration, in light of the upcoming budget, as their members have experienced a decline in working conditions, after a continuous cycle of budget cuts, while demand for their services has increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33419/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Section 39 of the Health Act 2004 provides for the HSE to provide assistance to a body that provides a service similar or ancillary to a service that the Health Service Executive (HSE) may provide.

Employees of Section 39 organisations are not public servants. They are not included in the HSE employment control ceiling, are not bound by the Department of Health Consolidated Salary Scales and are not members of a public service pension scheme.

Section 39 organisations provide a broad range of services and these are governed by Service Level Arrangements with the HSE. In that regard, funding of these organisations is a matter for the HSE in the first instance.

The HSE has submitted an estimate of its proposed expenditure for 2016. As discussions on budgetary issues are ongoing between the Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, I am not in a position to comment on the outcome of the process at this stage.

General Medical Services Scheme

Questions (491)

Clare Daly

Question:

491. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if those who are covered by the over 70s general practitioner visit contract but who are not covered under the Health Service Executive public sector General Medical Services Scheme contract will be covered not just for a consultation with a general practitioner but also for ongoing blood work and other tests (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34063/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The introduction of GP care without fees at the point of access to all persons aged 70 years and over commenced on 5 August 2015. This service is being provided under the existing 2005 GP visit card contract and, therefore, patients who qualify for a GP visit card on or after 5 August 2015 are entitled to the same GP service as those who held a GP visit card prior to that date.

A Memorandum of Understanding signed in February 2015 commits the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO to substantive negotiations on a new comprehensive GP contract. These discussions have commenced and the appropriate arrangements in relation to phlebotomy services, anti-coagulation therapy, 24 hour BP monitoring, diagnostics and dressings, etc. will be considered in this context.