Written Answers Nos. 85-98
85. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Health for an update on surgical waiting lists in the Health Service Executive Dublin-north east region; an update on the Ireland East Hospitals Group’s pilot theatre time initiative for general elective surgery which commenced on 11 March 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35561/15]
View answerAs 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.
86. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the issue of funding being withdrawn from the Oasis Project at the Mounttown resource centre in Dún Laoghaire, which will leave vulnerable teenagers without a much needed service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35528/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE 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.
87. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a new ambulance base for Tralee in County Kerry will be provided at Kerry General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35550/15]
View answerAs 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.
88. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the supports available from his Department to assist with the extension of Midleton Community Hospital in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36474/15]
View answerAs 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.
89. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health how the ongoing problems in the emergency department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda will be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36574/15]
View answerAs 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.
90. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health given the implementation in 2016 of provisions under the fiscal treaty which prevent supplementary budgets, his view on whether the budget allocation for 2016 will fully meet the needs of his Department. [36592/15]
View answerThe gross current estimate for the Department of Health for 2016 is €13.175 billion, an increase of €880 million on the published revised estimate for 2015. In addition, potential savings of €125m will be available to reinvest in maintaining and improving health services. The level of health services to be provided within the available funding will be set out in the HSE’s 2016 National Service Plan which is currently being prepared by the Executive.
While I welcome the increase in funding for the health services in 2016, I do not underestimate the challenges involved in the delivery of a safe efficient health service against a backdrop of growing needs. It is essential that we continue to focus on cost containment, productivity and efficiencies as there continues to be major cost pressures on the health service including an increased and ageing population, an increase in chronic conditions, and new and expensive medicines and treatments.
The need for ongoing strengthened accountability and good governance within the HSE remains of critical importance in 2016. The HSE has an Accountability Framework which makes explicit the responsibilities of all managers to deliver on the performance targets set out in each year's Service Plan. Where areas of underperformance are identified, the matter is escalated according to an Escalation and Intervention process. The HSE’s 2016 National Service Plan will detail how the Executive intends to develop and build on the Accountability Framework in 2016 to further enhance and strengthen accountability arrangements next year.
New EU fiscal rules limit the amount of Government expenditure in any year. Therefore any overruns need to be funded by new revenue measures, or reducing spending elsewhere. This is likely to mean, in practice, reduced scope to allocate additional money to Government Departments by way of a Supplementary Estimate at year end. Accordingly, the planning and management of health expenditure will be subject to particular attention in finalising the 2016 National Service Plan.
91. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health for details of the winter flu vaccine programme for the months ahead; the persons who will have free access; the promotional steps being employed; the research and steps that have been taken to ensure the appropriateness of the vaccine given the non match-up last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36366/15]
View answerEach year the HSE prepares for the influenza season by procuring seasonal influenza vaccine which is provided free of charge to all individuals at risk of influenza and complications. Annual seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) and the HSE to individuals at risk of severe influenza disease (those aged 65 and older, those with specified chronic medical conditions requiring regular follow up, pregnancy, morbid obesity) and to certain occupational groups (those working with poultry, wild fowl and pigs, health care workers (HCWs) and those likely to transmit influenza to those at high risk of influenza complications).
Influenza vaccination, which provides protection against at least three strains of influenza each season, remains the most effective measure to prevent illness and death from influenza as up to 40,000 people die prematurely in the EU during an average influenza season. Protecting those who are at risk of severe outcomes of influenza remains the priority of vaccination programmes, particularly the elderly and those vulnerable due to pre-existing illnesses or risk factors. Seasonal flu vaccination forms part of the Adult Immunisation Programme.
There are three types of influenza virus - A, B and C. Influenza A and B cause most influenza cases. Each winter a different type of influenza virus causes can be the predominant strain affecting the majority of people and the vaccine changes to suit the strain of circulating virus in line with World Health Organisation recommendations. This year's strains include:
- an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus;
- an A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 (H3N2)-like virus; and
- a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus.
Last year's flu vaccine was not as effective because the strain of flu that was circulating had changed and was not exactly the same as one of the three strains in the vaccine. However, the vaccine still reduced severe illness and hospitalisation for those in the at-risk groups. This year's flu vaccine is expected to be 40-90% effective.
The vaccine is available free of charge from GPs for all people in at-risk groups, and from pharmacists for people in at-risk groups aged 18 and over. An administration charge may apply to people who do not hold medical cards or GP visit cards.
Achieving a high uptake of influenza vaccination among health care workers (HCWs) is recognised as a vital infection control intervention and occupational health issue, to reduce the risk of influenza transmission between patients and HCWs with the potential for severe disease in patients and staff. For the 2015 - 2016 influenza season all HCWs should obtain influenza vaccination (unless contraindicated) to protect themselves, their patients, work colleagues and vulnerable family members from influenza.
92. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on measures to improve the situation in emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36660/15]
View answerED overcrowding is a key priority issue for the Government. I convened the ED Taskforce in December 2014 to provide focus and momentum in dealing with the challenges this issue presents.
The Director General of the HSE is co-chairing the ED Taskforce Implementation Group until March 2016. He has taken this decision in order to ensure that all relevant parts of the health services, including acute, social and primary care, are optimising resources in order to deal with the particular challenges associated with the winter months. He is currently engaged in visiting a number of acute hospital sites which have been identified as having performance issues in relation to ED or other matters.
Based on the Task Force’s Action Plan published in April, €25 million was provided in Budget 2015, and an additional €74m in April of this year to address the issue of delayed discharges in hospitals. This funding had been provided to increase the number of long-term nursing home care places and reduce the waiting time for the funding of such places, as well as providing additional transitional care beds and home care packages to provide viable supports for those no longer needing acute hospital care. Significant progress has been made to date on the overall ED Taskforce plan including a steady reduction in delayed discharges from hospital (561 on 13 Oct 2015, down from 830 in Dec 2014). The waiting time for Nursing Home Subvention Scheme funding has reduced from 11 weeks at the beginning of the year to between 2 to 4 weeks.
In relation to bed capacity, further additional funding of €18m was provided in July for a winter initiative to include the provision of approximately 300 additional hospital beds. A further 116 hospital beds which have been closed for refurbishment or for infection control purposes during 2015 are also to be re-opened by the end of November.
All of these actions are intended to enable the HSE to improve the patient flow through the hospital system and to reduce the number of patients on trolleys in EDs waiting for admission for over nine hours to fewer than 70.
93. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to change the law so that more categories of persons or professions can solemnise the ceremony of marriage, for example, qualified barristers or solicitors. [37005/15]
View answerThe legal basis for the appointment of civil marriage registrars in Ireland may be found in Part 6 of the Civil Registration Act 2004, as amended.
Section 54 of the Act provides for the categories of bodies and organisations which may apply for registration of persons on the Register of Solemnisers maintained by an tÁrd-Chláraitheoir (Registrar General).
These are:
- The Health Service Executive for the registration of a registrar employed by the Executive,
- A religious body (as defined) for the registration of a member of that body, and
- A secular body (as defined) for the registration of a member of that body.
There are currently no plans to amend the 2004 Act in relation to the appointment of marriage solemnisers.
94. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision on an application for a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36821/15]
View answerFollowing a review of a disallowance of disability allowance in respect of the person concerned, payment of DA has been re-instated at a reduced rate in accordance with the means of the person concerned. Payment at the new rate is being back-dated to 22 July 2015. First payment at the revised rate and arrears due is due to be made on 21 October 2015.
95. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of employees whose employers will benefit from the reduced rate of employer's pay-related social insurance introduced in the budget on incomes of €356 to €376 per week; the average benefit the employer will receive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36838/15]
View answerFrom 1 January 2016 the upper threshold for paying the 8.5% Class A rate of employer PRSI from will increase from €356 to €376. The increase in this threshold addresses the concerns of the Low Pay Commission when recommending an increase in the adult rate of the National Minimum Wage from €8.65 to €9.15 per hour.
The current minimum hourly wage of €8.65 means that employers pay the lower 8.5% PRSI rate for employees on a 39 hour working week. The increase in the minimum wage to €9.15 increases earnings for a 39 hour week to €356.85, which currently attracts the higher 10.75% employer rate. The Commission was concerned that, without an adjustment in employer PRSI, an increase in the current minimum wage rate will have a major impact, particularly on small business costs.
Increasing the weekly threshold from €356 to €376, will ensure that employers with employees benefitting from the increased minimum wage, will continue to attract the lower 8.5% rate of employer PRSI. In addition, over 26,000 employers currently paying Class A employer PRSI at the higher 10.75% will move to the 8.5% rate of employer contribution.
The benefit for individual employers depends on the level of weekly earnings. The following table details the numbers of employers and the extent of their weekly gains, at different income bands.
|
Weekly Income band |
Number of Employments |
Range of Weekly Gains |
|
356.01-<358 |
4,497 |
€8.01 - €8.06 |
|
358.01-<360 |
2,347 |
€8.06 - €8.10 |
|
360.01-<362 |
2,423 |
€8.10 - €8.15 |
|
362.01-<364 |
2,157 |
€8.15 - €8.19 |
|
364.01-<366 |
2,522 |
€8.19 - €8.24 |
|
366.01-<368 |
2,381 |
€8.24 - €8.28 |
|
368.01-<370 |
2,202 |
€8.28 - €8.33 |
|
370.01-<372 |
2,764 |
€8.33 - €8.37 |
|
372.01-<374 |
2,141 |
€8.37 - €8.42 |
|
374.01-<376 |
2,585 |
€8.42 - €8.46 |
96. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 is receiving the full entitlement of benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36857/15]
View answerThe person concerned is currently in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance and rent supplement from this Department. To enquire about any other possible social welfare entitlements she should contact her nearest Intreo Centre or Citizens Information Centre, whereupon disclosure of her full circumstances any relevant information will be given.
97. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason special needs assistants, contracted to work 37.11 hours per fortnight plus 48 Croke Park agreement hours per annum, cannot access family income supplement even though they must work over 38 hours per fortnight; her plans to change this anomaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36864/15]
View answerTo qualify for payment of FIS, a person must be engaged in full-time paid employment as an employee which is expected to last for at least 3 months and be working for a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight or 19 hours per week. A couple may combine their hours of employment to meet the qualification criteria. Furthermore, the average family income must be below a specified amount which varies according to the number of qualified children in the family.
The “full-time” employment condition has been a fundamental part of the FIS payment since its introduction in 1984. The number of hours worked in order to satisfy this “full-time” condition in legislation has been reduced considerably from 30 hours per week when the scheme was set up to the present requirement of 38 hours a fortnight or 19 hours a week.
If the Deputy has in mind a particular case, I would advise that the person apply for FIS in the normal way and then their specific hours of work can be checked in detail and an assessment made as to their eligibility for FIS.
Otherwise, I have no immediate plans to make any significant changes to the qualifying criteria for FIS. Further reducing the “hours worked” requirement could have expenditure implications and could only be decided on in a budgetary context.
98. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in processing an application for jobseeker's benefit by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal, considering the application was made in June 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36868/15]
View answerI wish to confirm to the Deputy that the claim in question has been awarded and that the arrears due will be issued by cheque next week.
