Written Answers Nos. 440-450
440. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if respite care will be reinstated for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if this matter can be investigated as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39438/15]
View answerAs 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, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
441. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the reason for the relocation of a day care facility (details supplied) in County Kerry; his views on the suitability of the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39448/15]
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.
442. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on the operation of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning facility at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9, specifically regarding the numbers on the waiting lists for scans, along with the current public waiting time; the procedure by which priority for scans is decided and awarded; the number of trained staff assigned to conduct MRI scans in the hospital and the hours of operation of the unit per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39456/15]
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.
443. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a medical card for persons (details supplied) in County Westmeath who are from a low-income family with significant health requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39493/15]
View answerThe 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.
444. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the analysis that has been carried out of the principal reasons for attendances at hospital emergency departments; and if he will provide a percentage breakdown by main medical condition. [39510/15]
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.
445. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if his Department will request the Health Service Executive to take the operation of Áras Ghaoth Dobhair community nursing home in County Donegal in charge in order to ensure its long-term viability and to allow it to expand, given the aging demographic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39511/15]
View answerÁras Ghaobh Dobhair Nursing Home is not a HSE managed facility. The unit is privately run by a non profit community established limited company. The facility was built in 2004 by way of a partnership agreement between the then North Western Health Board, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the local community. The HSE is currently in discussions with the company; however, it is not intended that the unit becomes a HSE managed facility.
446. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Question No. 330 of 7 October 2014, if he will provide an update on the review of assistance for stoma care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39520/15]
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 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.
447. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a primary care centre in Tullow in County Carlow. [39559/15]
View answerThe HSE proposes to use the direct build mechanism to deliver the primary care centre for the Tullow-Rathvilly-Hacketstown area. The project brief has been approved. Currently the Executive is reviewing site options.
While the Government's objective is to deliver a high quality, integrated and cost effective health care system the mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care infrastructure is dependent on a number of factors. Regardless of the delivery mechanism, all potential primary care infrastructure is subject to suitable locations being offered / provided / available, to successful planning processes and GP commitment to sharing accommodation and delivering health care services with HSE staff. In addition the operational lease mechanism is subject to market pressures such as the developers' access to adequate financing. Delivery of primary care infrastructure is a dynamic process, constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances including the feasibility of implementation.
448. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the funding granted over the past five years to a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny for the provision of respite care; why this respite care service has been withdrawn; and if a parents' group can access the funds and provide the care necessary. [39563/15]
View answerAs 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, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
449. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will request the Health Service Executive to respond to a proposal from a local Kilkenny-based sports group regarding the use of lands owned by the executive at Lacken on the Dublin Road in County Kilkenny; if the executive will support such a sports project at this location, given the benefits of such an amenity to the health and wellbeing of the people of the county; if, having considered the submission, the executive will support the initiative as a pilot project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39568/15]
View answerThe proposal referred to must be considered in the context of the capital funding available to Health and the Government's Reform Plan relating to the State's property asset use and management.
In this context, I must advise you that the Health Service Executive is required to obtain value for money when disposing of surplus property assets. These proceeds will be re-invested in delivering much needed health care infrastructure. As there will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer facilities which support the delivery of core health services must be prioritised within the context of the overall capital envelope available to us. Given the limited funding available and our health infrastructure needs priority for funding must be based on verified service needs and all capital funding must be directed to supporting these core services. The HSE is concentrating on applying the limited funding available for capital works in the most effective way possible to meet health care needs now and in the future.
In addition consideration must be given to Government's Reform Plan which sets out commitments relating to property asset use and management. These commitments include ensuring that optimal value for money is achieved in the management of the State's property portfolio. The development and implementation of the Property Management Delivery Plan has been one of the outcomes of the reform process. This plan aims to improve the planning and management of the public service property portfolio by improving co-ordination of strategies and activities, processes for strategic planning, projects and property management, standards for accommodation fit-out and data capture, accountability for decision making and deployment of resources.
The HSE has been requested to respond to the proposal. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up.
450. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a hip operation and an appointment for an eye assessment will be provided at Waterford Regional Hospital for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as a matter of urgency. [39570/15]
View answerUnder 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.
