Gerry Adams
Question:532. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the Health Service Executive budget for suicide prevention for 2015 and 2016. [6814/16]
View answerSuicide Prevention
Questions (532)
Written answers
As 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.
Suicide Prevention
Questions (533)
Gerry Adams
Question:533. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the funding allocations made by the National Office for Suicide Prevention under its 2015 funding programme. [6815/16]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Speech and Language Therapy
Questions (534)
Paul Murphy
Question:534. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the differences in standards that prevent speech and language therapists with qualifications from the United Kingdom from having their qualifications recognised in Ireland; to implement a mechanism to allow for the attainment of practical experience in the field of dysphagia in order to allow for the recognition of qualifications from the United Kingdom; to reintroduce training in dysphagia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6822/16]
View answerWritten answers
The opening of the Speech and Language Therapists Register at CORU on 31 October 2014 marked the start of statutory registration for this profession. After 31 October 2016 the title "speech and language therapist" will be protected following a 2 year transition/grandparenting period to allow all speech and language therapists in Ireland register with the Speech and Language Therapists Registration Board.
Possession of an approved qualification is one of several steps in the registration process and in this context the Speech and Language Therapists Registration Board is also designated as competent authority under Directive 2005/36/EC in Ireland for professional speech and language therapy qualifications. This Directive applies to all EEA nationals who wish to practise any regulated profession in an EEA Member State other than that in which they obtained their professional qualifications. This includes Irish citizens with professional qualifications obtained in any of the other EEA Member States, including the United Kingdom, who seek to return to Ireland to practise their profession.
There is no specific recognition of the profession of speech and language therapy at a European level; rather the Directive provides for the assessment of the qualifications/professional training/post-qualification professional experience of an applicant against the qualifications required to practise in the host Member State (Ireland). The General System of the Directive, which applies in the case of speech and language therapy qualifications, provides for an assessment on a case-by-case basis of the qualifications of an applicant against those required to practise in the host member state if the professional activities covered are comparable. If the professional activities are not comparable then the qualifications cannot be recognised. If the professional activities are comparable but deficits in the qualification are identified, subsequent post-qualification professional experience of the applicant must be considered. If deficits in qualifications remain, the Directive provides for the competent authority to offer the applicant a compensation measure i.e. the choice between a period of adaptation (a placement) and an aptitude test.
I am advised by CORU that compensation measures have been applied to some applicants with non-Irish speech and language therapy qualifications which did not meet the applicable Irish standards - the Standards of Proficiency. Where compensation measures are applied and have been successfully completed, the applicant's qualification is recognised and they are eligible to apply for statutory registration.
Under the Directive, Member States must ensure that an applicant has the possibility of taking the aptitude test not later than six months after the initial decision in which it is imposed. There is no obligation however on the host Member State to provide the period of adaptation which is a period of professional practice in the host Member State under the supervision of a qualified member of that profession, possibly being accompanied by further training.
I am advised that a course in dysphagia is available at Tallaght Hospital, Dublin. This course has clinical practice components and would fall within the Directive definition of a period of adaptation and hence, subject to CORU approval, would be suitable for overseas applicants who have deficits in dysphagia.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (535)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:535. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Dublin will receive an appointment for a needs assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6836/16]
View answerWritten answers
As the issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the HSE to look into the particular matter raised and to reply directly 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.
Addiction Treatment Services
Questions (536, 537, 538, 539, 540, 541)
Gerry Adams
Question:536. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the location of Health Service Executive treatment centres for patients diagnosed as requiring tier 4 residential addiction treatment. [6841/16]
View answerGerry Adams
Question:537. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who have accessed tier 4 residential addiction treatment centres in each of the past five years. [6842/16]
View answerGerry Adams
Question:538. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the cost of treating a patient within a tier 4 residential addiction treatment centre, by week. [6843/16]
View answerGerry Adams
Question:539. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the average duration of treatment for a patient within a tier 4 residential addiction treatment centre. [6844/16]
View answerGerry Adams
Question:540. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of Health Service Executive referrals to private or voluntary tier 4 addiction treatment centres, in each of the past five years. [6845/16]
View answerGerry Adams
Question:541. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the cost of referring patients to private or voluntary tier 4 addiction treatment centres, in each of the past five years. [6846/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 536 to 541, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
Addiction Treatment Services
Questions (542)
Gerry Adams
Question:542. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the funding the Health Service Executive allocated to addiction support projects in the Louth constituency, including part of east Meath, during 2015. [6847/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
Health Services Staff Data
Questions (543)
Finian McGrath
Question:543. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on the high number of doctors leaving Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6857/16]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to assure the Deputy that the recruitment and retention of doctors who graduate and are trained in Ireland is important to the effective functioning of the health service, and is in keeping with our obligations under the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel. In this context, the implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure is a priority for my Department and the HSE.
In July 2013, a Working Group, chaired by Prof Brian MacCraith, President, Dublin City University, was established to carry out the Strategic Review. The Working Group was tasked with examining and making high-level recommendations relating to training and career pathways for doctors with a view to:
- Improving graduate retention in the public health system;
- Planning for future service needs; and
- Realising maximum benefit from investment in medical education and training.
The Working Group completed its work in June 2014 and, in all, submitted three reports and made 25 recommendations. The reports address a range of barriers and issues relating to the recruitment and retention of doctors in the Irish public health system.
A number of our NCHDs and consultants go abroad as part of their training, and some following completion of their training, to gain experience and expertise prior to taking up posts in Ireland. A further cohort go abroad for a variety of other reasons, such as working conditions, life style, and pay.
The Strategic Review recommendations aimed at addressing these reasons to the extent possible are being implemented through a range of structures and processes across the health system. Each recommendation has an identified business owner and progress updates are sought by my Department on a regular basis. To support implementation of the recommendations, my Department has also established an Implementation Monitoring Group, comprising key stakeholders. To date, three progress reports on the implementation of the recommendations have been published on my Department’s website. These allow all stakeholders to assess the progress being made across the range of Strategic Review recommendations. At this point the focus is on the implementation of these measures, to support retention.
Hospital Equipment
Questions (544)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:544. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry for hospital equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6858/16]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy's question relates to services, 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.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Review
Questions (545)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:545. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings held by the interdepartmental-agency working group set up to oversee the implementation of recommendations contained in the review of the nursing homes support scheme; the dates of these meetings; if and when it will afford the Irish Farmers Association an opportunity to make an oral presentation to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6861/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Interdepartmental/Agency Working Group which was set up to progress the recommendations contained in the Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme has held three meetings to date. These meetings have taken place on 1 December 2015; 26 January 2016; and 5 April 2016. A fourth meeting has been scheduled to take place in May 2016, date to be confirmed. This Working Group is chaired by the Department of Health and comprises relevant officials from the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE, the Revenue Commissioners, and when relevant, the National Treatment Purchase Fund.
Prior to the Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme taking place, submissions were sought from groups or bodies who wished to make a contribution to the Review. The Irish Farmers' Association made a submission in this context on which they expanded at a subsequent meeting with officials of the Department of Health. The Working Group will consider the submission already made by the Irish Farmers' Association. When the Group reaches the point of considering the relevant issues in detail, the need for any further presentation by the Irish Farmers' Association will be considered by the Working Group itself.
The Working Group is due to report on its progress to the Cabinet Committee on Health in June 2016.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (546)
Pat Casey
Question:546. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6870/16]
View answerWritten answers
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 recently 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.