John Curran
Question:64. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the number of children who have been assessed by the Health Service Executive as having a diagnosis of autism for each of the years from 2010 to 2015. [7862/16]
View answerAutism Incidence
Questions (64)
Written answers
The 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 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.
Speech and Language Therapy Provision
Questions (65)
John Curran
Question:65. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if, further to an assessment and diagnosis by the Health Service Executive, he will outline the number of children who are currently awaiting the services of a speech and language therapist; the number of these children who are waiting for more than six months, more than one year and more than two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7863/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, it has 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 the Executive.
Health Services Data
Questions (66)
John Curran
Question:66. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if, further to an assessment and diagnosis by the Health Service Executive, he will outline the number of children currently awaiting the services of an occupational therapist; the number of these children who are waiting for more than six months, more than one year and more than two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7864/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, it has 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 the Executive.
Orthodontic Services Provision
Questions (67)
Seán Fleming
Question:67. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when orthodontic service will be provided at a school (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7874/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has 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.
Medical Card Eligibility
Questions (68)
Andrew Doyle
Question:68. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if an agreement has been made between the United Kingdom and Ireland so that if an Irish citizen who has worked long term in the UK, and held a UK medical card, is then automatically entitled to an Irish medical card when they return home to retire. [7878/16]
View answerWritten answers
Under Regulation (EC) 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems, persons insured in any EU Member State, together with persons insured in any EEA Member State (Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein) or in Switzerland, are entitled to receive health care services in Ireland at the cost of that member state provided they are not subject to Irish social security legislation. Persons in this category are entitled to full eligibility and receive a medical card as evidence of their entitlement. The applicant is only required to demonstrate to the HSE that they qualify under the EU Regulations and there is no requirement to submit income details and details of savings.
The applicant must produce the appropriate E or S-form, completed by their Member State confirming the healthcare entitlement for which that state is liable. The position regarding the UK is that, under a reciprocal agreement, the EU S form is not required, however, proof of receipt of a qualifying payment from the UK authorities should be provided with the application to the HSE.
The HSE has responsibility to establish if an applicant is subject to Irish social security legislation. A person is considered subject to Irish social security legislation if s/he is in receipt of a contributory Irish social welfare payment or engaged in work in Ireland and subject to PRSI. If a person is considered subject to Irish social security legislation, the person will not qualify for a Medical Card under EU legislation or the reciprocal agreement, but may qualify for a means-tested medical card under national legislation.
Health Services Provision
Questions (69)
Robert Troy
Question:69. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding bariatric oxygen therapy; and if this treatment has been used in the case of a person (details supplied). [7885/16]
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.
Hospital Procedures
Questions (70)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:70. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the status of a surgical procedure for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7904/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to her.
If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter with them.
Primary Care Centres Provision
Questions (71)
John Brassil
Question:71. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of a health care centre in Rathmore, County Kerry. [7905/16]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has responsibility for the provision, maintenance and operation of Health Centres. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and 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 (72)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:72. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7915/16]
View answerWritten answers
As the specific issues raised are 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.
Ambulance Service Staff
Questions (73)
James Browne
Question:73. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of officer positions in the national ambulance service filled for each of the years 2012 to 2015 and to date in 2016; the locations of these positions; the number of these currently filled on a temporary or acting basis; when each of the positions were filled, including permanent, temporary and acting positions; if any of the permanent, temporary or acting positions were filled by staff otherwise than from the panels for officer grades applicable to those positions; the number of positions currently unfilled; the locations of same; the number of staff currently on the panels and the positions for which; the panels which were disbanded within the past six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7921/16]
View answerWritten answers
With regard to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, 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.
Ambulance Service Accommodation
Questions (74)
James Browne
Question:74. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the status of the building of new ambulance Stations in Enniscorthy and Gorey, County Wexford; when they will proceed to the next stage; when the tendering process will commence and be completed; when construction will commence; the funding he will allocate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7922/16]
View answerWritten answers
There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. As with all capital projects, the further development of the health care infrastructure, including ambulance bases at Enniscorthy and Gorey must be considered and prioritised within the context of the overall capital envelope available to the health service. The HSE will continue to apply the available funding for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of the healthcare infrastructure projects the Executive has been requested to reply directly to you on the matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up.
Health Services Staff Recruitment
Questions (75)
Finian McGrath
Question:75. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7943/16]
View answerWritten answers
The recruitment of staff is primarily a matter for the HSE. I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this 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 on the matter with them.
Cancer Screening Programmes
Questions (76)
Brendan Smith
Question:76. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the current status of the roll-out of BreastCheck to 65 to 69 year old women; the number of women screened in 2015; the number of women who will be able to avail of this service in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7944/16]
View answerWritten answers
The implementation of the age extension of BreastCheck to 65-69 year olds commenced in Quarter 4 of 2015. BreastCheck invited 1,267 women in this age category for screening in 2015 and 852 of these were screened before the end of the year. In 2016, BreastCheck will invite over 11,000 women aged 65-69 for screening, and every effort will be made to encourage a high uptake rate.
The age extension is being implemented on an incremental basis, in line with the capacity of the system to manage the additional screening and follow up workload. The additional eligible population is approximately 100,000 and, when fully implemented, 540,000 women will be included in the BreastCheck Programme.
Women of any age who have concerns about breast cancer should seek the advice of their GP who will, if appropriate, refer them to the symptomatic breast services in one of the eight designated cancer centres.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (77)
Pearse Doherty
Question:77. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12, for urgent casting relating to scoliosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7949/16]
View answerWritten answers
Long waiting times for scoliosis services are unacceptable and I have been clear in my determination that these waiting times are reduced, through additional resources and capacity.
Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin is the largest provider of scoliosis surgery for children and young people. Funding was allocated in 2015 for additional consultant posts including two consultant orthopaedic surgeons, anaesthetist and support staff at Crumlin. Capital funding was also provided for a new theatre on site to expand theatre capacity further. The 2016 Service Plan specifically provides for support for the new theatre capacity and the continued development of paediatric scoliosis services to address ongoing capacity deficits.
In order to address waiting times in the interim, patients from Crumlin have been transferred to other hospitals where capacity is available and where that is clinically appropriate. These include Temple Street, Cappagh, Tallaght and the Blackrock Clinic. External capacity has also been identified at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital at Stanmore in the UK. The Department of Health is continuing to work with the HSE, the Children’s Hospital Group and the hospitals themselves to ensure that we continue to make strong progress in addressing this issue and to identify all options to further improve access times.
As the specific issues raised are 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.
Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists
Questions (78)
Pearse Doherty
Question:78. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an orthodontic appointment for treatment in the orthodontic department of Letterkenny University Hospital, County Donegal, having spent two years on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7951/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has 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.
Orthodontic Services Data
Questions (79)
Pearse Doherty
Question:79. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for the orthodontic department in Letterkenny University Hospital, County Donegal, in respect of those assessed as Grade 5, Grade 4, Grade 3 and subsequent grades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7952/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has 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.
Speech and Language Therapy
Questions (80, 81, 83)
Gino Kenny
Question:80. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of speech and language therapists and occupational therapists available to children with an autism spectrum disorder in the Dublin Mid-West constituency; the number of children who are on the waiting list to see them and the current waiting period. [7963/16]
View answerGino Kenny
Question:81. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of speech and language therapists and occupational therapists available to children with developmental disorders other than autism spectrum disorders in the Dublin Mid-West constituency; the number of children who are on the waiting list to see them and the current waiting period. [7964/16]
View answerGino Kenny
Question:83. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of speech and language therapists and occupational therapists available to children with an intellectual disability in the Dublin Mid-West constituency; the number of children on the waiting list to see them and the current waiting period. [7966/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 80, 81 and 83 together.
The 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 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.
Speech and Language Therapy Provision
Questions (82)
Gino Kenny
Question:82. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of speech and language therapists and occupational therapists available to children with a mental health difficulty in the Dublin Mid-West constituency; the number of children on the waiting list to see them and the current waiting period. [7965/16]
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.
Question No. 83 answered with Question No. 80.