Written Answers Nos. 700-724
700. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health in the absence of asthma being recognised on the long-term illness scheme, to introduce subsidised asthma medication for persons under 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9738/16]
View answerAs you are aware, Asthma is not one of the 16 conditions covered under the Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Under the provisions of the Health Acts, medical cards are provided to persons who are, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive (HSE), unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family.
701. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to introduce free annual flu vaccinations for children with moderate to severe asthma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9739/16]
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 aged 6 months and older at risk of severe influenza disease (those aged 65 and older, those with specified chronic medical conditions requiring regular follow up, pregnancy, morbid obesity), 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 risk of influenza complications).
Protecting those who are at risk of severe outcomes of influenza remains the priority of vaccination programmes, including children with moderate to severe asthma. The vaccine is available free of charge from GP's for all people in at risk groups. An administration charge may apply to people who don't hold medical cards or GP visit cards.
702. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health not to cut the additional budget of €13.5 million allocated for primary care in the 2016 Health Service Executive service plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9701/16]
View answerFunding of €13.5 million from the 2016 Primary Care budget was held within the Department of Health for GP contract developments, which includes rural practices, access to diagnostics and minor surgery, and extending GP care without fees to all children aged between 6 years and 11 years.
The Regulations which provide for changes to the Rural Practice Allowance Scheme and revised fee rates for Special Items of Service were signed into effect on 5th May, 2016. In addition, it is envisaged that the extension of free GP care to children under 12 years will be introduced towards the end of 2016, as part of the ongoing discussions on the main GP contract.
It is expected that the full €13.5 million in hold-back funding will be fully utilised during 2016 in accordance with the HSE 2016 National Service Plan.
703. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the number of officer grade positions which remain unfilled across the National Ambulance Service; the duration of the vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9728/16]
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.
704. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the medical card scheme including obstacles to it; to apply the greatest possible discretion in granting this person a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9669/16]
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 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.
705. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health when the criteria for officers were changed in the past few months to the lower qualification of emergency medical technician rather than the previous paramedic qualification; if this was done to facilitate existing officers from the national control centre in Tallaght in County Dublin transferring to operational posts across the National Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9733/16]
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.
706. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) is entitled to special prescription glasses to correct an issue with sight. [9746/16]
View answerAs 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.
707. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health to provide a bed at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9 for a person (details supplied) who is currently in St. Luke's Hospital, in County Kilkenny. [9752/16]
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.
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.
708. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health to arrange urgent treatment for a person (details supplied) who is on a waiting list since 2012 and was placed on a waiting list for treatment on 2 April 2014; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9753/16]
View answerAs 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 the Executive.
709. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of the continued use of Lourdes laundry which is attached to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda in County Louth; the Health Service Executive's plans to keep it open; the reassurances it will offer to the staff employed there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9754/16]
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.
710. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he monitors private health insurance with the objective of the continued implementation of lifetime community rating; if all insurers incur their fair share of the responsibility to provide for patients across the age spectrum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9769/16]
View answerMy Department and the Health Insurance Authority oversee the maintenance of a competitive and sustainable health insurance market, under the provisions of the Health Insurance Acts 1994 to 2015, and monitor developments on an ongoing basis to ensure that the market is regulated appropriately.
Our community rated market requires a constant influx of younger people to take out health insurance to help keep premium prices down for everybody. Under Lifetime Community Rating late entry loadings apply for people aged 35 and over when taking out health insurance for the first time. This encourages people to take out health insurance at a younger age, and continue to retain it, thereby avoiding loadings and helping to spread the health costs of older and less healthy people across all insured persons. The number of people who currently hold private health insurance is now 2.126 million, or 46% of the Irish population, (end Jan 2016). This includes an increase of 104,667 from January 2015 to January 2016 which contributes positively to controlling premium inflation and thereby helps to keep health insurance affordable for those who wish to avail of it.
The overall insured population increased by 6%. The largest increases occurred for ages under 60, (80%) with the remaining increase being in ages over 60, (20%). The Health Insurance Authority has noted that "the increases at the younger ages in 2015 may reflect the introduction of Lifetime Community Rating and Young Adult Rates. The increase in older ages in 2015 mostly reflects the aging demographics of the insured and general population." In addition, the improvement in the economy has facilitated this boost in membership and contributed to the positive effect on the number of people holding health insurance.
In addition, a robust Risk Equalisation Scheme is also in place to support community rating by equalising risk across the market. All insurers receive payments from the Risk Equalisation Fund in respect of their older and less healthy customers, and this is funded by stamp duties levied on all policies written. Insurers with less older members are net contributors and insurers with greater older people are net beneficiaries. This market wide support to community rating ensures individuals continue to pay the same net amount for a given health insurance product, keeping health insurance affordable for older and less healthy members.
711. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cardholders, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9723/16]
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 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.
712. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cardholders, the number of GP-visit cardholders and the number of discretionary medical cardholders for each of the past ten years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9724/16]
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 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.
713. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cardholders in Dublin north for each of the past ten years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9725/16]
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 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.
714. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical cards approved in 2015 and in 2016 to date in counties Sligo and Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9539/16]
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 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.
715. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of elective surgeries performed over the past five years by hospital by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9779/16]
View answer716. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of elective surgeries scheduled for the next year by hospital and by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9780/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 715 and 716 together.
As these 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.
717. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health to ensure the Health Service Executive provides all the necessary care, assistance and financial help to persons (details supplied) who urgently require help with a tragic case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9841/16]
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.
718. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will re-open the physiotherapist panel to new applicants during 2016 for potential vacancies that may arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9782/16]
View answerI 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.
719. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the cost of employing eight additional consultant transplant surgeons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9783/16]
View answerI 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.
720. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his proposals to provide additional resources for dental services in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9829/16]
View answerDental services for children up to 16 years of age and persons of all ages with special needs are provided by the Public Dental Service of the HSE through its dental clinics. The HSE prioritises services within the available budget taking account of legislation, policy and key developmental stages for children's teeth. Additional resources have been released in 2015 and into 2016 to improve dental services in areas where there have been difficulties. A National Oral Health Policy is currently being developed which will update the Dental Action Plan 1994 with a particular focus on vulnerable groups including older people and very young children. This is in keeping with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to introduce a preventive dental health programme for children under 12 and adult medical card holders. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on resources provided specifically to Counties Cavan and Monaghan.
721. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health his progress or that of the Health Service Executive in mediating a resolution of the dispute over governance of the co-location of the new National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, with St. Vincent’s, Elm Park. [9809/16]
View answer722. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health if, and for how long, there will be a delay to a new maternity hospital due to the dispute between Holles Street hospital and St. Vincent's Hospital. [9810/16]
View answer723. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health to seek a meeting with the boards of the National Maternity Hospital and St. Vincent’s Hospital to resolve outstanding issues and to ensure that a new maternity hospital is delivered on time. [9811/16]
View answer724. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health the amount spent to date in developing and planning on co-locating the National Maternity Hospital with St. Vincent’s Elm Park. [9812/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 721 to 724, inclusive, together.
I am aware of the difficulties in relation to the project and the efforts that have been undertaken to mediate a resolution. Meetings were held last year with both hospitals at departmental and ministerial level and, at the request of Minister Varadkar, a facilitated dialogue was undertaken earlier this year. Both parties remain in contact with my Department in relation to their respective concerns, and I am considering what further efforts can be made to resolve the current impasse. However, it is important to note that as both hospitals are voluntary independent organisations, I cannot impose a solution.
Unfortunately I am not in a position to predict timelines for the project but I remain hopeful that a solution can be found. Ultimately, both hospitals will have to reach an agreement if the project, as envisaged, is to proceed. Total expenditure on the project up to May 1st 2016 was €4.73 million.
I intend to meet with both hospitals in the coming days.
