Written Answers Nos. 832 - 860
832. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of abolishing the €100 charge for the use of emergency departments; the cost of abolishing the €74 charge per day for inpatient care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10284/16]
View answerThe HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. 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.
833. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment with the Mercy hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10285/16]
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.
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 HSE, 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.
834. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health the allocation for the development of, and the amount spent on, mental health services in each of the years since 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10288/16]
View answerThe previous Government provided additional ring-fenced mental health funding totalling €160 million over 2012 - 16 inclusive.
The Budget for Mental Health Services for the years 2011 to 2016 is as follows:
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
|
NSP Budget |
€712 m |
€711 m |
€737 m |
€766 m |
€791.8 m |
€826.6 m* |
|
NSP Outturn |
__ |
__ |
€709 m |
€735.8 m |
€785.4 m |
__ |
* includes 2016 €35m provision
The National Service Plan Budget totals include the additional funding provided each year as follows: 2012 (€35m), 2013 (€35m), 2014 (€20m), 2015 (€35m) and 2016 (€35m).
The last Government provided additional ring-fenced mental health funding of €160 million over 2012 - 16 inclusive. On a year-by-year basis, however, the HSE mental health budget has also been subject to restrictions which have applied to health expenditure generally, including downward adjustments for public service pay reductions and procurement savings similar to other HSE service areas. In addition, unspent development funds due to recruitment restrictions in 2013 and 2014 were either returned to the Exchequer or used to meet unavoidable costs in other areas. In total, taking account of the various movements, an additional €115 million increase in the Mental Health budget is identified in the HSE Service Plans between 2012 and 2016 inclusive. This is a very significant increase having regard to the constraints on general health spending over the period.
With the establishment of the Mental Health Division within the HSE in mid-2013, the Executive commenced a process of improving reporting budgets and costs on a Care Group basis similar to other HSE service areas. In previous years, finances were reported by Integrated Service Area to support the integrated model of service delivery. Therefore, in regard to the allocation for the period prior to 2012, I have referred the detailed issues raised in the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply in order to see what further material can be provided through 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.
835. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to have a procedure undertaken. [10291/16]
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.
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 HSE, 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.
836. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his plans to replace the Health Service Executive with a health commission and to provide an expanded role for private health companies in the public health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10294/16]
View answerA major programme of health reform is underway, the aim of which is to deliver universal healthcare with access to services based on need and not on ability to pay. It is the intention of the newly formed Government to increase access to safe, timely care, as close to patients’ homes as possible.
As well as progressing health reform, I am also determined to push ahead with key building blocks for universal healthcare, including:
- the establishment of Hospital Groups and Community Healthcare Organisations;
- the implementation of Activity-Based Funding, and improved ICT and financial systems;
- Healthy Ireland and the public health agenda;
- building sufficient health system capacity to satisfy unmet demand;
- the expansion and development of primary and social care;
- the improved management of chronic diseases; and
- the phased extension of GP care without fees.
Seven Hospital Groups have been established on a non-statutory administrative basis. Pending the enactment of legislation, the Groups will continue to operate within existing legislative frameworks governing the health services and the policy and accountability frameworks of the Department of Health and the HSE. Each Hospital Group will be required to develop such a plan to describe how it will provide more efficient and effective patient services; reorganise these services to provide optimal care to the populations they serve; and how they will achieve maximum integration and synergy with other groups and all other health services, particularly primary care and community care services.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to provide €15m to the NTPF in 2017 to address waiting lists. The Department will engage with the NTPF and the HSE regarding the development of this initiative. In addition, the Department is currently engaging with the NTPF and the HSE in planning a dedicated waiting list initiative, which will be rolled out in 2016. I will be meeting with both the NTPF and the HSE to look at options for developing initiatives to tackle waiting lists this year and beyond.
Service delivery reform is also being advanced in all health services outside the acute hospitals. Primary care, social care, mental health, and health and well-being health services have been restructured into nine Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs), with the aim of providing the maximum proportion of care to people in the most appropriate settings in the communities where they live. The CHOs have been established and their development is being driven forward.
The National Clinical Programmes and, in particular, the pilot Integrated Care Programmes will play an important role in reform as they work to achieve integrated care and integrated service delivery in the health sector by establishing models of person-centred, coordinated care.
My Department is currently carrying out research into healthcare commissioning models with a view to informing the development of a commissioning framework for Ireland. This process has included engaging with international experts in this area in order to learn from the experiences of other countries that have implemented commissioning systems. The role of a future Health Commission will be examined in the context of considering a suitable commissioning model.
It is also intended to request an Oireachtas All-Party committee to develop a single long term vision plan for healthcare over a 10 year period and I look forward to that Committee's work getting underway shortly.
837. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his plans to preserve the mental health budget as part of the A Vision for Change strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10295/16]
View answerSince 2012, significant efforts to prioritise mental health care have been made. We have provided €160 million in additional ring-fenced funding up to the end of 2016 and approved approximately 1,500 new posts for mental health, to modernise services in line with A Vision for Change and Programme for Government 2011-2016 commitments. This includes €35 million provided for 2016, bringing the total budget available for the mental health this year to €826.6 million. A key focus has been additional posts to strengthen Community Mental Health Teams for both adults and children. This funding is also being used to enhance specialist community mental health and forensic services, increase the access to counselling and psychotherapy and for suicide prevention initiatives. Approximately 1,150 posts were filled by end-2015 with further recruitment planned.
In line with our Programme for Government, this Government is committed to meeting the recommendations of "A Vision for Change".
In 2016, our priorities will include the continued development of counselling services across both primary and secondary care including the provision of three new Jigsaw mental health services in Cork, Dublin city centre and Limerick; the continued development of Community Mental Health Teams; improved 24/7 response and Liaison Services; Psychiatry of Later Life; Perinatal Mental Health, and two new mental health clinical programmes, specifically, ADHD in Adults and Children, and Dual Diagnosis of those with Mental Illness and Substance Misuse.
A new National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS) hospital is also being developed on the site of St. Ita’s Hospital, Portrane.
838. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health to outline an implementation plan and timeline for the national positive ageing strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10296/16]
View answerThe 2011-2016 Programme for Government committed to completing and implementing the National Positive Ageing Strategy (NPAS) so that older people are recognised, supported and enabled to live independent full lives. The Strategy provides a vision for an age-friendly society and includes four National Goals and underpinning Objectives to provide direction on the issues that need to be addressed to promote positive ageing.
The Strategy sets out high level Objectives and broad Areas for Action under four National Goals and two Cross-Cutting Objectives. The Objectives come under the remit of a diverse range of Government Departments and Agencies, and although the Department of Health has a central co-ordinating role, substantive responsibility for relevant areas remains with the Departments and agencies in whose remit relevant issues most directly fall.
The Objectives included in the Strategy are quite broad, and can be viewed as a set of principles to which Government has committed, and which will inform policies that affect older people on an indefinite basis into the future, rather than objectives that can be delivered within a finite timeframe, after which the Strategy will be finished.
My Department will shortly finalise proposals to consolidate the position of the National Positive Ageing Strategy within the decision-making process for Government Departments and Agencies generally. These will include arrangements to ensure ongoing structured engagements between relevant Departments, Agencies and relevant stakeholders, and will seek to ensure that the Strategy makes a lasting change to the way in which decisions affecting older people are taken.
A Healthy and Positive Ageing Initiative (HaPAI) has also been established to implement the research objective of the National Positive Ageing Strategy. It is a joint initiative between the Department of Health, the HSE’s Health and Wellbeing Programme and the Atlantic Philanthropies and will run from October 2014 to December 2017, with a commitment to Department of Health funding for a further two years. The Initiative will monitor changes in older people’s health and wellbeing linked to the Goals and Objectives of the Positive Ageing Strategy. This will be done primarily through the development of positive ageing indicators to be published every two years. A preliminary positive ageing report has been published and provides an overview of current evidence available on the lives of older people. The HSE will also develop a physical activity communications campaign under the Initiative.
839. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health to enact legislation setting out the statutory right to home care to recognise the vital role of primary care and the right to that care for elderly persons in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10297/16]
View answerThe creation of a statutory entitlement would not be possible in this context as services can only be provided in line with the resources that are available. However, it is my objective to ensure that available resources are deployed to achieve the best possible outcomes for older people.
With a Budget of €324m in 2016 the HSE’s projected target, set out in its National Service Plan, is to deliver
(a) 10.4 million Home Help Hours to about 47,800 people at any one time
(b) 15,450 people will be in receipt of a HCP at any one time.
(c) 130 Intensive HCPs for clients with complex needs (A further 60 clients with dementia will be supported by funding provided by Atlantic Philanthropies.
840. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his plans to unify the National Ambulance Service with fire stations as advocated by the Chief Fire Officers Association in response to the recently published report commissioned by the Health Service Executive which indicated that additional staff and resources allocated to the National Ambulance Service would not enable it to meet additional targets of response times in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10298/16]
View answerA significant degree of co-operation already exists between the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and the Fire Services in providing an emergency first responder service. However, there may be scope to further utilise fire services as a first responder for certain types of calls, where this is warranted. This will be explored with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and local authorities as part of the implementation of a wider first responder plan, in line with the Capacity Review recommendation on this matter.
841. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health why some of the nurses allocated to provide home respite care are on temporary contracts, given that Our Children's Voice was promised 9.5 permanent nurses; why some of the nurses are not for respite care but for direct care, which means families are restricted as to when and how long they can leave, if they can leave the home at all while the nurses are present; why parents are not allowed to leave the home for more than 30 minutes at a time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10299/16]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
As 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.
842. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied) before the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. [10306/16]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for the matter raised.
Given that this is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the NMBI. I have referred the Deputy's question to the NMBI for attention and direct reply.
If you have not received a reply from the NMBI within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
843. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on health as a portion of gross domestic product; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10308/16]
View answerThe preliminary results of the System of Health Accounts for 2013 (the latest year available) were published by the Central Statistics Office last December and according to this, the current total health care expenditure as a percentage of GDP in Ireland in 2013 was 10.2%.
The full statistical release is available on the CSO's website at http://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/sha/systemofhealthaccounts2013/.
844. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the annual general practitioner training intake; the cost of increasing the intake to 200 for one year; the cost of increasing the intake to 200 each year for four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10309/16]
View answer845. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of introducing 200 salaried general practitioner posts; the cost of doing this over three, four and five years; the cost of introducing salaried medical secretary posts; the cost of doing this over three, four and five years; the cost of employing 200 new practice nurses; the cost of doing this over three, four and five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10310/16]
View answer944. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the increases to be made in general practitioner training places, as per the programme for Government; the increases to be made in therapists and other health professionals; the increases to be made in community pharmacists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10673/16]
View answer949. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of increasing the number of general practitioners training places by 100 over the next five years to 259 annually, as per the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10678/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 844, 845, 944 and 949 together.
The new Programme for Government emphasises the need to focus on enhancing primary healthcare services including building up GP capacity, increasing the number of therapists and other health professionals in primary care. It also commits to expanding the role of community pharmacists, in managing the health of their patients and in medicine prescription.
There are currently 14 GP Specialist (Vocational) Training Programmes in operation in Ireland and doctors who wish to pursue GP training in Ireland may apply for a general practice training post in one of these programmes. At present, all GP training programmes are of 4 years duration and all trainees are required to complete 2 years in a hospital setting and 2 years in general practice with a GP trainer. The number of GP training places increased from 120 prior to 2010 to the current level of 159 per annum. The HSE is planning to further increase the GP trainee intake to 172 with effect from July 2016, which is an increase in capacity of over 40% since 2010.
In addition to the salary costs of the GP trainees themselves, the overall cost of expanding GP training would depend on the cost of various training inputs required. The Department does not hold that specific data. However, it can be said that currently GP trainees are paid an average annual salary of €76,000 for the two years they spend training in a GP practice, whilst the average training cost per trainee is €33,000. Based on these figures, the indicative cost of increasing the current intake from 159 to 200 would be approximately an additional €5 million per annum.
As the HSE does not directly hire GPs, it is not possible to quantify the financial implications for the HSE of additional GPs being hired to provide services to the public health system under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme and other schemes. GPs are remunerated for these services primarily on a capitation basis, with a range of additional support payments and fees for specific items of service, which include allowances for the hiring of practice nurses and secretarial support. The amount payable in respect of certain supports is related to the doctor's panel size. In addition, medical indemnity insurance premia are refunded to contract GPs, also based on the size of each doctor's GMS panel.
As the training of GPs is currently a matter for the Health Service Executive, these questions have been referred to the HSE with a request that they respond 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 the Executive.
846. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his progress in introducing free general practitioner care; the number of citizens in receipt of this; his plans to further roll out this care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10311/16]
View answer847. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of introducing free general practitioner care to all persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10312/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 846 and 847 together.
GP care without fees has been successfully introduced for children under the age of 6 years and all people aged 70 years and over. This has resulted in approximately 800,000 people now being eligible for GP care without fees, without having to undergo a means test. The under 6s service includes age-based preventive checks focused on health and wellbeing and the prevention of disease, including asthma and diabetes care.
In Budget 2016, the Government made financial provision for the extension of GP care without fees to all children aged 6 to 11 years. It is envisaged that this third phase will bring the total number of those eligible for universal GP care, without having to be assessed by a means test, to approximately 1.2 million people. The Programme for Government commits to extending in phases, and subject to negotiation with GPs, the introduction of free GP care to under 18s.
The estimated additional cost of providing a universal general practitioner service to the entire population will depend on the future scope of the service, fees and payments to GPs, and eligibility rates. Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the Health Service Executive, the Department of Health and the Irish Medical Organisation in 2015, the parties have commenced talks on a new GP contract. However, in the absence of the specific future changes to the scope and content of the GP service, and the relevant fee structure, it would not be possible to provide a precise estimate in respect of the remainder of the population at this point.
848. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of abolishing prescription charges for medical card holders over one, two, three, four and five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10313/16]
View answer852. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the cost of abolishing prescription charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10344/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 848 and 852 together.
I am informed by the HSE that prescription charges for medical card holders yielded an estimated €116 million in 2015. Therefore, the cost of abolishing prescription charges at current activity levels is approximately €120 million. The annual cost of abolishing this charge on an incremental basis would depend on the extent of the adjustment to be made in any particular year.
This is a matter which I intend to consider in the context of the implementation of the health commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government and having regard to the funding available to facilitate such measures. Detailed financial analysis will be required in order to establish as accurately as possible the expected costs to the Exchequer.
849. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if and when he will appoint a community-based senior dietician to support persons with diabetes in County Donegal as part of the type 2 diabetes cycle of care agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10321/16]
View answer921. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health the status of the recruitment of certain positions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10559/16]
View answer924. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to representations from Diabetes Ireland (details supplied) regarding the recruitment of Health Service Executive posts for Louth Diabetes Community Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10563/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 849, 921 and 924 together.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, 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.
850. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health to implement the national dementia strategy; to provide ring-fenced funding for dementia and develop a second strategy to ensure persons with dementia are supported to live well in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10336/16]
View answer910. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he has requested his officials to examine the dementia strategies in the United Kingdom; if he will follow the example there on investing in dementia research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10498/16]
View answer911. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health to provide funding to allow persons with dementia to remain in their homes and to be supported and cared for there; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10499/16]
View answer912. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the status of the national dementia strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10500/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 850 and 910 to 912, inclusive, together.
The Irish National Dementia Strategy was launched in December 2014, with the objective of increasing awareness, ensuring early diagnosis and intervention and developing enhanced community based services.
Preparation of the Irish National Dementia Strategy was informed by
- a Research Review, which included a review of best practice in dementia care locally and internationally; and
- a specific Review of international dementia policies, plans and strategies.
The Strategy seeks to progress the dual and overarching principles of personhood and citizenship by enabling people with dementia to maintain their identity, resilience and dignity, and by recognising that they remain valued, independent citizens who, along with their carers, have the right to be fully included as active citizens in society.
It is Government policy that, wherever possible and appropriate, people should be cared for in their own homes and communities, and the National Dementia Strategy specifically restates this commitment to those living with dementia.
The Strategy also commits to supporting and giving appropriate priority to research to inform the design and delivery of dementia services in Ireland.
The Department of Health and the HSE have agreed a joint initiative with the Atlantic Philanthropies to implement significant elements of the Strategy over the period 2014-2017. This Implementation Programme represents a combined investment of €27.5m, with the Atlantic Philanthropies contributing €12m and the HSE €15.5m.
Key elements of the initiative include:
- the roll-out of a programme of Intensive Home Supports and Home Care Packages for people with dementia valued at €22.1 million over a three year period;
- the provision of additional dementia-specific resources for GPs, to include training materials and guidance on local services and contact points valued at €1.2 million;
- measures to raise public awareness, address stigma and promote the inclusion and involvement in society of those with dementia valued at €2.7 million.
A National Office for Dementia has been established within the HSE to coordinate the implementation of the Strategy. Up to 500 people with dementia and their families are expected to benefit from Intensive Home Care Packages over the lifetime of the implementation programme. Work on the design of a programme of education and training in dementia care for primary care teams and GPs has commenced and is being led from UCC in conjunction with DCU and the ICGP. Work has also begun on a dementia awareness campaign called Dementia Friendly Ireland which is being led by the HSE's Health and Wellbeing Division.
A Monitoring Group, chaired by the Department of Health, is working to assist with and advise on implementation of the National Dementia Strategy. This Group also includes health professionals, administrators, researchers and advocates. It also includes a person living with dementia and a representative of those who care for people with dementia.
851. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the cost of reducing the drugs payment scheme threshold to €100 per month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10343/16]
View answerI am informed by the HSE that, based on January 2016 dispensing data for the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS), the estimated cost of reducing the DPS threshold to €100 per month is approximately €22 million per annum.
However, this estimate is likely to be understated, as the HSE does not collect information on people who do not claim under the DPS because their monthly expenditure on drugs is below €144.
This is a matter which I intend to consider in the context of the implementation of the health commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government and having regard to the funding available to facilitate such measures. Detailed financial analysis will be required in order to establish as accurately as possible the expected costs to the Exchequer.
853. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the cost of capping prescription charges at €20 per month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10345/16]
View answerThe HSE estimates that to cap prescription charges at €20 per month would cost approximately €11 million per annum. This assumes that the charge per item remains at €2.50 and that the number of items dispensed per person per month remains at current levels.
This is a matter which I intend to consider in the context of the implementation of the health commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government and having regard to the funding available to facilitate such measures. Detailed financial analysis will be required in order to establish as accurately as possible the expected costs to the Exchequer.
854. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the cost of increasing the number of home help hours by 10% in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10346/16]
View answer858. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in hospital services waiting for home help; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10350/16]
View answer859. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in the community waiting for home help; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10351/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 854, 858 and 859 together.
As these are service matters they have 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.
855. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in receipt of intensive packages under the home care scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10347/16]
View answer856. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in hospital services waiting for packages under the home care scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10348/16]
View answer857. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in the community waiting for packages under the home care scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10349/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 855 to 857, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters they have 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.
860. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the funding for the public dental service in each of the years 2006 to 2016 to date in tabular form; his plans to increase this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10358/16]
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 budget for the Public Dental Service is approximately €60 million per year. 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 very young children. This is in keeping with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to introduce a comprehensive preventive dental health programme for children under 12.
I have asked the HSE to write directly to the Deputy with the specific information requested. 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.
