Written Answers Nos. 696 - 716
696. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health with regard to the proposed national children’s hospital, the proposed timeline for completion of the hospital at St. James's and the proposed timeline for completion at the Connolly site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13158/16]
View answerThere is no formal timeline for completion of the new children's hospital at a site on or adjacent to the Connolly Hospital campus, as no such project is planned. However, an estimate of the timeline can be arrived at by considering the work required in order to obtain planning approval at the suggested location. That would include, at a minimum, revision and updating of the Project Brief to take account of the new site, procurement of a new design team, design development for the new site, submission of the planning application and consideration of the application by the An Bord Pleanála.
Based on the experience with this very large and complex project at both the original site on the Mater campus, and the site on the St James's campus for which planning permission has now been received, it can be estimated that this work would take approximately three to four years from now, with construction beginning in 2019 or 2020.
In relation to the timeline for the St James's campus, planning permission was received on 28 April last, and it is intended to begin enabling works in the coming weeks. Construction will be completed in 2020, a four year construction plan.
The previous Government's decision to locate the new children's hospital at the St James's campus was based on the overriding priority of best clinical outcomes for our children and, in particular, the sickest of these. That decision is unequivocally supported by this Government and by me as Minister. I am delighted that planning permission for the project has now been secured, enabling construction of these vital new facilities to begin as planned.
697. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he has or will support the Minister with responsibility for environment affairs in France in calling on the European Commission to publish the impact assessment on endocrine disrupters when it is completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13174/16]
View answerI have not been in contact with the European Commission on this matter. However, I have been informed that endocrine disrupting chemicals were discussed at the Environment Council on 4 March 2016 in Brussels. At that Council, Commissioner Andriukaitis informed Member States that the Commission would bring forward proposals specifying scientific criteria for the determination of endocrine-disrupting properties, as required under the Biocidal Products Regulation, by summer 2016.
698. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to address concerns that the proposed new national children's hospital is already experiencing significant budgetary costs in excess of what was originally envisaged; and the means by which he will ensure that such costs will not continue to spiral out of control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13186/16]
View answerThe previous Government's decision to locate the new children's hospital at the St James's campus was based on the overriding priority of best clinical outcomes for our children and, in particular, the sickest of these. That decision is unequivocally supported by this Government and by me as Minister. The planned new facilities will provide us with the means to deliver on improved health outcomes for children, especially the sickest children in Ireland.
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is the statutory body charged with delivery of the capital project. The Project Brief developed by the Board in 2014 was approved by the HSE, with the prior consent of the Minister, in accordance with the statutory approval process. Design development was undertaken by the Board in accordance with the approved Project Brief, culminating in the submission of a planning application to An Bord Pleanála last August. I am delighted at the unanimous decision of An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for these vital new facilities as designed, clearing the way for enabling works to begin this summer. It is expected that the satellite centres can open in 2018, significantly enhancing access to urgent care and outpatient services for children from the Greater Dublin Area. Building work on the main site will be completed in 2020.
The previous Government committed to making €200m available from the sale of the National Lottery for the new children's hospital, adding to the existing €450m Exchequer funding and underlining the Government's commitment to the project. The 2014 estimate, as set out in the approved Project Brief, affirmed delivery of the core hospital, including both satellite centres, within this envelope. For reasons of commercial sensitivity, I do not intend to provide a detailed breakdown of cost estimates at this stage but I can confirm that they include provision for inflation, VAT and contingencies; they do not include equipment or ICT which can be purchased, licensed or leased separately. Philanthropic and commercial funding streams are to be targeted as appropriate for supporting elements of the project to include car parking, academic and research facilities. As with any capital project, it is essential that cost estimates be reviewed and refined as appropriate, including making prudent provision for construction inflation.
Ultimately, costs will be determined during the tendering process, which is expected to be very competitive, with significant interest from contractors.
699. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to clarify the position regarding the allocation of step-down bed facilities at Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13187/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has 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.
700. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to address concerns relating to the lack of regulatory or statutory protections surrounding experimentation on human embryos here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13188/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, in February 2015, the former Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar received Government approval to draft the General Scheme of a Bill for assisted human reproduction. Drafting of the General Scheme is in progress involving officials from my Department. It is envisaged that the General Scheme will provide specific legislative protections to embryos in the context of both assisted human reproduction and associated research involving embryos. For example, under the General Scheme the creation of embryos for research and other experimental practices will be prohibited.
Once the draft General Scheme is complete my Department will conduct a widespread consultation on the document during which stakeholders and members of the public will be invited to share their views. In addition, the General Scheme will be submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for pre-legislative scrutiny.
Notwithstanding the proposed legislation that my Department is developing, research involving embryos is also regulated under the Medical Council's Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners (2016). This Guide states that registered medical practitioners "must not take part in the creation of new forms of human life solely for experimental purposes".
701. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the measures in place to protect against the unlawful purchasing or sale of illegal medicines online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13189/16]
View answerThe Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the competent authority in Ireland for human medicines. The HPRA and the Revenue’s Customs Service have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and a Data Sharing Agreement which provides for a joint approach to the detection of the unauthorised supply of medicines by online outlets.
In cooperation with An Garda Síochána and other international regulatory and law enforcement agencies, these agencies actively monitor the online movements and supply of prescription and illicit medicines to Ireland. A range of enforcement powers to tackle this activity are used, including seizing product and taking prosecutions.
These agencies also participate in the Interpol-coordinated Operation Pangea, a global enforcement operation targeting medicinal products being illegally supplied by websites. In June 2015, Operation Pangea VIII, comprising medicines regulatory authorities, police and customs authorities from 101 countries worldwide, led to the detention in Ireland of 142,000 dosage units of medicinal products with an estimated value of €430,000.
The mail order supply of prescription-only medicines in Ireland is prohibited under Regulation 19 of the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003, as amended. However, the sale of non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines, through an Internet Pharmacy or mail order supply service, is permitted.
On 1 July 2015 the EU logo, signifying the legitimacy of websites of all EU pharmacies and medicines retailers, was introduced in order to place controls upon, and reduce the significant health risk posed by, falsified medicines. Members of the public are strongly urged not to purchase medicines from an internet site which does not have the EU internet logo. In Ireland, these controls apply to pharmacies/retailers involved in the internet supply of non-prescription medicines.
The HPRA have issued several warnings as to the dangers of purchasing any prescription, or unauthorised, medicines online. Further information can be found in the HPRA’s leaflet, “The Dangers of Buying Prescription Medicines Online”.
702. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if any single organisation or business has a contract with the Health Service Executive to carry out vehicle clamping on the grounds of public hospitals; if so, the cost of such a contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13190/16]
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.
703. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health to increase the provision of mental health services at St Mary’s medical centre, Thurles, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13196/16]
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.
704. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health when the position of registrar for births, deaths and marriages in Thurles, County Tipperary will be filled (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13197/16]
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 the matter with them.
708. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when he intends to update and amend the Misuse of Drugs Act to deal with prescription drugs. [13208/16]
View answerUnder the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations, it is prohibited for a person to supply prescription medicines except in accordance with a prescription, and the supply must be made from a registered pharmacy by or under the personal supervision of a registered pharmacist. A person who contravenes these Regulations is guilty of an offence.
Medicines which have a high potential to be misused are subject to additional and stricter controls under the Misuse of Drugs Acts. These medicines include benzodiazepines and certain z-drugs. The Misuse of Drugs Acts and Regulations impose restrictions on the production, supply, importation and exportation of controlled drugs. A person who has in his possession a prescription medicine containing a controlled drug for the purpose of selling or supplying it in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs legislation, is guilty of an offence under that legislation.
Following a Court of Appeal decision on 10 March 2015 which declared unconstitutional the section of the Misuse of Drugs Act empowering the Government to declare substances to be controlled under the Act, the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 2015 was urgently enacted to recontrol all substances which had previously been declared controlled by Government order. A further Bill to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act so as to allow the Government to declare substances to be controlled, including prescription medicines, is currently being drafted and is intended to be published as soon as possible. This will bring under the scope of the Act new substances, and allow the introduction of stricter controls on substances such as benzodiazepines, which are already covered under the legislation.
It is important to note that the problem of abuse of prescription medicines will not be solved by Regulations alone, and that prescribers need to ensure that these substances are only prescribed as appropriate. The Health Product Regulatory Authority which is the competent authority for human medicines, Revenue’s Customs service and an Garda Síochána work closely to prevent the unauthorised flow of illegal medicinal products into and out of the State. The enforcement of the law relating to the sale of drugs, including prescription drugs, continues to be a priority in the Government’s commitment to tackling the issue of drug misuse.
709. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the treatment of a person (details supplied) received at the hands of health and psychiatric professionals, if it will be arranged that they do not have to undergo a further three-year wait for hormone therapy from an endocrinologist. [13215/16]
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.
710. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the discontinuance of contracts for physiotherapists in County Meath; if they will be replaced; and how the service for adult physiotherapist will continue to be provided for. [13217/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question 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.
711. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if, with respect to the plans in the programme for Government to make Ireland tobacco free by 2025 and the December 2015 ECJ ruling dismissing challenges to the legislation, he will provide an update on the plans to introduce plain tobacco packaging; if he will commit to not extending the wash-out period for branded tobacco beyond 20 May 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13225/16]
View answerThe Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Act 2015 (“the 2015 Act”) was enacted in March last year.
As well as providing for the standardised packaging of tobacco products, the 2015 Act also gives effect in part to Directive 2014/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3rd April 2014 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products. The provisions of the 2015 Act which give effect to the Directive came into force on 20th May, 2016, as required by the Directive.
Part 5 of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 seeks to amend certain sections of the 2015 Act. The legislative process for this Bill has been initiated in the Houses of the Oireachtas. However, due to the delay in the formation of the Government, the Bill has not yet completed the legislative process. I am committed to the Tobacco Free Ireland policy and achieving tobacco free status for Ireland to have less than 5% of the population smoking by 2025. With this in mind, it is my intention to ensure that the standardised packaging measure is introduced as soon as possible after enactment of the Bill.
712. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will consider funding the WALK peer project, in County Louth (details supplied). [13226/16]
View answerI understand that the PEER (Providing Equal Employment Routes) project was one of 14 employment activation projects for people with disabilities which were jointly funded by the European Social Fund and the Department of Social Protection from 2012 to 2015. The project was delivered by WALK, the Walkinstown Association for People with an Intellectual Disability. Employment activation for all citizens, including those with a disability, is the responsibility of the Department of Social Protection, and any decision on funding an employment activation project would be a matter for that Department.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
713. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health to review an application by a person (details supplied) under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13233/16]
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 them.
714. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of rolling-out dementia specialist intensive home care packages to all local health office, LHO, areas as was piloted in eight LHOs as part of the national dementia strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13240/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has 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.
715. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 164 and 165 of 19 May 2016, the indicative cost, based on other jurisdictions, of the public health system providing in vitro fertilisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13241/16]
View answerThere is significant variation between countries regarding the extent of public funding for Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) treatments. Moreover, there is great diversity in AHR funding and reimbursement policies and practice within Europe, for example, funding of a limited number of IVF cycles, to unrestricted reimbursement with co-payments and third-party reimbursement by private insurance companies. The cost of AHR treatment in Europe shows marked variability among countries, generally reflecting the costliness of the underlying healthcare system. There are direct costs such as medical consultations, ultrasound scanning, embryo transfer and hospital charges. While indirect costs are less well appreciated, they include caring for babies of multiple birth pregnancies (e.g. twins, triplets of which there is a higher incidence in AHR) who tend to have poorer clinical outcomes.
As outlined previously in my answer to Parliamentary Question Numbers 164 and 165 of 19 May 2016, the former Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, commissioned an evidence review of international public funding models, which will provide a comprehensive report of the existing evidence, thereby enabling us to determine the most appropriate funding model for AHR in the State. This review is still ongoing and, therefore, I am not in a position to provide a more detailed response at this time.
716. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of the State covering the medicines required for fertility treatment and for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13242/16]
View answerThis query relates to the High Tech Drugs Scheme, which is administered by the HSE, therefore, 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.
