Written Answers Nos. 419-439
419. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the processing time of medical card applications and the number of applications being dealt with at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17084/16]
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.
421. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health to clarify the availability of the anti-epilepsy drug Epidiolex here; the arrangements for facilitating access by children with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome; and if he will intervene to improve access. [17166/16]
View answerEpidiolex is an investigational medicinal product currently undergoing clinical trials in a number of EU Member States. I have no authority to compel pharmaceutical companies to conduct such trials in Ireland.
Under European and Irish legislation, before a medicine can be placed on the market the manufacturer must seek an authorisation from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), or in the case of certain medicines, the European Medicines Agency. To my knowledge, no application for a marketing authorisation for Epidiolex for the treatment of Dravet Syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome has been submitted.
Where a medicine is not authorised in Ireland, a licensed wholesaler may import it if it has been prescribed by a doctor for a patient under his/her care, on his/her direct responsibility and in order to meet the special needs of a patient. The process for this is described in the ‘Guide to the Notification System for Exempt Medicinal Products’ which is available on the website of the HPRA, which administers the scheme. For this notification scheme, there are a number of specialist wholesalers which deal with the importation of ‘exempt medicines’ into Ireland, via pharmacies and subject to a prescription.
The HPRA is aware that Epidiolex has been prescribed and imported into Ireland under the exempt medicinal product route in response to a bona fide order from a registered medical practitioner.
422. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health when he will complete and publish the new national drugs strategy and the reason for the delay. [17170/16]
View answerThe Department of Health is developing a new National Drugs Strategy, which will take effect in 2017, when the current policy expires. A Steering Committee has been established to oversee the process and to advise me on how the new Strategy should address problem drug use, including the structures through which this should be done and incorporating key performance indicators to measure the future effectiveness of the new policy.
I will shortly be announcing details of the consultation process on the new Strategy, which I intend to be as broad, comprehensive and inclusive as possible. I am expecting the final report of the Steering Committee by the end of the year.
423. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health when he will make available support services from an organisation to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17171/16]
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.
As the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, 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, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
424. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when he will allocate a date for an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17178/16]
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.
425. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the allocation of psychiatric services (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17181/16]
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.
427. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if Part 2 of the 2005 Disability Act has been fully commenced. [17183/16]
View answerAll Parts of the Disability Act 2005 have been commenced except for Part 2, relating to the Assessment of Need, which has been partly commenced. In 2008, the then Government decided, in the light of financial circumstances, to defer further commencement of Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 and the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (EPSEN) 2004.
The Assessment of Need process, which at present encompasses younger children, provides for the needs of eligible applicants occasioned by their disability to be assessed. The Cross Sectoral Team comprising, inter alia, representatives of the Department of Health, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the HSE, which was established to provide for a joint approach to the implementation of the Disability and EPSEN Acts, continues to meet to address issues of mutual concern for children with disabilities.
428. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment. [17184/16]
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.
429. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment. [17185/16]
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.
430. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment. [17186/16]
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 scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. 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.
431. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) awaiting surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17192/16]
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.
433. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide a person (details supplied) with adequate compensation and to make available any needed psychological treatment, as per the recommendation of the United Nations Human Rights Committee; the costs associated with this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17194/16]
View answerThe United Nations Human Rights Committee published its findings on Thursday 19th of June on complaints brought by AM against the State. The Human Rights Committee found that Ireland breached its obligations under a number of Articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The UN Human Rights Committee is the body of 18 independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by state parties.
We are currently studying the findings of the Committee and considering what measures should be taken. We are also consulting with the Office of the Attorney General and with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as they act as the Agent for the Government before the United Nations Human Rights Committee.
434. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that counselling is available for all women who terminate pregnancies, irrespective of reason, cause or circumstance; the costs associated with extending counselling services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17195/16]
View answerThe provision of counselling services for women who terminate pregnancies is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and as such, I have referred the question to the HSE for attention and direct reply. 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.
435. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he has secured additional funding for more residential care units; if so, the regions that will benefit from the additional units; and to supply a comparative list of number of persons with intellectual disabilities who are waiting for residential care placements, by county. [17196/16]
View answerThe HSE’s report “Time to Move on from Congregated Settings – A Strategy for Community Inclusion”, (2011) proposes a new model of support in the community by moving people from institutional settings to the community. The plan is being rolled out at a regional and local level and involves full consultation with stakeholders.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to continue to move people with disabilities out of congregated settings, to enable them to live independently and to be included in the community. Currently, 2725 people live in congregated settings and our objective is to reduce this figure by one-third by 2021 and ultimately, to eliminate all congregated settings.
The HSE has established a subgroup, under ‘Transforming Lives’, the Programme to implement the recommendations of the Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services, which is developing an implementation plan for moving people from institutions. I welcome the fact that the needs of people moving from congregated settings will be fully taken into account during this process as the model of care for individuals will be based on a person centred plan.
In terms of housing, the Department of Health and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government are working in collaboration to support the transition of people with a disability from institutions to social housing in the community under the Government's National Housing Strategy for People with Disability 2011 to 2016.
The HSE's 2016 National Service Plan has set a target of 165 people to move from institutions in 2016 into suitable accommodation. This is being supported by €20 million in capital funding from the Department of Health in respect of acquiring and renovating properties in priority institutions identified by the HSE.
In addition, I am pleased to note that the Department of the Environment will provide €10 million under the Capital Assistance Scheme to provide suitable accommodation for people transitioning from institutions in 2016. The HSE estimate that a further 100 people could benefit from this initiative. €1 million in ring-fenced leasing funding is also being made available by the Department of the Environment in 2016 to support people moving from institutions into suitable social housing in the community. This demonstrates the joined up commitment of both Departments to support the de-congregation programme.
The HSE has developed a three strand approach to accelerate transitions from institutions in the period 2016-2021, with a target of 900 people to move to more suitable accommodation in this period.
- Strand 1- is focussed on large institutional settings at high risk of not meeting HIQA Standards;
- Strand 2- is focussed on moving people into suitable social housing in the community through the Department of Environment schemes; and
- Strand 3- is focussed on remaining service users in congregated settings who could move to suitable accommodation.
Furthermore, underlining this Government's commitment to the disability sector, I recently announced the provision of additional funding of €3m in 2016 for new initiatives, including an additional provision for services to meet the need of school leavers with disabilities and the anticipated cost of a number of emergency residential placements arising this year.
These emergency residential placements are intended to support individuals and families in crisis situations where their existing accommodation is no longer suitable.
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 the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with the HSE.
436. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that addiction services for persons under 18 years of age are not available in County Donegal; the arrangements he has put in place to deal with those availing of such services; when full-time services will be reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17197/16]
View answer459. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that there is currently no addiction counselling service available to persons under 18 years of age who are resident in County Donegal following the vacating of a counselling post; if he acknowledges that such an absence will have a detrimental impact on the health and well being of service users in the county; the action he is taking to expedite the recruitment of a replacement counsellor in order to reinstate the service; the details of the provisional measures which he will introduce in order to ensure that minors in County Donegal may avail of addiction services during the interim period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17335/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 436 and 459 together.
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputies.
If the Deputies have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days they should contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
437. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when he will provide treatment for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17198/16]
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.
438. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will schedule an operation date for a person (details supplied). [17199/16]
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.
439. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for an injury grant by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17200/16]
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.
