Written Answers Nos. 228-235
228. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health when the interdepartmental committee that was set up to review the nursing home support scheme will be reporting back to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20047/16]
View answerWhen the Nursing Homes Support Scheme commenced in 2009, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The Report of the Review was published in July 2015 and included a general examination of the operation of the Scheme as well as the balance between residential care and care in the community. Arising out of the Review, a number of key issues have been identified for more detailed consideration across Departments and Agencies.
An Interdepartmental/Agency Working Group has been established to progress the recommendations contained in the Review. This Group is chaired by the Department of Health and includes representatives from the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE, the Revenue Commissioners and, when required, the National Treatment Purchase Fund.
Four meetings of this Working Group have taken place to date. A specific date has not been set for the Group to conclude its work, but it is in the process of reporting on its progress to date to the Cabinet Committee on Health. This will be done shortly, in line with the Committee's own scheduling requirements.
229. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health why there are no primary care psychology services for children in north County Dublin; why no child has been seen by Swords Mater child and adolescent mental health services from the routine waiting list in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20049/16]
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.
230. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a nursing personal identification number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20052/16]
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.
231. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health the number of appointments he has made to State boards since the move to the Public Appointments Service two years ago to date; the names of those appointed and the relevant position on each board; the names of those persons on the shortlist; the date when the shortlist was provided to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20068/16]
View answerThe nomination and appointment process for boards of bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in legislation. In line with Government Decision S180/20/10/1617 of 2014 and Guidelines set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform relating to the advertising for expressions of interest in vacancies on State Boards, my Department in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service (PAS) currently advertises for board vacancies as they arise, where I, as Minister for Health, have nominating rights under relevant legislation. Appointments through this process commenced in early 2015.
The following table shows the number of appointments that have been made by the Minister for Health, where the Minister has nominating rights and where the positions were advertised through PAS. The date on which the PAS shortlist was given to my Department, rather than the date on which I or previous Ministers for Health received the names of candidates whose names came through the PAS process has been provided in the table.
|
Board |
Name |
Position |
Date Shortlist provided by PAS to DoH |
Date Appointed |
|
Leopardstown Park Hospital |
Denis Duff |
Ordinary Member |
23/12/2014 |
16/2/2015 |
|
Leopardstown Park Hospital |
Dermot Magan |
Ordinary Member |
23/12/2014 |
16/2/2015 |
|
Leopardstown Park Hospital |
Francis Ni Fhlannchadha |
Ordinary Member |
23/12/2014 |
16/2/2015 |
|
St James Hospital |
Paul Donnelly |
Chairperson |
04/2/2015 |
17/6/2015 |
|
Health Information and Quality Authority |
Martin Sisk |
Ordinary Member |
13/5/2015 |
29/7/2015 |
|
Health Information and Quality Authority |
Molly Burkley |
Ordinary Member |
13/5/2015 |
29/7/2015 |
|
Health Information and Quality Authority |
Dr Paula Kilbane |
Ordinary Member |
13/5/2015 |
29/7/2015 |
|
Health Information and Quality Authority |
Stephen O'Flaherty |
Ordinary Member |
13/5/2015 |
29/7/2015 |
|
Childrens Hospital Group Board |
John Caulfield |
Ordinary Member |
26/6/2015 |
16/9/2015 |
|
Irish Blood Transfusion Service |
Prof Anthony Staines |
Chairperson |
15/5/2015 |
14/7/2015 |
|
Irish Blood Transfusion Service |
Deirdre Cullivan |
Ordinary Member |
15/5/2015 |
20/7/2015 |
|
Irish Blood Transfusion Service |
John Malone |
Ordinary Member |
15/5/2015 |
20/7/2015 |
|
Irish Blood Transfusion Service |
Dr Ronan Desmond |
Ordinary Member |
15/5/2015 |
20/7/2015 |
|
Irish Blood Transfusion Service |
Simon Mills |
Ordinary Member |
15/5/2015 |
20/7/2015 |
|
Irish Blood Transfusion Service |
Yvonne Traynor |
Ordinary Member |
15/5/2015 |
20/7/2015 |
|
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland |
Ann Sheehan |
Ordinary Member |
04/6/2015 |
17/6/2015 |
|
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland |
Fintan Foy |
Ordinary Member |
04/6/2015 |
17/6/2015 |
|
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland |
Graham Knowles |
Ordinary Member |
04/6/2015 |
17/6/2015 |
|
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland |
Paul Turpin |
Ordinary Member |
04/6/2015 |
17/6/2015 |
|
Health Research Board |
Bernadette Hannigan |
Ordinary Member |
31/8/2015 |
5/11/2015 |
|
Health Research Board |
Charles Normand |
Ordinary Member |
31/8/2015 |
5/11/2015 |
|
Health Research Board |
Jane Grimson |
Ordinary Member |
31/8/2015 |
5/11/2015 |
|
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland |
Martin Higgins |
Ordinary Member |
21/9/2015 |
29/10/2015 |
|
Medical Council |
Thomas J O'Higgins |
Ordinary Member |
5/10/2015 |
28/10/2015 |
|
Dental Council |
Eleanor O'Higgins |
Ordinary Member |
12/11/2015 |
12/1/2016 |
|
Dental Council |
Gerry Cleary |
Ordinary Member |
12/11/2015 |
13/11/2015 |
|
Dental Council |
James Doorley |
Ordinary Member |
12/11/2015 |
12/1/2016 |
|
Dental Council |
Muireann O'Neill |
Ordinary Member |
12/11/2015 |
12/1/2016 |
|
Health Products Regulatory Authority |
David Holohan |
Ordinary Member |
10/11/2015 |
27/1/2016 |
|
Health Products Regulatory Authority |
Brian Jones |
Ordinary Member |
10/11/2015 |
27/1/2016 |
|
Food Safety Authority of Ireland |
Martin Higgins |
Ordinary Member |
11/1/2016 |
15/6/2016 |
|
Food Safety Authority of Ireland |
Ros O'Shea |
Ordinary Member |
11/1/2016 |
15/6/2016 |
|
Food Safety Authority of Ireland |
Mary Cullen |
Ordinary Member |
11/1/2016 |
15/6/2016 |
|
Food Safety Authority of Ireland |
Derek Cunningham |
Ordinary Member |
11/1/2016 |
15/6/2016 |
|
Health Insurance Authority |
Fiona Kiernan |
Ordinary Member |
4/12/2015 |
1/2/2016 |
|
Health Insurance Authority |
James McNamara |
Ordinary Member |
4/12/2015 |
1/2/2016 |
|
Health Insurance Authority |
Sean Coyle |
Ordinary Member |
4/12/2015 |
1/2/2016 |
|
Health Insurance Authority |
Ian Britchfield |
Ordinary Member |
4/12/2015 |
20/6/2016 |
I have not provided the names on the PAS shortlists to the Deputy. This information is covered by personal confidentiality and I also believe that the public interest would not be served by disclosing the names. Persons who may wish to be considered for board membership may be reluctant to come forward into the PAS process if their names were subject to disclosure in circumstances where they were not actually appointed.
232. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the primary care psychology services available for children in north County Dublin; the number of children who have been seen by Swords Mater child and adolescent mental health services from the routine waiting list in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20075/16]
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.
233. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health his plans or if he is considering whether any hospitals owned by the Health Service Executive could be sold to the private sector to operate as privately run hospitals or operated on a public, private partnership or a joint basis between the executive and a private organisation; if a premises could be leased to the private sector for it to provide the services; the other options he is considering for the use of private funds for developments in or the operation of public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20076/16]
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.
234. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide information on the number of persons of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds currently working in his Department and in other public service organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20438/16]
View answerThere is no requirement for employees in my Department or in agencies under the aegis of my Department to disclose their ethnic and cultural backgrounds and as such, this information is not available.
235. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will grant aid the installation of three-phase electricity, given that the Leader groups are no longer grant aiding such work in respect of the horticulture industry; and if there is any other similar grant scheme for such work. [19884/16]
View answerThe Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provides grant aid at a rate of 40% (50% in the case of young applicants under 35 years of age) on approved costs associated with capital investments in a broad range of specialised horticultural equipment and buildings that contribute to at least one of the Scheme’s objectives of facilitating environmentally friendly practices, promoting the diversification of on-farm activities, improving the quality of products or improving working conditions in the sector.
Approved investments under the Scheme may include costs associated with wiring specialised horticultural buildings or growing facilities for three-phase electricity, however the cost of installing the infrastructure required to bring three-phase electricity to the site is not grant aided under the Scheme.
