Written Answers Nos. 246 - 260
246. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the location of the 135 community first responder groups currently operating across the State; the funding that has been allocated to each of these groups each year for the past three years; the level of cross-Border co-operation that exists between these groups in Border counties with similar groups in the North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20238/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
247. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) including when the person will receive an appointment. [20239/16]
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 the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
248. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite and approve funding for the long-term care of a person (details supplied). [20241/16]
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 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, the Deputy can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
249. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will review its policy of not recognising qualified counsellors with a standing degree in counselling if they do not have a second degree in a human relative discipline; if a degree recognised by the Association of Professional Counsellors and Psychotherapists in Ireland will qualify a person for working with the executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20252/16]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
250. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will engage the services of private counsellors to eliminate waiting times for persons experiencing mental health difficulties; if he will provide a dedicated fund for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20253/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
251. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the home care package is exhausted in County Limerick since April 2016; if he will provide extra funding for same; if so, when he will do this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20260/16]
View answerThe HSE’s National Service Plan for 2016 provides for a target of 10.4 million Home Help Hours to support about 47,800 people. It also provides for 15,450 Home Care Packages and 130 Intensive Home Care Packages for clients with complex needs. A further 60 clients with dementia will be supported with co-funding from Atlantic Philanthropies under the Irish National Dementia Strategy.
Home support services across the country are being stretched by demands from more people, and for more hours at times outside of core hours, in the evenings and at weekends, all of which cost more. Activity in the first quarter of 2016 was ahead of the same period last year as efforts continued to alleviate pressure on the acute hospital system.
I am delighted that the Government has been able to respond to this demand by providing an extra €40m for home care in 2016. This will ensure that the home support services provided in 2015 are maintained and that the rate of service allocation can be maintained during the summer months. €10m of this money has been ring fenced for home care as part of the new winter initiative. The targets for 2016 will be reviewed in light of these additional resources.
252. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who attended the accident and emergency department at University Hospital Waterford on a monthly basis for each of the years 2013 to 2015 and in 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20263/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
253. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of beds, that is bed capacity, operational at University Hospital Waterford for each of the years 2014 to 2015 and in 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20264/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
254. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the surgical theatre space operational at University Hospital Waterford on a monthly basis for each of the years 2013 to 2015 and in 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20265/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
255. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in developing a 100 bed community nursing unit on the grounds of St. Patrick's Hospital in County Waterford; the timeframe for completion; the additional current spend that will be made available to ensure the unit is operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20266/16]
View answerThe HSE has been requested to reply directly to the Deputy on this matter as it is responsible for the delivery of health care infrastructure projects. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office who will follow up.
256. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in constructing a palliative care unit at University Hospital Waterford; when construction work will begin; the estimate of when construction work will be complete; when the unit will be operational; the additional current spend that will be made available to ensure the unit is fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20267/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
257. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatient appointments, inpatient appointments and elective surgery procedures cancelled at University Hospital Waterford, by appointment type, on a monthly basis for each of the years 2011 to 2015 and in 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20268/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
258. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatient appointments where patients did not show for appointments at University Hospital Waterford, by month, for each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20269/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
259. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the procedure to be followed by a person (details supplied) in seeking a renewal in September 2016 under the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20277/16]
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, he should contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
260. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a proposal by a service provider (details supplied) to purchase a building in County Cork as a replacement for the current location for the day service and to provide extra capacity for an intake of 2016 school leavers; if he will give the matter his urgent attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20282/16]
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 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, the Deputy can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
