Tuesday, 12 Jul 2016

Medical Aids and Appliances Applications

Questions (533)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

533. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for medical equipment by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20827/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As 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.

Home Care Packages Funding

Questions (534)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

534. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will increase funding for home care services to at least €414 million in budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20848/16]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The HSE’s National Service Plan for 2016 provides for a target of

- 10.4 million Home Help Hours to support about 47,800 people

- 15,450 Home Care Packages and

- 190 Intensive Home Care Packages for clients with complex needs, including 60 co-funded by Atlantic Philanthropies under the Irish National Dementia Strategy.

Home support services are being stretched by demands from more people, and for more hours at times outside of core hours. I am delighted that the Government has been able to respond to this demand by providing an extra €40m for home care in 2016. As a result, not only are we maintaining home care services at 2015 levels, but increasing them.

There is no doubt that home care needs more resources than are currently available, and for this reason the Programme for Government commits to increasing funding for Home Care Packages and Home Help year on year in the coming period. The planning and management of future health expenditure will be considered as part of the annual estimates and budgetary process which seeks to balance available funding across all of service areas to achieve the best possible outcomes for the greatest number of service users and prioritise areas of greatest need. I am confident that with continued economic growth, we will be able to further expand services to older people based on effective use of existing resources and additional funding.

EU Directives

Questions (535)

Clare Daly

Question:

535. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason accessing the private health care system at home in circumstances (details supplied) is not covered. [20852/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

EU Directive 2011/24/EU establishes rules, including reimbursement rules, for facilitating access to safe and high-quality cross-border healthcare in the EU in a Member State other than the patient's Member State of affiliation. Accessing healthcare in a patient's own Member State, either private or public, is not within the remit of the Directive.

Medical Card Applications Data

Questions (536)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

536. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the processing times for medical card applications (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20855/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The 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.

Occupational Therapy

Questions (537)

Robert Troy

Question:

537. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his plans to hire an additional occupational therapist for County Longford as there is only one such occupational therapist in place to cover the whole county at present; and the expected waiting time currently for a person who is not classed as category 1 to receive an appointment with an occupational therapist in County Longford. [20859/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As 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.

Respite Care Services Provision

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (543)

John Brassil

Question:

543. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied) and if he will expedite same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20885/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (544)

Martin Ferris

Question:

544. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be scheduled for an operation. [20891/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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.