John McGuinness
Question:211. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21847/16]
View answerHealth Services Provision
Questions (211)
Written answers
The 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, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
Hospital Accommodation Provision
Questions (212)
John McGuinness
Question:212. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the date the new theatre was completed at Crumlin children's hospital; if the theatre is now fully equipped, staffed and ready to open; if a date has been set to open the theatre; if adequate staff parking has been provided on site at the hospital; the reason there are no canteen facilities after 2 p.m. each day; if he will investigate the reasons for the existing theatre closures and the affect on the waiting lists that these closures cause; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21849/16]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (213)
Bernard Durkan
Question:213. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21865/16]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Hospitals Funding
Questions (214)
Billy Kelleher
Question:214. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 605 of 14 April 2016 (details supplied), if he will provide in view of the recent Supplementary Estimate for health, updated figures of the budget allocation for 2016 for each public and voluntary hospital in tabular form [21870/16]
View answerWritten answers
The 2016 Revised Estimates were approved on 7 July. Following this approval, the Department of Health revised the approved level of net non-capital expenditure for the HSE. On receipt of this approval, the HSE advised the Directorates of their revised budget for the year. The Directorates, including the Acute Directorate, will in turn prepare financial plans, with actions, to demonstrate budget compliance. Patient safety and access to services will continue to be priorities, and the targets and levels of service set out in the National Service Plan remain. Over the last two weeks I have been meeting with the Chairs and CEOs of each of the Hospital Groups. The purpose these meetings has been to discuss the process of appointment to the Hospital Group Boards, service delivery and patient safety, as well as to emphasise the importance of budgetary compliance by Hospital Groups and individual hospitals.
The financial plans and profiles based on the Revised Estimates will be prepared from a bottom up basis at individual hospital level. For this reason, they are not yet finalised. My Department will continue to work closely with the HSE, and ensure that the new expenditure levels are reflected in the HSE Performance Reports as soon as possible.
Mobility Allowance
Questions (215)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:215. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when he will provide a replacement for the mobility grant; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21872/16]
View answerWritten answers
Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman regarding the legal status of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant Schemes in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes. Both schemes remain closed.
However the Government also decided that monthly payments will continue to be made by the Health Service Executive to 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance at the time the scheme closed, on the basis that this would prevent hardship and, on an interim basis, alleviate stress, anxiety and uncertainty among a vulnerable group in society.
The Government decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new Transport Support Scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health. The Department is seeking a solution which would best meet the aim of supporting people with severe disabilities who require additional income to contribute towards the cost of their mobility needs, while remaining within the available budget and satisfying all legal and equality concerns.
Work is ongoing on the policy proposals to be brought to Government for the drafting of primary legislation for a new scheme. The proposals seek to ensure that:
- There is a firm statutory basis to the Scheme's operation;
- There is transparency and equity in the eligibility criteria attaching to the Scheme;
- Resources are targeted at those with the greatest needs; and
- The Scheme is capable of being costed and it is affordable on its introduction and on an ongoing basis.
I am pleased to inform the Deputies that the Programme for Partnership Government acknowledges the ongoing drafting of primary legislation for a new Transport Support Scheme.
Speech and Language Therapy Provision
Questions (216)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:216. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the speech therapy services available to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21873/16]
View answerWritten answers
The 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 issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the HSE to look into the particular matter raised and to reply directly 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.
Question No. 217 answered with Question No. 169.
Ambulance Service Provision
Questions (218)
Hildegarde Naughton
Question:218. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health the cost incurred by a group (details supplied) in the provision of private ambulance transport for each of the years 2014 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21895/16]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Pharmaceutical Sector
Questions (219)
Róisín Shortall
Question:219. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views regarding the concerns raised in correspondence dated 30 June 2016 from the Healthcare Enterprise Alliance on the ineffectiveness of the proposed medicines pricing agreement. [21896/16]
View answerWritten answers
A negotiating team representing the State has reached agreement in principle with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association on a new drug pricing and supply agreement. As work is still continuing between the parties to finalise the terms of the agreement, I am not in a position at this time to comment on specific details, or to discuss third-party correspondence relating to the agreement.
Negotiations and agreements with industry represent just one element of the Government’s strategy to reduce expenditure on medicines; other initiatives will continue to be pursued in the coming months and years to ensure that we achieve affordable prices for medicines for both patients and the State.