Written Answers Nos. 684-699
684. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the staff of the Central Remedial Clinic will be included in the State single public service pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22873/16]
View answerIn relation to the 44 employees of the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) who were members of a funded DB scheme, I am aware that the HSE is currently examining a submission which has been provided by the CRC. The Department is awaiting receipt of the HSE's evaluation of the CRC submission and their recommendation on how to address the pension issues with the CRC.
On receipt of this evaluation, my Department will, in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, urgently examine the HSE recommendation in the context of current policy and legislation in relation to superannuation.
By way of background, I would like to clarify that employment in a public service body does not determine the type of pension scheme that is available to an individual employee. There are a variety of pension schemes that operate in the public service depending on when and how an individual enters the public service. In general, the majority of public servants are members of various public service ‘pay as you go’ Defined Benefit (DB) schemes which may have different minimum pension age, accrual terms, contribution rates etc. In addition, some employees of Section 38 agencies are members of funded Defined Benefit pension schemes which are administered by scheme trustees while others are members of Defined Contribution (DC) schemes. New entrants to the public service recruited on or after 1 January 2013 are generally members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme (SPSPS) and have career average pension benefits.
685. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the budget allocated to every hospital here in each of the years from 2011 to 2016 to date; the numbers of inpatients per annum in every hospital in each of the years from 2011 to 2016 to date; and the numbers of medical staff in every hospital in each of the years from 2011 to 2016 to date. [22875/16]
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 they will follow the matter up with them.
686. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if persons with a medical card having blood samples taken by their local general practitioner or primary care centre are liable for a charge; and if they are not liable for a charge, the way this instruction or guideline is regulated. [22876/16]
View answerPersons covered by the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme should not be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP, or the Practice Nurse on behalf of the GP, which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition. The HSE have addressed this issue and clearly stated its position to GPs, pointing out that where the service forms part of the investigation or necessary treatment of a patient’s symptoms or conditions, it should be provided free of charge for patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card.
The HSE deals with complaints from GMS patients on a case-by-case basis. In such circumstances, the Executive will, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by a GP for phlebotomy services and it will re-coup the value of same from payments due to that GP under the GMS Scheme.
If a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes they have been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by their GP, they may wish to make a complaint to the HSE Local Health Office who will deal with the matter in accordance with the HSE’s Complaints Policy. Contact details for all Local Health Offices can be found on the HSE’s website.
687. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of dental treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22884/16]
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.
688. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied) who has been awarded an injury grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22887/16]
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 on the matter with them.
689. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital bill for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22888/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 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.
690. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a hospital appointment at Waterford Regional Hospital for a person (details supplied); and the reason for the delay in responding to such an urgent case. [22898/16]
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.
691. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for SOS Kilkenny relative to the needs of a person (details supplied); and if he will expedite same. [22899/16]
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.
692. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) who was referred to St. James's Hospital is being billed for a treatment; if the costs involved will be covered by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22905/16]
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.
693. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of staff who entered the public service post 1 January 2011, in his Department and by year of entry to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23498/16]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed as follows:
New Entrants in the Department of Health
|
Year |
Number of Staff |
|
2011 |
0 |
|
2012 |
0 |
|
2013 |
0 |
|
2014 |
8 |
|
2015 |
13 |
|
2016 |
32 |
694. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of implementing a pay increase to all those employed under the remit of his Department post-1 January 2011 of 2%, 4% and 5%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23508/16]
View answerThe cuts in Public Sector pay that were introduced under FEMPI legislation are being restored on a phased basis to all grades who are officers of my Department in accordance with instructions from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER). This restoration is centrally negotiated and decided by DPER. There is no distinction in pay rates between Officers of this Department who entered the service pre or post 2011.
I have asked the HSE and NCSSBs to respond directly to the Deputy regarding their agencies.
695. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22092/16]
View answerThe Irish Whiskey industry is expanding rapidly to meet rising demand on international markets where Irish Whiskey is currently the fastest growing spirit drink. Exports in 2015 recorded double digit growth to reach €410 million. In volume terms exports are likely to increase from 7 million cases in 2014 to 12 million cases by 2020 and 24 million cases by 2030.
Significant investment has taken place since 2011 in expansion of existing facilities and development of new distilleries. However, release of additional capacity on to the market will take time as whiskey must, under EU and Irish law, be matured in wood for at least three years. So the product of distillations in 2016 and 2017 will come on the market close to 2020.
I am aware of the Compecon report by Dr. Pat Massey which concluded that the lack of a wholesale market in Irish Whiskey and the ageing requirement are barriers to expansion.
The recommendation on developing a wholesale whiskey market to facilitate the development of Irish Whiskey brands by businesses which do not themselves have distilling capacity is interesting and is also suggested in the industry Vision for Irish Whiskey. I would welcome initiatives to facilitate the development of such a market but do not have the power to compel individual distilling companies to set aside part of their production for a wholesale market.
Establishing an un-aged Irish Whiskey category is, however, ruled out by Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which applies both to product placed on the market in the Community and that produced in the Community for export. The Regulation defines the Whiskey category in some detail, including a requirement that the final distillate be matured for at least three years in wooden casks. Product which has not been matured for this period may not be described as Whiskey or retain the EU geographical indication status accorded to Irish Whiskey, which is one of the geographical indications included in a number of bilateral trade agreements between the EU and third countries. At national level, the Irish Whiskey Act, 1980 requires that Irish Whiskey be matured in wooden casks for at least three years in warehouses in the State and/or Northern Ireland.
I have asked my officials to explore with the industry and development agencies ways of developing and showcasing the portfolio of Irish Whiskey brands to promote awareness of Irish Whiskey in international markets and to contribute to the export and development goals of FoodWise 2025.
696. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Irish greyhounds board tote; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22152/16]
View answerBord na gCon has informed me that it will be reporting a 6.5% increase in Tote operating profits for the six months to 30 June 2016 when compared to the first six months in 2015.
I understand from Bord na gCon that this improved profitability is as a result of Bord na gCon securing a number of contracts during the latter part of 2015. These contracts have broadened the Tote customer base to a wider international wagering audience.
697. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) will be deemed eligible under a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22699/16]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the 2015 National Reserve ‘Old Young Farmer’ category to my Department. This application was not successful as the person named was deemed to have commenced his agricultural activity prior to the eligible period of 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2009 as required under the ‘Old Young Farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve. The person named was notified of this decision in writing and offered the opportunity to submit an appeal of this decision.
The person named subsequently submitted an appeal. This appeal was considered on the basis of the information provided and the records held by my Department. The outcome of the appeal was that the original decision was upheld. The person named was notified of this decision in writing on 4 July 2016 and was offered the opportunity of a further appeal to the Independent Appeals Committee.
698. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a reply will issue to the committee of petitions to its request for information on 25 January 2016 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21941/16]
View answerMy Department is currently working on this case which involves the examination of an extensive amount of detail spanning many years. A reply will issue within the next 4 weeks.
699. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the Irish Greyhound Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21959/16]
View answerBord na gCon has submitted draft unaudited annual accounts for 2015 to my department in accordance with the requirements set down in the “Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies” and these are being examined by officials in my Department. The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) is currently finalising its audit of the 2015 accounts. Following the completion of the C&AG audit, the 2015 Annual Report and Accounts will be submitted by Bord na gCon to my Department for consideration, presented to Government for noting and laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. After these steps have been completed Bord na gCon can then proceed to publication.
