Written Answers Nos. 1363-1387
1363. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, by grade, that will be employed in the new primary care centre in Ballymote, County Sligo; the services which will be provided; the number of additional staff that will be employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25815/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1364. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, by grade, that will be employed in the new primary care centre in Boyle, County Roscommon; the services which will be provided; the number of additional staff that will be employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25816/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1365. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, by grade, that will be employed in the new primary care centre in Claremorris, County Mayo; the services which will be provided; the number of additional staff that will be employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25817/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1366. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, by grade, that will be employed in the new primary care centre in Westport, County Mayo; the services which will be provided; the number of additional staff that will be employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25818/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1367. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, by grade, that will be employed in the new primary care centre in Tuam, County Galway; the services which will be provided; the number of additional staff that will be employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25819/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1368. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, by grade, that will be employed in the new primary care centre in Ballinrobe, County Mayo; the services which will be provided; the number of additional staff that will be employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25820/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1369. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, by grade, that will be employed in the new primary care centre in Lord Edward Street, Limerick; the services which will be provided; the number of additional staff that will be employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25821/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1370. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, by grade, that will be employed in the new primary care centre in Dungarvan, County Waterford; the services which will be provided; the number of additional staff that will be employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25822/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1371. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, by grade, that will be employed in the new primary care centre in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary; the services which will be provided; the number of additional staff that will be employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25823/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1372. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, by grade, that will be employed in the new primary care centre in Waterford city east; the services which will be provided; the number of additional staff that will be employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25824/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1373. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, by grade, that will be employed in the new primary care centre in Wexford town; the services which will be provided; the number of additional staff that will be employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25825/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1374. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, by grade, that will be employed in the new primary care centre in Kilcock, County Kildare; the services which will be provided; the number of additional staff that will be employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25826/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1375. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, by grade, that will be employed in the new primary care centre in Dublin, inner city-Summerhill; the services which will be provided; the number of additional staff that will be employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25827/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1376. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, by grade, that will be employed in the new primary care centre in Coolock, Dublin 17; the services which will be provided; the number of additional staff that will be employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25828/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1377. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and expedite a fair deal scheme application in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25840/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1378. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if funding has ceased for patients from the Republic of Ireland to Great Ormond Street Hospital, London; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25843/16]
View answerThe HSE operates a Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland under EU Regulation 883/04, as per the procedures set out in EU Regulation 987/09, and in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines. Patients apply to the HSE TAS seeking access to public healthcare outside the State through model form E112. The application requires the patient's Irish-based public referring hospital consultant, following clinical assessment, to certify, among other things, that the treatment is medically necessary and will meet the patient’s needs. The treatment must not be available within the State or not available within a time normally necessary for obtaining it.
The HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
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.
1379. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in scheduling surgery for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25845/16]
View answerScoliosis affects approximately 1% of children and adolescents in Ireland. The management of scoliosis is complex and is determined by the severity of the curvature and skeletal maturity.
Long waiting times for scoliosis surgery are not acceptable, and my Department has been working closely with the HSE to address services pressures, particularly in Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin (OLCHC), which is the largest provider of scoliosis surgery for children and young people. Additional funding of €1.042m was allocated under the 2015 Service Plan to increase capacity at OLCHC, and an additional orthopaedic surgeon, anaesthetist, and support staff, are now in place with recruitment of a further additional orthopaedic surgeon underway. Capital funding was also provided for a new theatre on site to expand theatre capacity further, and this is currently being commissioned. The Children's Hospital Group is proactively working on nurse recruitment to support the opening of the new theatre.
The HSE Winter Initiative 2016-2017, published on 9th September, also includes funding to address adolescent and paediatric scoliosis waiting lists in Cappagh and Tallaght. My Department will continue to work with the HSE and the relevant hospitals to ensure improvements in access to spinal surgery.
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.
The scheduling of appointments is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient’s general practitioner consider 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 you directly.
1380. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on an application by a person (details supplied) for a medical card considering that the application has been ongoing since March 2016 and considering that the person has submitted further documentation each time it is requested. [25850/16]
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 was issued to Oireachtas members previously.
1381. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an application for specially fitted shoes in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25852/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
1382. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when further psychiatric nursing positions will be recruited at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25854/16]
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 10 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
1383. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health the efforts his Department and agencies under its remit have made to use Eircode when communicating with households via An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25873/16]
View answerThe Department of Health does not communicate with households via An Post and therefore no action was undertaken in this regard. However, the Department uses its own Eircode on official stationery and emails, and encourages staff to use Eircodes on outgoing mail.
Details of other bodies under the aegis of the Department are operational matters for the bodies concerned and the Deputy may wish to contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.
1384. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will accept the values that persons have for the local property tax as the valuation of houses for the fair deal scheme rather than spending taxpayers' money and public money having auctioneers value houses for the fair deal scheme in view of the fact that the State already has a valuation on these houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25886/16]
View answerThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for those assessed as needing long-term nursing home care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. A care needs assessment is carried out to determine if a person requires long term care, followed by a financial assessment to determine how much a person will contribute to their cost of care.
Participants in the Scheme contribute up to 80% of their assessable income and a maximum of 7.5% per annum of the value of assets held. In the case of a couple, the applicant’s means are assessed as 50% of the couple’s combined income and assets. The first €36,000 of an individual’s assets, or €72,000 in the case of a couple, is not counted at all in the financial assessment. The capital value of an individual’s principal private residence is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of their time in care.
In assessing a person's non-cash assets e.g. principal private residence, property etc., the asset must be valued on the basis of the estimated market value which is defined in the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act, 2009 as the price the asset would fetch on the open market on the date on which the application for financial support is made to the HSE. Section 44(4) of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act, 2009 provides for applications for financial support to be accompanied by valuations of assets. In line with the Scheme's national guidelines, persons applying for financial support must submit valuations of assets with their application form. However, under Section 10 of the legislation, the HSE does not have to accept a valuation submitted by an applicant and may seek its own independent valuation of a particular asset.
On the commencement of the Local Property Tax in 2013, the use of the Revenue Commissioners valuations for the purposes of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme was considered by the Department of Health and the HSE. It was decided at that stage not to use the Revenue Commissioners information as it was based on valuation bands and deemed not to be an accurate valuation that an asset would fetch on the open market on the date on which the application for financial support is made to the HSE.
However, it should be noted that the property valuation process is being examined at present as part of the work associated with the Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, which was published in July 2015. The Review recommended the consideration of options to encourage realistic valuations of declared property assets and also to liaise with the Revenue Commissions on the scope for improved validation of declaration of income/assets. 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.
A specific date has not been set for the Working 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.
1385. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will be arranged for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25888/16]
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.
1386. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 453 of 21 July 2016, if he will provide a detailed breakdown of figures supplied by the HSE (details supplied). [25900/16]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1387. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive cataract surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25905/16]
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.
