Written Answers Nos. 487-508
487. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason a memo has been sent to doctors in St. James's Hospital that the hospital can no longer see patients from other counties for some endoscopy services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32004/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
488. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for plastic surgery at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; the average waiting times to see each plastic surgeon consultant; the steps being taken to reduce these waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32006/16]
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.
489. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will report on promised plans to extend free GP care to all under 12s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32020/16]
View answerThe Government is strongly committed to the development of primary care services in Ireland. There have been significant developments in the general practice service recently, with more services being made available to our citizens and additional support provided by the Health Service Executive.
The HSE, Department of Health and the Irish Medical Organisation are currently engaged in a comprehensive review of the GMS and other publicly funded health sector contracts involving GPs. To date, agreements have been reached in relation to universal GP care without fees for all children under the age of 6 years, universal GP care without fees for all people aged 70 years and over, a specific Diabetes Cycle of Care for adult patients with Type 2 diabetes who hold a medical card or GP visit card, a new Rural Practice Support Framework and a revised list of special items of service that can be provided by GPs. Preparations for the next phase of the discussions on other aspects of a new contract are under way and I expect that further engagement with GP representative bodies will take place this year.
The Programme for Government commits to extend in phases, and subject to negotiation with GPs, free GP care to under-18s. This is one of the matters to be discussed in the forthcoming contractual discussions with GP representatives. The extensions of GP care without fees to children aged 6-11 years is a priority for me. While my wish is that this would happen as soon as possible, the timetable is subject to the outcome of discussions with GP representatives on this and other contractual matters.
490. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to adjust the income limits for the over 70s medical card to ensure that pensioners do not lose their entitlement to the card due to the €5 increase in the State pension in budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32022/16]
View answerUnder the Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Act 2013, when a person attains the age of 70, the medical card income limits are €500 gross income per week for a single person and €900 gross income per week for a couple. Any revision of these medical card income thresholds requires primary legislation.
Persons aged 70 or older, who are assessed as ineligible under the gross income thresholds, may also have their eligibility assessed under the means-tested medical card scheme if they so wish, for example in the event that they face particularly high expenses, e.g. nursing home or medication costs. This scheme is open to all persons, irrespective of their age and assessment is based on net income and assessable outgoing expenses. The qualifying income thresholds under this scheme are lower than over-70s gross income thresholds. In setting the assessment guidelines, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has regard to Government policy as outlined by the Minister for Health, changes in the consumer price index and other issues which may be relevant.
Furthermore, persons, including those aged over 70 years, may be deemed eligible for a medical card on a discretionary basis, if they are judged to face undue hardship in arranging GP services as a result of medical or social circumstances. In addition, from August 2015, all persons aged 70 or older qualify for a GP Visit Card, regardless of income.
The Deputy will be aware that the increase in the State pension takes effect from March 2017. In the meantime, I have asked my Department to consider with the HSE the impact, if any, which this increase may have on people's ability to qualify for a medical card under the gross income threshold arrangements. It would be the Government's intention that people would not be adversely affected.
491. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health when the decision regarding the replacing of the Coombe women's hospital will be confirmed; the site for the new hospital; when a planning application will be made; the expected cost; the plans regarding the Coombe hospital site afterwards; and his views on the related issues. [32025/16]
View answerThe relocation of the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital to St James's Hospital was announced on 30th June last year. St James's Hospital is, of course, the site for the new children's hospital. Development of the new maternity hospital will therefore enable us to achieve tri-location of adult, paediatric and maternity services on the one campus.
The Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital relocation project is, as yet, in the very early stages of development and accordingly, I am not in a position to provide the Deputy with the information requested regarding expected costs or future plans for the hospital site. Significant work, including the preparation of a design brief and detailed design, will be required before any planning application can be made. I also note that it will be necessary for construction of the new children's hospital to be completed before construction of the maternity hospital on the St James's campus can begin.
492. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the proposal regarding the future or disposal of the site and buildings of the Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, and Temple Street hospital when their functions are transferred to the new national children's hospital at Rialto, Dublin. [32026/16]
View answerIn April 2016 the unanimous decision of An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for the hospital, satellite centres and related buildings as designed, allowed for enabling works to begin this summer on the campus of St. James's Hospital. It is expected that the satellite centres at Connolly Hospital and Tallaght Hospital can open in 2018, significantly enhancing access to urgent care and outpatient services for children from the Greater Dublin Area. Building work on the main site will be completed in 2020.
On completion of the new facilities, the service will move from the existing locations into the new hospital and satellite centres which will provide all secondary paediatric services for the Greater Dublin Area and all tertiary and quaternary services for the country as a whole. Accordingly, paediatric services will no longer be provided at the Temple Street and Crumlin facilities. The existing hospitals are fully supportive of the plans. Future uses for the existing facilities and sites are not yet determined. The HSE has entered into Memoranda of Understanding with Temple Street and Crumlin Hospitals to ensure that the State's investment to date in the hospitals is protected when the paediatric services are transferred to the new children's hospital.
493. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of children in County Donegal with high-complex needs, rare diseases and life-limiting conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32028/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
494. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of severely disabled children that are registered with the HSE who live in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32029/16]
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.
The particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the HSE. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
495. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for a speech and language therapist, by region, in tabular form. [32036/16]
View answerAs this 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.
496. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in preparing and evaluating the business case for a second MRI scanner in University Hospital Galway; when it is expected to provide this necessary resource; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32053/16]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
497. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure on mental health in 2016; and the equivalent figures on a like-for-like basis in terms of services provided in each of the years from 2011 to 2015, inclusive, taking into consideration any reclassifications of expenditure between 2011 and 2015. [32078/16]
View answerThe current HSE mental health budget is €826.6 million.
The last Government provided additional ring-fenced mental health funding of €160 million over 2012 - 16 inclusive. On a year-by-year basis, however, the HSE mental health budget has also been subject to restrictions which have applied to health expenditure generally, including downward adjustments for public service pay reductions and procurement savings similar to other HSE service areas. In addition, unspent development funds due to recruitment restrictions in 2013 and 2014 were either returned to the Exchequer or used to meet unavoidable costs in other areas. In total, taking account of the various movements, a €115 million, or 16%, increase in the HSE's mental health budget is identified in the HSE Service Plans between 2012 and 2016 inclusive. This is a very significant increase having regard to the constraints on general health spending over the period.
The overall gross non-capital HSE National Service Plan mental health budget for 2012 – 16 is as follows:
|
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
€711m |
€737m |
€766m |
€791.8m |
€826.6m |
498. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the delays being experienced by children in the Dublin 15 area in accessing occupational therapy assessment by the paediatric occupational therapy team in Blanchardstown and that a person (details supplied) has been waiting 15 months for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32133/16]
View answerAs this 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.
499. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32138/16]
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 you directly.
500. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on the case of a person (details supplied) who requires an assistant for ASD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32141/16]
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.
The particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the HSE. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
501. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the placement of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath in community care as previously advised by a Minister of State in June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32150/16]
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 issue raised by the Deputy refers to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
502. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31460/16]
View answerAn application under the 2013 Single Farm Payment was received from the person named on 1 May 2013 declaring a total of 6.66 hectares. During processing of this application a dual claim error arose in respect of 1 of the parcels declared. In response to a query letter issued by my Department, the person named confirmed she did not have the right to declare this land. As a result, 1.27ha of the land declared remained eligible under the Scheme.
These 1.27 entitlements had a value of less than €100. In line with the relevant EU rules, payment was not made in 2013 where the amount due was less than €100. In order to qualify for an allocation right under the Basic Payment Scheme, farmers must have received a Single Payment of a minimum value of €100 in 2013. This criterion was thus not met in this case.
503. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason an area aid payment to a person (details supplied) has ceased; if he will review the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31490/16]
View answerAny payments arising from the Basic Payment Scheme are due to the Estate of the deceased applicant and not to the person named. Officials from the Inheritance Enquiry Unit of my Department have written to the legal personal representatives of the deceased applicant requesting the usual testamentary documents and bank account details to which the payments should be released. We await further instruction on the matter and when all outstanding documentation is received the outstanding payments can issue to the estate of the deceased applicant.
504. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31528/16]
View answerAn application under Tranche 1 of GLAS was received in my Department on the 19 May 2015 and the person named was approved as a Tier 2 participant for GLAS 1 having selected over 10 hectares of the Minimum Tillage action.
Subsequent to approval into the scheme my Department received correspondence from the Agricultural Advisor of the person named stating that the Minimum Tillage action had been incorrectly selected when submitting the GLAS application and requested that the Minimum Tillage action be withdrawn and substituted with the Low Input Permanent Pasture action.
The scheme Terms and Conditions only allow for the withdrawal of actions and all GLAS advisors were notified that no amendments could be made once the application is submitted. The withdrawal of the Minimum Tillage action negated the grounds on which this approval had been granted and therefore this application was accordingly deemed invalid.
The Agriculture Appeals Office has advised that an appeal was received in that office from the person named in relation to this decision. The case has been assigned to an Appeals Officer. As an oral hearing has not been requested in this case, the Appeals Officer will be in direct contact with the appellant in relation to the issues raised in the appeal and a decision letter from the Appeals Office will issue in writing thereafter.
505. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated with a transfer of a herd number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31532/16]
View answerThe person named has been assigned the role of herdkeeper and thus may now move animals in and out of the herd. It is expected that the role of herdowner will also be assigned shortly once processing of the application has been finalised in the Regional Veterinary Office.
506. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the annual report from Bord Iascaigh Mhara can be expected; and the reason there has been such a delay in publishing it. [31569/16]
View answerThe 2015 accounts of Bord Iascaigh Mhara were signed off by the Comptroller and Auditor General on 30 June 2016 and my Department received a copy from BIM on 15 July 2016. I have not yet received the 2015 Annual Report from BIM. Once I receive that document, in both official languages, I will be bringing the Annual Report and Accounts to Government and laying them before the Oireachtas without delay.
507. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Question No. 1619 of 16 September 2016, the number of applications received, in total, under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2 on a county basis in tabular form; the total number of approved applications; the total number of payment claims lodged; the total number of payment claims that have been approved for payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31580/16]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following tables.
TAMS II Applications Received by County
|
County |
Tranche 1 |
Tranche 2 |
Tranche 3 |
Tranche 4 |
Tranche 5 |
Grand Total |
|
Carlow |
34 |
20 |
22 |
19 |
95 |
|
|
Cavan |
108 |
100 |
101 |
80 |
1 |
390 |
|
Clare |
118 |
72 |
47 |
43 |
280 |
|
|
Cork |
569 |
326 |
257 |
233 |
2 |
1387 |
|
Donegal |
89 |
69 |
163 |
126 |
8 |
455 |
|
Dublin |
6 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
26 |
|
|
Galway |
160 |
178 |
182 |
144 |
10 |
674 |
|
Kerry |
258 |
187 |
110 |
106 |
661 |
|
|
Kildare |
37 |
27 |
35 |
26 |
125 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
144 |
148 |
109 |
68 |
2 |
471 |
|
Laois |
68 |
62 |
42 |
44 |
2 |
218 |
|
Leitrim |
40 |
35 |
42 |
30 |
147 |
|
|
Limerick |
159 |
116 |
86 |
78 |
3 |
442 |
|
Longford |
27 |
33 |
31 |
16 |
107 |
|
|
Louth |
33 |
17 |
16 |
22 |
88 |
|
|
Mayo |
71 |
53 |
105 |
81 |
4 |
314 |
|
Meath |
86 |
55 |
71 |
50 |
4 |
266 |
|
Monaghan |
133 |
99 |
52 |
51 |
3 |
338 |
|
Offaly |
54 |
50 |
49 |
48 |
201 |
|
|
Roscommon |
86 |
72 |
102 |
99 |
2 |
361 |
|
Sligo |
41 |
38 |
28 |
25 |
132 |
|
|
Tipperary |
297 |
191 |
129 |
128 |
7 |
752 |
|
Waterford |
106 |
86 |
50 |
61 |
2 |
305 |
|
Westmeath |
58 |
54 |
54 |
52 |
1 |
219 |
|
Wexford |
127 |
96 |
74 |
91 |
2 |
390 |
|
Wicklow |
43 |
23 |
33 |
35 |
134 |
|
|
Grand Total |
2952 |
2212 |
1999 |
1762 |
53 |
8978 |
TAMS II Applications Approved by County
|
County |
Tranche 1 |
Tranche 2 |
Tranche 3 |
Tranche 4 |
Grand Total |
|
Carlow |
30 |
19 |
1 |
50 |
|
|
Cavan |
78 |
72 |
150 |
||
|
Clare |
109 |
65 |
1 |
175 |
|
|
Cork |
502 |
280 |
7 |
789 |
|
|
Donegal |
68 |
54 |
1 |
1 |
124 |
|
Dublin |
6 |
5 |
11 |
||
|
Galway |
92 |
112 |
204 |
||
|
Kerry |
190 |
151 |
1 |
342 |
|
|
Kildare |
30 |
23 |
1 |
54 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
134 |
126 |
3 |
263 |
|
|
Laois |
66 |
52 |
118 |
||
|
Leitrim |
34 |
24 |
58 |
||
|
Limerick |
142 |
99 |
2 |
243 |
|
|
Longford |
27 |
30 |
57 |
||
|
Louth |
28 |
12 |
40 |
||
|
Mayo |
51 |
35 |
86 |
||
|
Meath |
69 |
43 |
112 |
||
|
Monaghan |
89 |
64 |
153 |
||
|
Offaly |
49 |
41 |
90 |
||
|
Roscommon |
69 |
59 |
128 |
||
|
Sligo |
35 |
28 |
63 |
||
|
Tipperary |
281 |
160 |
2 |
443 |
|
|
Waterford |
96 |
73 |
4 |
173 |
|
|
Westmeath |
49 |
45 |
1 |
95 |
|
|
Wexford |
121 |
87 |
208 |
||
|
Wicklow |
38 |
19 |
57 |
||
|
Grand Total |
2483 |
1778 |
24 |
1 |
4286 |
TAMS II Payment Claims Submitted by County
|
County |
Tranche 1 |
Tranche 2 |
Grand Total |
|
Carlow |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Cavan |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
Clare |
8 |
1 |
9 |
|
Cork |
50 |
6 |
56 |
|
Donegal |
4 |
3 |
7 |
|
Dublin |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Galway |
18 |
3 |
21 |
|
Kerry |
26 |
3 |
29 |
|
Kildare |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
18 |
4 |
22 |
|
Laois |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Limerick |
11 |
1 |
12 |
|
Longford |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Louth |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Mayo |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
Meath |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
Monaghan |
3 |
2 |
5 |
|
Offaly |
3 |
2 |
5 |
|
Roscommon |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Sligo |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
Tipperary |
38 |
3 |
41 |
|
Waterford |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Westmeath |
6 |
1 |
7 |
|
Wexford |
9 |
2 |
11 |
|
Wicklow |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Grand Total |
234 |
40 |
274 |
TAMS II Total Approved for Payment
|
County |
Total |
|
Clare |
1 |
|
Cork |
14 |
|
Donegal |
2 |
|
Galway |
2 |
|
Kerry |
2 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
7 |
|
Laois |
2 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
|
Longford |
1 |
|
Tipperary |
3 |
|
Waterford |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
|
Grand Total |
38 |
508. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Irish Greyhound Board will consider meeting representatives of an association (details supplied) on a more regular basis to discuss the modernisation of the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31589/16]
View answerBord na gCon is a commercial State body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry.
Bord na gCon has informed me that following a stakeholders consultative forum held in December 2015, Bord na gCon established a National Greyhound Consultative Forum.
A cross-section of groups is invited to the forum on the basis that they are mandated to represent their members. As the controlling body of some Greyhound Owners and Breeders Associations (GOBAs), the Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation (IGOBF) is included to represent those affiliations. Other groups, including but not limited to GOBAs which are no longer affiliated to the IGOBF, are included on the same basis.
To date two meetings have been held in 2016 and Bord na gCon is arranging for another meeting in early November.
