Carol Nolan
Question:547. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times across all departments in Nenagh hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34813/16]
View answerHospital Waiting Lists
Questions (547)
Written answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Speech and Language Therapy Provision
Questions (548)
Carol Nolan
Question:548. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of children that are currently waiting more than six months for speech and language therapy in counties Laois, Offaly and Tipperary respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34814/16]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Mental Health Services Provision
Questions (549)
Carol Nolan
Question:549. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to current plans to construct a facility in the Tullamore area that will be used to treat persons with forensic mental health needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34819/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Mental Health Services Provision
Questions (550)
Carol Nolan
Question:550. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with forensic mental health needs currently being treated in community health care facilities across the state; the counties in which the facilities are situated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34820/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Mental Health Services Provision
Questions (551)
Carol Nolan
Question:551. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if there are any specific requirements in terms of staffing or security measures required for a health care facility to be approved as suitable for the treatment of those with forensic mental health needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34821/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists
Questions (552)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:552. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the general waiting list for orthodontic diagnostics at Merlin Park, University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34899/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists
Questions (553)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:553. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the general waiting list for orthodontic diagnostics at University Hospital Galway due to the lack of a suitable dental X-ray machine in the radiography department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34900/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
Home Help Service Data
Questions (554)
Róisín Shortall
Question:554. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons receiving home help hours in each community healthcare organisation, CHO; the number on waiting lists in each CHO for home help hours as of October 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34904/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Primary Care Centres Provision
Questions (555)
Niamh Smyth
Question:555. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the process for suitable sites for a primary care centre or other health facility to be submitted to the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34905/16]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
General Practitioner Services Provision
Questions (556)
Barry Cowen
Question:556. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when an additional general practitioner will be appointed to the areas of Cloughjordan and Borrisokane following retirement of a previous general practitioner. [34907/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (557)
Colm Brophy
Question:557. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of needs assessments by assessment of needs officers, AONs, in areas (details supplied) in Dublin; the reason for the delay in provision of these assessment of needs officers, the number of AONs currently in place; the number that will be in place by the end of 2016; when the backlog of applicants will be cleared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34916/16]
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.
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.
Hospital Accommodation Provision
Questions (558)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:558. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of the bed capacity review; when this will conclude; the terms of reference for the review; the definition of a bed in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34928/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the undertaking of a national hospital bed capacity review "to establish the number, type and location of beds required into the future recognising the need for a range of beds including critical care, palliative and day case bed stock". This is an important piece of work which will enable the determination of future capacity requirements across the system and provide a basis for planning our health service into the future.
In order to be as effective as possible, I am anxious that this review will take a broad approach to capacity across our health service. In this regard, preliminary work is underway in my Department to determine the parameters and terms of reference for the review. I hope that this initial work will be completed shortly and that the review will be advanced sufficiently to enable it to contribute to the review of the Capital Plan 2016 - 2021 next year.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (559)
Robert Troy
Question:559. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the areas the additional €31 million he announced in summer 2016 will be allocated to; if this allocation is being made; if it is a once-off increase in funding or if it will form part of an increase in the annual spend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34933/16]
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.
Of the additional €31m secured earlier this year, €28m is helping address existing financial pressures arising from on-going service improvement, including the costs incurred from compliance with national residential standards, services provided to meet the changing needs of people with disabilities and the provision of emergency residential places. The remaining €3m has been allocated to new initiatives, including the provision of additional services to meet the needs of school leavers with disabilities and emergency residential placements arising in 2016.
Budget 2017 includes an increased allocation to the Disability Services Programme to address a number of key priorities in the Programme for Partnership Government. The additional funding of €31m secured in 2016 has been incorporated into the base allocation for disability services in 2017, which will rise to over €1.654bn, an increase of €92 million on the Budget 2016 allocation.
The quantum of service to be provided will be outlined in the Health Service Executive's National Service Plan for 2017, which is currently being prepared by the Executive. Pending agreement of the National Service Plan, I am not in a position to comment on the specific allocation.
As this is a matter in the first instance for the HSE, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy.