Written Answers Nos. 476 - 496
476. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the number of Secretaries General in his Department; the annual pay of each Secretary General within his Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2910/17]
View answer477. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the number of assistant secretaries general in his Department; the annual pay of each assistant secretary general within his Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2926/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 477 together.
The information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows:
|
Grade |
Number of Staff |
Rate of Pay |
|
Secretary General |
1 |
176,350 |
|
Deputy Secretary |
1 |
161,552 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
1 |
164,388 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
1 |
136,496 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
1 |
131,385 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
2 |
125,761 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
3 |
119,572 |
Under the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015 (FEMPI Act 2015), for those on salaries in excess of €110,000 the salary reductions imposed under the FEMPI Act 2013 will be restored in three equal phases on 1 April 2017, 1 April 2018 and 1 April 2019. A circular setting out the revised salary rates applicable from 1 April 2017 to general Civil Service grades, including Secretaries General and Assistant Secretaries General, is currently in preparation and will be issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in due course.
478. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health further to commitments made in the programme for Government, when he will provide additional funding for the nursing home support scheme and introduce changes to remove discrimination against small businesses and family farms under the fair deal nursing home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2950/17]
View answerThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for those in need of long-term nursing home care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their income and assets while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings. A financial assessment is carried out by the HSE to determine how much a participant in the Scheme will contribute to the cost of their care.
Funding for the Scheme in 2017 is €940 million. This represents an increase of €18.5 million on 2016 expenditure, and will enable an additional 500 people to be supported in 2017, increasing the numbers supported under the Scheme to just over 23,600 by the end of the year. Time spent on the placement list for funding is not expected to exceed four weeks during 2017.
When the NHSS commenced in 2009, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The Report of the Review was published in July 2015. Arising out of the Review, a number of key issues have been identified for more detailed consideration across Departments and Agencies, including the treatment of business and farm assets for the purposes of the financial assessment element of the Scheme. This work is currently underway and the IFA has made a submission in this context to the Interdepartmental Group which is overseeing the implementation of certain recommendations contained in the Review. The proposals put forward by the IFA are currently being considered. Once all of the relevant Review recommendations have been considered, any amendments required to the Scheme will be identified. Any changes to the Scheme which require legislative implementation will be addressed collectively.
479. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on the implementation of the national positive ageing strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2953/17]
View answerThe National Positive Ageing Strategy (NPAS), published on 24 April 2013, provides a framework for cooperation to address age-related policy and service delivery across Government and society in the years ahead. The Strategy is intended to promote older people’s health and well being so that older people can continue to contribute to social, economic, cultural and family life in their own communities for as long as possible, thereby representing a vision for an age-friendly society. The Strategy highlights that ageing is not just a health issue, but rather requires a whole of Government approach to address a range of social, economic and environmental factors that affect the health and wellbeing of our ageing citizens. The Department of Health has an overall coordinating and collating role for the Strategy and a more direct role for the health-related objectives.
At the launch of the Strategy, a commitment was made to publish an Implementation Plan to facilitate the translation of the Goals and Objectives of the Strategy into action on the ground. The approach to implementation originally included in the Strategy would have worked where a finite number of discrete and concrete steps could be taken after which the implementation could be deemed complete. However, many of the objectives included in this Strategy are quite broad, and can be viewed as a set of principles to which Government has committed, and which will inform policies that affect older people on an indefinite basis into the future, rather than concrete objectives that can be delivered in the short term.
The Department has therefore formulated new arrangements to implement and monitor the implementation of the National Positive Ageing Strategy. The new proposals will see mechanisms established that will give stakeholder groups effective and on-going access to Government Departments and State Agencies relevant to older people. An Annual Forum for stakeholders will be established which will seek to identify what stakeholders consider to be their key priorities for Government for the coming year and the next three years. Issues will be considered on a thematic basis and will include Health, Social Protection, Transport, Security, Community Housing and Local Government etc. Clear channels of communications will be established with relevant Government Departments assigning a named senior official to engage with stakeholder representatives on issues relevant to their remit.
The revised arrangements were approved by the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform on 27 October, 2016. These new arrangements will now be communicated to stakeholders and arrangements made to commence implementation.
As part of the NPAS implementation process, a Healthy and Positive Ageing Initiative has been established in collaboration with the HSE’s Health and Wellbeing Programme and the Atlantic Philanthropies to measure the impact of the Strategy and establish an ongoing system for measuring and reporting on Positive Ageing. The Initiative will monitor changes in older people’s health and wellbeing linked to the Goals and Objectives of the National Positive Ageing Strategy. This will be done primarily through the development of Positive Ageing indicators to be published every two years. The Initiative is intended to provide evidence of the factors contributing to positive ageing, including at local level and ultimately inform policy responses to population ageing in Ireland. The first national Positive Ageing Indicators report was published in 2016 and highlights many of the positive and negative aspects of growing old in Ireland.
The National Positive Ageing Strategy and the activities of the HaPAI are strongly embedded within the vision and actions set out for Healthy Ireland, the Government-led initiative which aims to create an Irish society where people of all ages can enjoy good physical and mental health, and where wellbeing is supported at every level of society. The Healthy Ireland Framework was launched in 2013 and seeks to provide people and communities with accurate information on how to improve their health and wellbeing and to make the healthy choices easier choices. Healthy Ireland takes a whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approach to improving health and wellbeing and the quality of people’s lives and a number of new structures have been put in place to ensure that all sectors of society are given opportunities to participate.
480. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when medical card cover will be extended to recipients of the domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2967/17]
View answerMy Department recently received permission from Government to draft the new Bill. This new legislation will effectively mean that all children in respect of whom a DCA payment is made will automatically qualify for a medical card and, therefore, no longer be subject to the medical card means test at any point in the future while in receipt of DCA. The legislation is currently being prepared and will be brought before the Oireachtas as quickly as possible. In addition to the preparation of the legislation, I have asked the HSE, so that the proposal can be implemented in a smooth and efficient manner, to commence the process of planning for the requirements of the scheme and how the cards will issue.
481. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital admissions as a result of consumption of illegal drugs in each of the years 2014 to 2016, in tabular form; the type of drug taken in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2972/17]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
482. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the details of the management structure of the South South-West Hospital Group; the members of that group; the specific clinical speciality of each member of the group; and their geographical location within their specific field. [3066/17]
View answerI have asked the HSE to provide you with the details requested.
483. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health his plans to abolish prescription charges for persons who are medical card holders and are inpatients and residents of nursing homes, in view of the fact that this charge represents an unfair burden to patients who already pay 80% of their eligible income towards their stay, which would not apply if they were inpatients in ordinary hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3085/17]
View answerThe Programme for Partnership Government contains a commitment to reduce the cost of medicines by reducing the annual co-payment on the Drugs Payment Scheme and reducing prescription charges for medical card holders.
Under Budget 2017, the prescription charge for medical card holders aged 70 and over will be reduced this year. This reduction will also apply to residents of nursing homes who are 70 or older.
I will continue to examine opportunities to address the cost of the charge to patients, having regard to the funding available.
484. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number waiting for a child and adolescent mental health service appointment per CHO; the number waiting between three and six months, six and 12 months and more than 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3091/17]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
485. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health his plans to expand autism services in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3102/17]
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.
However, 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.
487. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a level of funding of €67 million as identified by an organisation (details supplied) in its pre-budget submission to provide community and home based care to support and enable persons with dementia to remain living at home for as long as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3110/17]
View answerThe aim of the Irish National Dementia Strategy which was published in December 2014 is to improve dementia care so that people with dementia can live well for as long as possible, can have services and supports delivered in the best way possible, and can ultimately die with dignity. The Strategy emphasises that most people with dementia live in their own communities and can continue to live well and to participate in those communities. The Strategy contains a set of priority actions capable of implementation within existing resources or by reconfiguring resources. It also contains a number of additional actions which may require resources additional to what is currently available and which will be considered as these become available in the future.
A number of priority areas for action for the National Dementia Strategy have been identified, which include the provision of integrated services, supports and care for people with dementia and their carers. To meet this priority, and to support the implementation of the strategy, The Atlantic Philanthropies, the Dept. of Health and the Health Service Executive have agreed a co-investment programme of €27.5m. This National Dementia Strategy Implementation Programme contains a number of elements which include:
- The rollout of a programme of Intensive Home Supports and Homecare Packages for people with dementia;
- The provision of additional dementia-specific resources for GPs, who are the critical and initial point of contact with the health system for those with dementia; and
- Measures to raise public awareness, address stigma, and promote the inclusion and involvement in society of those with dementia.
The overall funding for Services for Older People available to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for 2017 has increased to €765 million and the Home Help Service and Home Care Packages account for about 50% of this. The additional funding for homecare is aimed at allowing people to continue to live in their own homes and at facilitating discharge of older people from hospitals when the acute phase of their treatment has been completed. The HSE’s National Service Plan for 2017 provides for a target of 10.57million Home Help Hours to support about 49,000 people, 16,750 Home Care Packages and 190 Intensive Home Care Packages for clients with complex needs including 60 clients with dementia supported with co-funding from Atlantic Philanthropies under the Irish National Dementia Strategy.
488. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the amount of additional funding he is making available to the Dublin Fire Brigade to provide ambulance services in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3111/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
489. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the progress being made regarding the development of a new national drugs and alcohol strategy; the timeframe for its publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3116/17]
View answerGovernment is committed to putting a new National Drugs Strategy in place from 2017 onwards, when the current policy expires. A Steering Committee with an independent chair has been established to advise me on the new Strategy. This Committee has been mandated to develop an integrated public health approach to substance misuse, which is defined as the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illegal drugs.
The Committee has made significant progress in developing the evidence base for the new Strategy. The main features of the process to date include:
(i) a high level review of the current Strategy by an international panel of experts;
(ii) a review of systematic evidence reviews of interventions on the drug problem;
(iii) a 10 year trends analysis of the drugs situation in Ireland; and
(iv) proposals from multi-stakeholder focus groups on measures to address gaps in the current response to the drugs problem.
In addition, a wide-ranging and comprehensive consultation process has been undertaken, which has resulted in over 2000 submissions on the matter.
It is envisaged that the new Strategy will be based on a health-led approach to the drug problem and build on progress achieved under previous drug strategies. I understand that the Steering Committee is continuing with its deliberations and is expected to submit its final report to me by the end of March. I hope to bring my proposals to Government on the new Strategy thereafter.
490. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the result of the review in respect of an application for the fair deal scheme in the case of a person (details supplied); if a reduction in fees is warranted following the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3137/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
491. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of a hip replacement operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3140/17]
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.
492. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been requested to fill out a new application due to a simple clerical error on a declaration form; if the person will be issued with a new declaration form whereby the person can clarify the error on the previous declaration form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3141/17]
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.
493. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3145/17]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
494. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1147 of 17 January 2017, when the newly appointed director of the HSE national women and infants health programme will meet with a person (details supplied) on the issue of foetal anomaly scanning; if contact has been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3147/17]
View answerI can confirm that a reply has issued directly to the individual concerned at that email address. I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly in relation to your query regarding a date for a meeting with the Director of the National Women & Infants Health Programme.
495. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will issue a final response to an issue (details supplied) that was forwarded to his office in October 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3148/17]
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.
However, 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.
496. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the total number of referrals to accident and emergency departments from Shannon Doc, Thurles and Nenagh respectively, in each of the years 2010 to 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3155/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
