Tuesday, 24 Jan 2017

Respite Care Services Availability

Questions (497)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

497. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if respite care services for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3156/17]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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 Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Medicinal Products Availability

Questions (498)

Mick Barry

Question:

498. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be permitted to access a cannabis based medicine to potentially assist the reduction in the amount and severity of seizures they suffer from. [3172/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Cannabidiol (CBD) is derived from cannabis. However, since it does not have psychoactive properties it is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Acts.

While I am aware that CBD oil is sometimes marketed as a nutritional or dietary supplement, it should be noted that it is not authorised as a medicinal product in Ireland. Under European and Irish legislation, before a medicine can be placed on the Irish market, the manufacturer must seek an authorisation from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) or, in the case of certain medicinal products, the European Medicines Agency. A determination on an application for authorisation of a medicinal product is based on a rigorous scientific assessment of the application against the criteria of safety, quality, efficacy, legal and regulatory requirements. I have no role in the process of authorising medicinal products.

No application has been received from any company for any products containing CBD. The HPRA are open to receiving such applications.

Elsewhere products containing CBD are undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of a number of medical conditions, including severe, intractable (treatment-resistant) epilepsy. There is no prohibition on an Irish registered doctor recommending CBD for a patient under his/her care if they deem that treatment option to be clinically appropriate for their patient.

National Drugs Strategy

Questions (499)

Micheál Martin

Question:

499. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the details of the membership of the HSE National Drugs Committee. [3183/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Health Services Funding

Questions (500)

John McGuinness

Question:

500. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an application for funding for an organisation (details supplied) will be approved as a matter of urgency. [3184/17]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (501)

John McGuinness

Question:

501. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a transport solution has been put in place and agreed with the parents of a person (details supplied). [3185/17]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.

As the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Review

Questions (502)

John McGuinness

Question:

502. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an appeal for review and reduction of costs under the nursing homes support scheme will be granted in the case of a person (details supplied). [3186/17]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (503)

John McGuinness

Question:

503. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health when an operation which was deemed necessary and urgent in 2014 will be arranged for a person (details supplied); if the chief operations officer of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group will be requested to provide comprehensive information on the history of this case, when the person was first diagnosed and all actions after that to date including when the person was last contacted and examined; if the person has been given a written report following a recent review of their notes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3187/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (504)

Shane Cassells

Question:

504. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3190/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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 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.

Health Research Board Funding

Questions (505)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

505. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will assist the funding of clinical trials for multiple sulfatase deficiency (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3191/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Department of Health does not provide direct funding for the conduct of clinical trials in Ireland or overseas.

However, since 2006, the Department has provided funding to the Health Research Board (HRB) to support charity-led research through a Joint Funding Scheme with the Medical Research Charities Group (MRCG), a national organisation of charities active in medical research.

This innovative funding scheme allows members of the MRCG to support research of particular interest to specific patient populations, where they might otherwise not be in a position to finance the full cost of that research. The scheme has been particularly beneficial for rare diseases where research being undertaken internationally may be limited and where charities wishing to contribute to the research agenda need to fund research projects led from outside Ireland.

Further details of MRCG membership and the MRCG/HRB Joint Funding Scheme are available at www.mrcg.ie.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (506)

Robert Troy

Question:

506. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an assessment can be scheduled with the autism section for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3193/17]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.

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.

Primary Care Services Provision

Questions (507)

Brendan Smith

Question:

507. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if there will be no change in the delivery of primary care services in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3196/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Diabetes Strategy

Questions (508)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

508. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if information (details supplied) will be provided regarding diabetes mellitus sufferers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3198/17]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

Diabetes Strategy

Questions (509)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

509. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the estimated direct medical costs of managing complications of diabetes annually here; the estimated amount of money spent on diabetes prevention programmes, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3199/17]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (510)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

510. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3212/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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 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.

Hospitals Data

Nursing Home Accommodation Provision

Questions (517)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Question:

517. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will provide assistance in securing suitable care accommodation for a person (details supplied) who has been a patient in an acute hospital for the past four months. [3237/17]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.