Written Answers Nos. 448 - 461
448. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will address concerns regarding the allocation of staff at a day care centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4474/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
449. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the commencement of Part 8 of an Act (details supplied) and when a director will be appointed. [3940/17]
View answerThe Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, which provides a modern statutory framework to support decision-making by adults with capacity difficulties, is the responsibility of the Department of Justice and Equality and commencement of that Act is largely a matter for that Department.
The commencement of Part 8 of the Act, which provides a legislative framework for advance healthcare directives (AHD), is a matter for my Department. An AHD is a statement made by a person with capacity setting out his or her will and preferences regarding treatment decisions that may arise in the future when he or she no longer has capacity.
Under section 91 of the Act, the Minister for Health is responsible for the establishment of a multidisciplinary working group to assist in the development and preparation of the Code of Practice for the AHD provisions. The role of the working group will be to prepare a detailed series of recommendations for the Director of the Decision Support Service, in relation to the interpretation and operation of the AHD provisions contained in the Act. The Director will prepare and publish a Code of Practice based on those recommendations.
Section 91(2) of the Act was commenced on 17 October 2016 and the multidisciplinary working group was subsequently established. Upon the completion of its work, the working group will submit its recommendations to the Director of the Decision Support Service. The Director shall publish a Code of Practice, with the consent of the Minister for Health. The preparation of this Code of Practice will facilitate the subsequent commencement of Part 8 of the Act, pertaining to AHDs, in its entirety. Part 8 of the Act will be commenced at this point.
In relation to the post of Director of the Decision Support Service, I can confirm that approval has been received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for the recruitment and appointment of a Director, and discussions are ongoing. When these discussions are completed it is expected that the Commission will move quickly to publicly advertise the post.
450. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop a primary health care centre in Togher, Cork; when he plans to develop it; if a site has been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3745/17]
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.
451. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding respite care in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3748/17]
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.
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 Health Service Executive ( HSE )for direct reply to the Deputy.
452. 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. [3763/17]
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 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.
453. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if the Health Research Board review has completed its work regarding the need to regulate the home care services sector, that is, the way in which home care services are funded and regulated in comparable jurisdictions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3778/17]
View answerThe Health Research Board was commissioned by the Department of Health in 2016 to carry out an evidence review describing approaches to the regulation and financing of home care in comparable jurisdictions and assessing them in terms of their effectiveness. It will be used to inform the development of policy proposals for the regulation and financing of home care.
The review will be published shortly. A public consultation process will then be launched in the coming months to allow those who have views on the issue to have their say, including older people themselves, their families and healthcare workers.
454. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for assessments with the early intervention team in counties Sligo and Leitrim; and if all children were assessed within the target timeframe of three months during 2016. [3780/17]
View answer455. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if a full early intervention team is currently available in counties Sligo and Leitrim; and the waiting times for each of those team members. [3781/17]
View answer456. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the actions or measures that have been carried out to reduce waiting times in counties Sligo and Leitrim while vacancies exist in the early intervention team. [3782/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 454 to 456, inclusive, together.
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
457. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that extra resources are provided to recruit an additional autism therapist in the Sligo and Leitrim area in view of the fact that there are currently more than 35 families with children who have been diagnosed with autism on a waiting list for this vital specialist service. [3783/17]
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.
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.
458. 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. [3790/17]
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.
459. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide mental health classes to secondary school pupils; the implementation plan for this proposal; the development of the curriculum; if there is a consultation process envisaged for this curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3797/17]
View answerEducation is key to improving the mental health, resilience and emotional well-being of our young people. Last year saw the launch of the first Action Plan for Education by the Department of Education. This included a section on Mental Health and Wellbeing. The aims in this section were set to roll out a national programme to support the implementation of Wellbeing Guidelines to all primary and post-primary schools; to implement Wellbeing at Junior Cycle; and to publish the 2015 Lifeskills survey, providing information on how schools cater for the well-being of their students. This plan outlines hundreds of actions and sub-actions to be implemented across 2016-2019, with timelines and lead responsibility assigned. I will be working closely with my colleague the Minister for Education on this issue to ensure these actions are implemented. With this in mind, for further details on school-based mental health and well-being, the Department of Education would be better placed to answer such queries.
The Department of Health and the Department of Education have a strong history of working together to support youth mental health. In 2013, the Department of Education and Skills, the HSE, and the Department of Health jointly developed Well-Being in Post Primary Schools Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention. This was followed in 2015 by the publication of Guidelines setting out a framework for mental health promotion in primary schools.
In 2015, the Government launched Connecting for Life, Ireland's National Strategy to Reduce Suicide with the aim of reducing suicide and self-harm over 2015-2020. The Strategy sets out a vision where fewer lives are lost through suicide, and where communities and individuals are empowered to improve their mental health and well-being. It will provide community-based organisations with guidelines, protocols and training on effective suicide prevention.
One of the main goals in Connecting for Life is to target approaches to reduce suicidal behaviour and improve mental health among priority groups, including young people. Several key actions have been identified to further this goal in the Education sector, including:
- Support the implementation of the relevant guidelines for mental health promotion and suicide prevention across primary and post-primary schools;
- Guide and encourage the implementation of the relevant policies and plans in schools, including support for Student Support Teams and for critical incident management;
- Work with the HSE to develop national guidance for higher education institutions in relation to suicide risk and critical incident response;
- Implement the National Anti-bullying Action Plan including online and homophobic bullying;
- Support all junior and senior schools to implement a new Wellbeing programme; and
- Deliver early intervention and psychological support service for young people at primary care level.
These actions are part of the overall policy objectives of the Department of Education and Skills. They are supported by my Department and the HSE through the inter-agency implementation arrangements provided for in Connecting for Life and overseen by the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform.
460. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the granting of full medical cards to children in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance as announced in budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3799/17]
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, the HSE has commenced the process of planning for the requirements of the scheme and how the cards will issue so that the proposal can be implemented in a smooth and efficient manner.
461. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to have the Freestyle Libre device, a life-changing device for diabetics, made available through the long-term illness scheme. [3800/17]
View answerUnder 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.
