Tuesday, 7 Feb 2017

Departmental Funding

Questions (458)

Clare Daly

Question:

458. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will consider increasing the funding to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5936/17]

View answer

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.

Question No. 459 answered with Question No. 425.

Medical Card Delays

Questions (460)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

460. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5973/17]

View answer

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 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.

General Practitioner Services

Questions (461)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

461. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 571 of 31 January 2017, if he will alter the general practitioner visit card scheme to allow certificate of fitness to drive assessments on the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5995/17]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the terms of the GMS and GP visit card contracts, fees are not paid to GPs in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences".

Consultation fees charged by GPs outside the terms of the GMS or GP Visit Card contracts are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and their patients. I have no role in relation to such fees, however I would expect clinicians to have regard to the overall economic situation in setting their fees.

There are no plans at present to include certificates of fitness to drive under the GMS or GP visit card schemes.

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Questions (462)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

462. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the reason a replacement for a primary care social worker (details supplied) has not been employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5997/17]

View answer

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 (HSE) for direct reply.

Question No. 463 answered with Question No. 425.

Legislative Measures

Questions (464)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

464. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6005/17]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Government approved the publication of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill as a direct policy response to reduce the harms caused by alcohol. Recognising that there is no single simple answer, the Bill includes a range of measures designed to collectively have a positive impact on the health and well-being of Irish people.

The Department considered the specific retail environment at airports when drafting the Bill. A full exemption from the Minimum Unit Price provisions was provided to all alcohol products sold in tax-free shops to travellers departing the State. A further exemption was provided to airports in relation to the separation and visibility of alcohol products. These exemptions were provided to allow Irish airports to retain their competitive advantage i.e. Irish Duty Free and Travel Retail premises can maintain their tax exemption and compete with other international airports that employ similar exemptions. Similarly, given the unique retail environment, alcohol products can continue to be sold from more than one location in airports.

My Department considers that the suite of measures contained in the Bill are a proportionate response to address the harms caused by the misuse of alcohol and bring about a cultural shift in our attitude to alcohol. The principle of the labelling provision is to provide consumers with information about the alcohol product and to provide health warnings. On this basis, the Department is not providing an exemption from the labelling provisions in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. The labelling provisions will apply to all retailers. The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill provides a 3 year lead in time for the introduction of the labelling provisions. This time frame was adopted following a consultation with the industry and is considered to give sufficient time for manufacturers and retailers to prepare for these new provisions.

Hospital Appointments Delays

Questions (465)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

465. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not received an update or an appointment for their child. [6006/17]

View answer

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 (HSE) for direct reply.

General Medical Services Scheme

Questions (466)

Seamus Healy

Question:

466. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the charging for the taking of bloods by general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6007/17]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

There is no provision under the GP GMS contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP, or the Practice Nurse on behalf of the GP, which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition. The HSE has advised GPs that where a blood test forms part of the investigation or necessary treatment of a patient’s symptoms or conditions, this should be free of charge for patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card. Notwithstanding this, I understand that in recent times, some GPs are charging GMS patients for these services.

If a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, then that patient may make a complaint to the HSE Local Health Office, who will deal with the matter in accordance with the HSE's Complaints Policy.

In order to achieve clarity on this issue, I have asked that any difference of perspective in relation to the provision of phlebotomy services be addressed in the GP contractual review process. I am pleased that initial meetings with GP representative bodies to progress this work have recently taken place and I look forward to constructive and positive further engagements.

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Questions (467)

Pat Deering

Question:

467. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health if he will address an issue raised regarding the delay in emergency orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied) and the response received from the HSE, which is deemed unsatisfactory by the party involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6010/17]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (468)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

468. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a hip operation will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); if the NTPF can be utilised in the person's case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6014/17]

View answer

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.

Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of the Government's key priorities. For this reason, €20 million was allocated to the NTPF in the 2017 Budget, rising to €55 million in 2018.

In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF for the first tranche of funding in the region of €5 million, for an initiative focusing on day case procedures. It is estimated that around 3,000 day cases will be managed through this process with the aim of ensuring that no patient will be waiting more than 18 months for treatment by 30 June 2017. Tender documentation was issued at the end of January and it is expected that the outsourcing of treatment will commence shortly.

It is expected that the NTPF initiative will free up capacity in the public hospital system to provide treatment to those patients awaiting inpatient treatment, whose requirements are more complex and thus more suited to the public hospital system.

Minister for Health

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Pharmacy Services

Questions (474)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

474. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if an application has been received from a person (details supplied) to get their dispensing rights back after the closure of the only local chemist which was only open for a short while; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6078/17]

View answer

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.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (475)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

475. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will have surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6109/17]

View answer

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 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 the Deputy directly.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (476)

Declan Breathnach

Question:

476. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the reason there is such a long waiting time to see a consultant ophthalmologist in the Mater Hospital in respect of the serious condition glaucoma (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6115/17]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Questions (477)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

477. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the valuation of a person's home under the fair deal scheme is the valuation at the time of application or if there are circumstances under which a later valuation would be used in the means assessment; if so, the details of the circumstances; and the precise statutory instrument and part of that instrument on which the timing of the valuation is based. [6116/17]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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.

Section 44(4) of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act, 2009 provides for applications for financial support to be accompanied by valuations of assets. Schedule 1, Part 3, Section 1 of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act, 2009 defines the estimated market value as the price the asset would fetch on the open market on the date on which the application for financial support is made to the HSE. In cases where an applicant owns his/her principal private residence, the value of that residence for the purposes of the financial assessment element of the Scheme must be the price that the property would fetch on the open market on the date on which the application for State support is first made. However, under Section 10 of the legislation, the HSE does not have to accept a valuation submitted by an applicant and may seek its own independent valuation of a particular asset. If a review of a person's financial assessment is requested at any stage during their time in a nursing home, the value of their principal residence remains at the amount of the valuation as at the time of the initial application. Importantly, the person's principal residence is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years that an individual receives care services.

Public Procurement Contracts

Questions (478)

John Paul Phelan

Question:

478. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the satellite dialysis unit for County Wexford with regard to the reopening of the tender process; the expected duration of the proposed process; the expected timeframe for completion of the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6117/17]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to this particular query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (479)

Declan Breathnach

Question:

479. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay for a person (details supplied) to see a consultant ophthalmologist in the Mater Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6118/17]

View answer

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 the Deputy directly.

Brexit Issues

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 480, 513, 520 and 539 together.

The equine industry in Ireland is important in terms of value and employment. Brexit may have very serious implications for the Irish thoroughbred racing and breeding industry and the concerns of the sector will need to be taken into account in any discussions/negotiations on the matter. To a large extent the horse racing and breeding industries of the UK and Ireland operate as one with horses, trainers, riders regularly moving between both jurisdictions.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that horse racing and thoroughbred breeding has always been operated on an all island basis in Ireland. All trainers in Northern Ireland are licensed by the Irish Turf Club and races there are run under the Turf Club's Rules of Racing. 90% of runners at these fixtures are trained in the Republic with horses moving on a daily basis, so the return to a hard border would seriously disrupt this movement.

The two countries operate a single entity for stud book purposes (i.e. British and Irish foals are both registered in the one stud book) and together with France, have historically had a tripartite agreement between the respective Departments of Agriculture to facilitate free movement of thoroughbred horses between the three countries. It is vital that this is retained.

Ireland exports of thoroughbreds to Britain are worth approx. €225 million each year, which may be at risk due to reduced trade flows following the vote in favour of Brexit. Any exchange rate volatility which might occur as a result of Brexit could also make Irish exports more expensive.

The introduction of tariffs or regulations has the potential to increase the cost of business and reduce the free movement of labour and horses.

The Government has adopted an initial Contingency Framework to map out the key issues that will be most important to Ireland in the coming weeks and months. This will be an iterative process as issues emerge and recede in the course of negotiations.

I am aware that the Board of Horse Racing Ireland are greatly concerned about the threat created by Brexit and have set up an industry wide group to examine the issues of concern and to ensure that the concerns are clearly known and addressed. The Board and officials from my Department are working closely together to highlight these issues.

My Department is engaging with EU institutions, other member states, stakeholders and with our counterparts in Northern Ireland and Great Britain and feeding into the overall Government Brexit response, which is being co-ordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach.

Imports Data

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 481 to 485, inclusive, together.

The table sets out the volume and value of ware potatoes imported from Israel since 2014:

Year	Tonnes	Value
2014	3467	€1,206,516
2015	2160	€751,680
2016	2181	€758,988

My Department has no recorded importations of product (or any imports labelled as such) from the Palestinian Territories.

In relation to the issue of importation procedures, there are a significant number of importers registered with my Department and they are authorised to import a range of commodities of plants and plant products directly from Third Countries into Ireland. My Department does not categorise importers by district council area. With specific regard to ware potatoes, Israel is one of a number of Third Countries - agreed at EU level - that are not subject to any additional import requirements.