Written Answers Nos. 219-229
219. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of rolling out free general practitioner care at a rate of almost a quarter of a million more persons each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12301/17]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware of the ongoing review of the GMS and other publicly funded contracts involving GPs, and that the next phase of discussions to progress this work is underway. Initial engagement with GP representative bodies began in January. As with any negotiation-type process, and given the range and complexity of the issues to be discussed, the engagement may take some time.
The estimated cost of extending free GP care to all citizens will vary depending on the outcome of these negotiations and any implications they may have for the future scope and content of the general practitioner service, and the relevant fees and payments to GPs. It would be premature, in advance of substantive progress being made on the development of a new contract, to make statements in relation to funding.
However, the Deputy may be aware that the HSE has recently published the Primary Care Reimbursement Service Statistical Analysis of Claims and Payments 2015, which indicates that the average GP cost per eligible person is €226.07.
220. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the total estimated cost of abolishing prescription charges; the total estimated cost of the phased abolition of charges by 50 cent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12302/17]
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.
221. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of granting an automatic medical card to all those in receipt of domiciliary care allowance; the annual cost of the provision of this to new applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12303/17]
View answerAt current card cost levels the €10m provided in Budget 2017 for the provision of medical card to those in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance will meet just over 6 months worth of reimbursement. As the HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service reimburse one month in arrears, this funding equates to 7 months worth of services in 2017.
This funding assumes the following:-
- the number of allowance holders provided is not understated;
- there is an immediate uptake; and
- the new cards usage is similar to those currently in the system.
Any change in one of those assumptions may impact on the funding level.
222. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of abolishing the €100 charge for the use of emergency departments; the cost of abolishing the €75 per day charge for inpatient care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12304/17]
View answerThe HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
223. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if plans for the provision of a school age team for children with disabilities in Roscommon town have now been stalled due to budgetary issues in securing a lease on a premises in the county town despite the fact that negotiations were at an advanced stage and proposed plans for a 11,000 sq ft facility had been drawn up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12305/17]
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.
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.
224. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the details of all priority capital projects that have had their funding reduced in the 2017 HSE capital plan; the amount of the reductions that have occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12307/17]
View answerAs a consequence of size, complexity, timing and scheduling, healthcare infrastructure projects develop at different paces and have different momentums. Therefore it would not be appropriate to ring-fence capital funding by project. Ensuring flexibility enables the HSE to manage within its voted capital allocation in the event that one or more of the hundreds of projects underway at any time do not progress as scheduled. It enables the HSE to leverage its capital allocation efficiently, so that it delivers the maximum number of projects including priority projects for the funding available.
In compliance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Public Spending Code, all health care infrastructure projects including priority capital projects are reviewed at a number of stages. All projects were reviewed by the HSE in the context of its submission of its draft Capital Plan, and have been further reviewed in the context of the 2017 Midterm Capital Review. Therefore the Department has deferred final consideration of the draft Plan in this context.
225. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the details of all revised allocations for the national maternity hospital project in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12308/17]
View answerIn relation to this particular query, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
226. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the budget allocated for the construction of the new national forensic mental health service hospital in Portrane and all revised allocations that have occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12309/17]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
227. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if the capital spending allocated for the National Rehabilitation Hospital was reduced by €8 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12310/17]
View answerCapital funding for the National Rehabilitation Hospital has not been reduced.
228. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the construction contract for the National Children's Hospital project will be signed and to whom it is to be awarded; if provisions in this contract specify upper limits for the amount that will be paid for the construction of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12311/17]
View answerThe granting of planning permission in April 2016 for the hospital, Paediatric Outpatient Department and Urgent Care Centres at Connolly Hospital and Tallaght Hospital was a huge and very welcome milestone for the project. An internationally recognised design team, supported by the experienced National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and Project Team, are in place to drive the new children’s hospital project and to ensure that the project is delivered in accordance with national policy to optimal design and value for money. The first phase of construction (site clearing works) on the site of the new children’s hospital began in August 2016 and will be substantially completed within a matter of weeks.
The tender process for the main construction works for the new children’s hospital, and for the Paediatric Outpatients and Urgent Care centres at Tallaght and Connolly Hospitals has recently concluded. Local and international companies participated in the highly competitive tender process. More than 35 people participated in review panels for the tenders. The tenders were reviewed and measured against a number of technical and financial criteria and were independently peer-reviewed by construction experts with extensive experience of projects of this size and complexity. A company has been notified that it is the preferred bidder however the contract has not been awarded yet. I intend to bring a Memorandum to Government in the coming weeks on the new children’s hospital. Full details of the costs and funding will be set out in the Memorandum for Government and will form the basis upon which the approval decision will be made.
229. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the options available to children that have applied to the HSE for an assessment of need and that have not received their assessment within the three month period as required under the Disability Act 2005; if his attention has been drawn to the long delays for children receiving assessment of needs from early intervention teams across the country; the efforts he will make to ensure that the HSE and early intervention teams meet their obligations under the Disability Act 2005; the reason the HSE refuse to accept an assessment of need from a private practitioner in circumstances in which a delay in obtaining an assessment of need has occurred when such an assessment is accepted by the Department of Education and Skills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12315/17]
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.
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.
