Written Answers Nos. 240-248
240. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his plans to conduct a study to show savings his Department could make regarding accident and emergency visits, bed occupancy or primary care visits from asthma sufferers and those diagnosed with asthma if they were to have access to preventative asthma medication either through a long-term illness scheme or a chronic disease card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23546/17]
View answerAs the HSE has responsibility for this matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this issue.
241. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the availability of ambulance services at Sligo University Hospital; if there are periods for which there is a reduced service; the areas in which a service is not provided; the location and times when this occurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23552/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
242. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the position regarding hip replacement surgery for a person (details supplied) at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore; if it can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23581/17]
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.
243. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an appointment for a medical procedure for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23582/17]
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.
244. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a referral for a medical appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23584/17]
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.
245. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who are employed under the aegis of his Department through agencies in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23932/17]
View answerI have asked that the HSE respond to you directly on the aspect of the question that relates to them. In relation to Non-Commercial State Agencies under the remit of the Department, this information is being sought and will be forwarded to the Deputy when collated.
246. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the persons employed through agencies in his Department, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23945/17]
View answerThe staff of my Department are recruited through the Public Appointments Service with a small number of staff seconded from the Health Service Executive and other health sector bodies. Accordingly none of the positions in the Department are filled through recruitment agencies.
247. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a person's (details supplied) eligibility for GLAS in view of the fact that their amendment to land parcels was submitted to his Department ahead of deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23403/17]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue presented on the computerised crosscheck of Department databases with regard to the Wild Bird Cover action. Department officials have examined this issue and the application is now being further processed with a view to issuing payment in respect of the 2016 scheme year.
248. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will publish the 26 submissions received as part of the review of replacement capacity under the sea fishing licensing regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23430/17]
View answerAs Minister I have responsibility for policy in relation to sea-fishing boat licensing under Section 3(3) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003, as amended by Section 99 of the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006. In this context, Section 3 of the Act makes provision for Ministerial Policy Directives to issue to the independent Licensing Authority for Sea-fishing Boats. I am, however, precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to individual cases, or a group of cases, with which the Licensing Authority is or may be concerned under Section 3(5) of the 2003 Act.
I received proposals from a Producer Organisation which, in summary, relate to the possibility of reducing the requirement to provide 100% replacement capacity with the relevant track record to 80% (the balance being sourced from capacity without track record). I undertook a public consultation process on these proposals and made a consultation paper available which set out the background to fleet policy and carried out an analysis of the current situation. The consultation paper examined the implications of the proposals made by the Producer Organisation and also put forward alternative options. This consultation ended on 28 February 2017.
As the Deputy notes, 26 submissions were received in this regard and they are currently being examined. To support transparency in this process, I can inform the Deputy that all views received on the Consultation Document are now publicly available on my Department’s website.
