Written Answers Nos. 336-357
336. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment at the National Rehabilitation Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30842/17]
View answerAs 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.
337. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the amount being spent by the Ireland East hospital group on private ambulance operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30843/17]
View answerIn relation to the query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
338. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will issue to a person (details supplied). [30855/17]
View answerThe 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.
339. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason Losec in a pre-mixed liquid form is not covered under the drug payment scheme; his plans to list the drug under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30860/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
340. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health when an appointment for persons (details supplied) will be arranged for a marriage interview. [30878/17]
View answerThe Civil Registration Service is operated by the Health Service Executive on behalf of the General Register Office under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection. I have referred your question to the Health Service Executive to address the specific issues raised. The HSE will reply directly to you.
341. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of an appeal which has been submitted regarding a fair deal scheme application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30885/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
342. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 400 of 30 May 2017, if there will be a children's consultant ophthalmologist available at the children's hospital group (details supplied). [30886/17]
View answerIn relation to the Deputy's question concerning paediatric ophthalmology patients, I have asked the HSE to respond directly regarding the arrangements in place to provide on-going care for these patients.
343. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an ophthalmology appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30888/17]
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.
344. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1020 and 1021 of 20 June 2017, the details of the targets set by his Department for the provision of these assessments. [30891/17]
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.
345. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1224 to 1226, inclusive, and 1241 of 20 June 2017, the timeframe for the publication of the independent report on the nursing home support scheme. [30892/17]
View answerThe 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.
The legislation underpinning the Nursing Homes Support Scheme requires each private nursing home to negotiate and agree a price for long-term residential care services with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) should they wish to be an approved nursing home for the purposes of the Scheme. The NTPF has statutory independence in the performance of its function, and negotiates with each nursing home on an individual basis. The NTPF may examine the records and accounts of nursing homes as part of the process with the objective of setting a fair price which delivers value for money to the individual and the State. In negotiating with nursing homes, the NTPF has regard to:
- Costs reasonably and prudently incurred by the nursing home and evidence of value for money;
- Price(s) previously charged;
- Local market price; and
- Budgetary constraints and the obligation on the State to use available resources in the most beneficial, effective and efficient manner to improve, promote and protect the health and welfare of the public.
When the NHSS commenced in 2009, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The Report of the Review was published in July 2015. A number of issues have been identified for more detailed consideration, including a review of pricing mechanisms by the NTPF, with a view to:
- Ensuring value for money and economy, with the lowest possible administrative costs for clients and the State and administrative burden for providers;
- Increasing the transparency of the pricing mechanism so that existing and potential investors can make as informed decisions as possible; and
- Ensuring that there is adequate residential capacity for those residents with more complex needs.
A Steering Committee has been established to oversee the review of the pricing system for private long-term residential care facilities. This Steering Committee is chaired by the NTPF and includes representatives from the Department of Health, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the NTPF, and work in this area is ongoing and well advanced. This pricing review is a significant element of the overall Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, and as such it is important that sufficient time is given to the review to ensure that all relevant aspects of the current pricing mechanism can be considered and examined fully.
346. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will provide alcohol consumption statistics here and across EU member states since 2005, including those from the World Health Organization; if he will cite the source of each in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30901/17]
View answerThe data requested by the Deputy is provided in the table.
Ireland's level and pattern of harmful drinking has a huge impact on our nation’s physical and mental health. We cannot reduce alcohol harm in Ireland without reducing alcohol consumption, particularly among those who drink the most. Although consumption in Ireland declined between 2007 and 2013, it remains too high. Indeed, provisional figures from the Office of the Revenue Commissioners indicate that our consumption levels increased in 2016 to 11.46 litres per capita.
The Public Health Alcohol Bill aims to reduce per capita average consumption in Ireland to a level of 9.1 litres of pure alcohol.
Average consumption ( litres of pure alcohol) per adult (aged 15 and over)
|
COUNTRY/REGION |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Austria |
12.4 |
12.4 |
12.5 |
12 |
11.3 |
12.1 |
12 |
12.3 |
11.8 |
12.3 |
||
|
Belgium |
12.3 |
11 |
10.3 |
10.5 |
10.1 |
10.2 |
10.1 |
10.1 |
11.8 |
12.6 |
||
|
Bulgaria |
10.5 |
10.4 |
10.9 |
11 |
10.9 |
10.8 |
10.7 |
11 |
12.1 |
12 |
||
|
Croatia |
11.6 |
11.8 |
12.6 |
12.1 |
12.2 |
12.1 |
12.2 |
11.5 |
12.4 |
12.1 |
||
|
Cyprus |
11.4 |
11.5 |
11.6 |
12 |
10.8 |
11.3 |
10.7 |
10.6 |
9 |
|||
|
Czechia |
13.2 |
13 |
13.4 |
13.3 |
13.2 |
12.7 |
12.4 |
12.7 |
12.4 |
12.7 |
||
|
Denmark |
11.3 |
11 |
11 |
10.7 |
10.1 |
10.3 |
10.5 |
9.3 |
9.5 |
9.6 |
||
|
Estonia |
13.1 |
13.4 |
14.7 |
14.2 |
11.9 |
11.4 |
11.6 |
|||||
|
Finland |
9.9 |
10.2 |
10.4 |
10.3 |
10 |
9.7 |
9.8 |
9.2 |
9 |
8.8 |
||
|
France |
12.2 |
12.4 |
12.2 |
11.9 |
11.8 |
11.7 |
11.8 |
11.5 |
11.1 |
11.5 |
||
|
Germany |
11.7 |
11.8 |
11.5 |
11.4 |
11.2 |
11.2 |
11.2 |
11.2 |
10.9 |
11 |
||
|
Greece |
9.9 |
9.4 |
9.7 |
9.5 |
9.1 |
9 |
8 |
8.2 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
||
|
Hungary |
12.9 |
13.2 |
12.6 |
11.6 |
11.5 |
10.8 |
11.5 |
11.3 |
10.9 |
|||
|
Ireland |
13.3 |
13.4 |
13.6 |
12.7 |
11.4 |
11.9 |
11.7 |
11.5 |
10.5 |
10.8 |
10.9 |
11.5 |
|
Italy |
8.7 |
8.4 |
8.4 |
8 |
7.3 |
7 |
7 |
7.5 |
7.3 |
7.6 |
||
|
Latvia |
9.9 |
10.4 |
12.1 |
11.8 |
9.8 |
9.8 |
10.1 |
10.2 |
10.4 |
|||
|
Lithuania |
12.3 |
12.7 |
13.4 |
13.3 |
12.4 |
12.9 |
12.7 |
15.1 |
15 |
15.2 |
||
|
Luxembourg |
11.8 |
12 |
11.8 |
11.5 |
11.4 |
11.4 |
11.5 |
11.3 |
11 |
11.1 |
||
|
Malta |
6.4 |
8.8 |
7.5 |
7.1 |
7.4 |
7.9 |
6.9 |
7.7 |
8.6 |
8.5 |
||
|
Netherlands |
9.7 |
9.8 |
9.5 |
9.6 |
9.2 |
9.3 |
9 |
9.1 |
8.7 |
|||
|
Poland |
9.5 |
10.4 |
10.9 |
11.4 |
10.7 |
10.6 |
10.9 |
10.8 |
11.6 |
10.7 |
||
|
Portugal |
13.3 |
13.1 |
12.6 |
12.3 |
12 |
12.3 |
11.9 |
12 |
10 |
9.9 |
||
|
Romania |
7.7 |
8.5 |
10.6 |
11.9 |
10.4 |
9 |
9.1 |
9.6 |
9.6 |
|||
|
Slovakia |
10.8 |
10.3 |
10.6 |
11.4 |
10.6 |
10.1 |
10.2 |
10.1 |
9.9 |
10.6 |
||
|
Slovenia |
11.1 |
12.3 |
11 |
10.9 |
10.5 |
10.3 |
10.6 |
10.9 |
9.5 |
10.5 |
||
|
Spain |
11.9 |
11.9 |
11.1 |
10.2 |
10 |
9.8 |
9.6 |
9.3 |
9.3 |
|||
|
Sweden |
6.5 |
6.5 |
6.9 |
6.9 |
7.3 |
7.2 |
7.4 |
7.4 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
||
|
United Kingdom |
12.1 |
11.6 |
11.8 |
11.5 |
10.8 |
10.9 |
10.7 |
10.4 |
10.3 |
10.4 |
10.7 |
|
|
EU MEMBERS |
11 |
11 |
11 |
10.8 |
10.4 |
10.3 |
10.3 |
10.2 |
10.1 |
10.2 |
Source: World Health Organization (Ireland values for 2015 and 2016 included from Revenue and CSO figures).
http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main-euro.A1025?lang=en&showonly=GISAH.
347. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of official trainees comprising intern, CST and HST schemes within the health system that are employed and working in a private hospital and clinics as part of their training scheme, by private hospital and clinic in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30920/17]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
348. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants working in every CHO across the State that are on the Medical Council’s specialist register by CHO and area of speciality; the number that do not hold specialist division registration, that do not meet required qualification requirements and that are not on the Medical Council’s specialist register, including consultants appointed prior to March 2008 that did not have to meet that requirement on appointment but are operating as consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30921/17]
View answer349. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants working in every hospital across the State that are on the Medical Council’s specialist register; the number that do not hold specialist division registration, do not meet required qualification requirements and that are not on the Medical Council’s specialist register including consultants appointed prior to March 2008 that did not have to meet that requirement on appointment but are operating as consultants, by hospital and area of speciality, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30922/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
350. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment. [30925/17]
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.
351. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the findings of the report commissioned by his Department and undertaken by a company (details supplied) on alcohol labelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30928/17]
View answerThe research report on the labelling of alcohol products, referred to by the Deputy, has not been published. The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill provides for the furnishing of information to consumers on alcohol. The aim is to ensure that consumers are provided with access to health information on alcohol products regardless of the manner of purchase e.g. in a shop, in a pub, or on-line. The legislation provides that labelling of alcohol products will have a three-year lead in time after commencement. The legislation provides that the Minister may prescribe the form and the details provided in the labelling of alcohol products. The research report will be utilised by the Minister in developing the necessary regulations and at that stage the research report can be published.
352. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of section 39 agencies in receipt of annual State funding in excess of €100,000; and the cumulative total of this funding. [30932/17]
View answer353. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of section 39 agencies in receipt of annual State funding that is less €100,000; and the cumulative total of this funding. [30933/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 353 together.
I have asked the Health Service Executive to compile the necessary information and forward it to the Deputy.
354. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to clear the backlog of those that are waiting a number of years for orthodontic treatment. [30934/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
355. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason changes were implemented in a hospital (details supplied); the reason the waiting time for persons has been extended for two weeks when in the past persons were seen within a ten day maximum period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30935/17]
View answerIn response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
356. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for an assessment of need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30946/17]
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.
357. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment for a procedure at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30957/17]
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.
