Written Answers Nos. 1048-1067
1048. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his future plans for the HSE dental service in Ballymahon, County Longford; his further plans to expand the service or to close the service and move it to another location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37687/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1049. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if the orthodontist who provides the HSE dental service in Ballymahon, County Longford is approaching retirement age; if so, the preparations that have been made for his or her replacement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37688/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1050. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to centralise HSE dental services in County Longford; if so, the reason therefore; if persons have been informed of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37689/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1051. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of the primary care centre in Tuam, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37690/17]
View answerThe HSE has advised that Tuam PCC is in construction and is expected to be operational by the end of Q4 2017.
1052. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the location in which the staff for the primary care centre in Tuam, County Galway will come from; if the centre will receive additional new staff or if there will be no new hires and staff will instead be moved from areas in the locality to the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37691/17]
View answerAs the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, other Primary Care facilities, and the services provided therein, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
1053. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical appointment for a person (details supplied). [37697/17]
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.
1054. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the provision of a specific medical item for a person (details supplied). [37698/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1055. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37699/17]
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.
1057. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the provision of a new 96-bed block for University Hospital Limerick; the expected timeframe for the design stage to be completed; if construction of the block is included in the HSE's capital plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37702/17]
View answerA capital project to develop a ward block to provide 96 replacement in-patient bed at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) has been included in the HSE' multi-annual Capital Plan. Future investment in hospitals must be considered within the overall acute hospital sector infrastructure programme, the prioritised needs of the hospital groups and within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. The HSE will continue to apply the available funding for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs, having regard to the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place.
1058. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37704/17]
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.
1059. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite extra home help hours for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37706/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1060. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the progress by his Department to accelerate early assessment and intervention for children with special needs. [37709/17]
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.
1061. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the services available to support persons with mental health issues to secure accommodation and employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37711/17]
View answerThe Government, both through its commitment to the continued implementation of A Vision for Change and in line with the Programme for Government, supports access by mental health users to other health and personal social services, where their needs are consistent with their entitlements generally.
In relation to housing and tenancy supports, the Department of Health and the HSE participate in the implementation monitoring group for the Housing Strategy for People with disability, including people with mental health issues, which is addressing the needs of mental health service users in regard to accommodation, tenancy sustainment and related issues, including at sensitive points in their transition to care in the community.
€2 million was provided to address the mental health needs of homeless persons in the Dublin region in 2016, from additional funding secured for mental health in the 2016 HSE National Service Plan. The funding supports care and case management and intensive addiction and mental health in-reach programmes for homeless people in supported temporary accommodation and in long-term accommodation. The increased funding will also support long-term intensive care for homeless people with chronic and enduring health needs living in long-term supported accommodation that do not require acute hospital care, but have high support needs. The €2 million provided in 2016 will continue to be provided in 2017 onwards to fund these additional services for homeless people with mental health and addiction needs.
There is also a range of supports for people with mental health difficulties who wish to seek employment. These include the EmployAbility Service, which helps people with disabilities find work and offers them ongoing support, including job coaches throughout their employment, and the Community Services Programme, which aims to address disadvantage by supporting local community activity and providing local employment opportunities for certain groups of people, including people with disabilities.
In addition to this, a Genio-funded partnership project between the Department of Social Protection, the HSE and Mental Health Reform, entitled the 'Integrating Employment and Mental Health Support' (IEMHS) project has recently been completed. The project aimed to demonstrate how existing mental health and supported employment (Employability) services can fulfil the best practice Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of supported employment through improved integration. This project went beyond current criteria for Employability services by allowing participating service users to avail of supported employment regardless of 'job readiness' and through integrating the Job Coach into the mental health team. The project ran for two years from 1 June, 2015 to 31 May, 2017, and a final report is currently being prepared on the pilot.
1062. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the poor conditions facing persons attending emergency departments who are at risk of suicide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37712/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1063. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the funding for home help in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath for each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37713/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1064. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health his plans to make a provision for gambling addictions in the next HSE service plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37714/17]
View answerThe National Service Plan 2017 sets out the services provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) for people with addiction issues. People who present to the HSE for addiction treatment for gambling are offered the same range of interventions as those who present with a drug and alcohol addiction, or a mental health concern, including an initial assessment, a comprehensive assessment, and individual counselling. Counselling and rehabilitation services provide care to those presenting with a gambling addiction through one to one counselling, financial advice and onward referral to other services and supports where appropriate, such as Gamblers Anonymous.
In addition, the HSE provides funding to a number of voluntary sector providers who, in addition to treating drug and alcohol addictions, also treat gambling addiction.
1065. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding and services available in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath for young persons who use drugs and are addicted to drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37715/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1066. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the amount of additional funding his Department will provide to mental health services here and in particular Cavan, Monaghan and Meath. [37716/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1067. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review the request for full-time residential care for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37717/17]
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
