Written Answers Nos. 126-143
126. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the capital budget or total capital spend at Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise in each of the years 2009 to 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43282/17]
View answerAs the HSE is responsible for the delivery of health care infrastructure projects, the Executive has been requested to reply directly to you in relation to the capital spend at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise for each of the years 2009 to 2016.
128. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a date for an operation will be given to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43287/17]
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.
129. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43288/17]
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.
130. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the number of podiatrists working in the diabetes department in Letterkenny University Hospital; if funding will be made available for an additional podiatrist in view of the fact that County Donegal had one of the largest year-on-year increases in the number of persons with diabetes requiring a lower limb amputation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43289/17]
View answerLetterkenny and Sligo University Hospitals provide essential high-quality hospital care to patients in the North West. I can assure the Deputy of the continued commitment to develop services in both Hospitals, including those for patients with diabetes.
I met with the Donegal Branch of Diabetes Ireland, the HSE and the Saolta Healthcare Group on June 28th to discuss the current challenges and future development of diabetes services in the North West and remain committed to progressing the development of diabetes care in the region.
Currently Letterkenny University Hospital has one full working time equivalent podiatrist working with both diabetes patients and other general high risk patients. At present, there has been no funding allocated for the provision of additional podiatry staff. However, it should be noted that sizeable funding has been allocated for other priority recruitment, staff development and capital investment to support diabetes care provision in the region.
131. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his plans to implement the decision to subsidise the cost of IVF as soon as possible rather than delaying until 2019 to support those persons who are reaching ages at which the likelihood of becoming pregnant is lessened. [43291/17]
View answerOn Tuesday 3 October last the Government approved the drafting of a Bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated areas of research. Officials in my Department are engaging with the Office of the Attorney General in relation to the process of drafting this Bill.
In relation to the issue of public funding and AHR treatment, I intend to revert to Government by the end of this year with proposals for a potential model of public funding for AHR treatment for the Government's consideration and decision.
As you may be aware, the Health Research Board's (HRB) evidence review of international public funding models for AHR was published earlier this year. This evidence review examines the associated costs and benefits for the funder, provider and patient, the criteria for accessing the public funded service and the basis for these criteria in different jurisdictions.
An analysis of the HRB evidence review will feed into the development of policy options for a potential public funding model for AHR treatment by my officials. This policy options paper will be presented to me by the end of this year and I will then submit these proposals to Government. It is important to note that any funding model that may ultimately be introduced would need to operate within the broader regulatory framework set out in the AHR Bill.
132. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed national review of cardiology services; the preparatory works conducted by the HSE during the summer; if an outside international expert has been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43294/17]
View answerAs agreed, my Department has been working on a proposal for a national review of cardiology services which is now at an advanced stage and which I plan to commence shortly.
133. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health if he has included the cost of refurbishment of the Maynooth community care unit, Maynooth, County Kildare regarding projects to be considered under the mid-term capital review; if the refurbishment costs estimated at €1 million will be met from the existing capital funding; when a decision on funding is likely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43306/17]
View answerMany public units are housed in buildings that are less than ideal in the modern context, but notwithstanding this, the care delivered to residents is generally of a very high standard. It is important therefore that we upgrade our public bed stock and this is the aim of the 5 year Capital Investment Programme for Community Nursing Units which was announced last year. This provides the framework to allow for an enhanced programme to replace, upgrade and refurbish these care facilities, as appropriate. Significant work was undertaken to determine the most optimum scheduling of projects within the phased provision of funding to achieve compliance with National Standards. Maynooth Community Care Unit is not included under this programme.
I understand that the potential to refurbish Maynooth is being considered by the HSE at present and I further understand that there are no indications that beds will be closed. I have asked the Health Service Executive to provide further information to the Deputy in respect of the unit in question.
134. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43314/17]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
135. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the status of the allocation of €5 million for the Healthy Ireland fund in 2017; if this funding has been allocated for 2017; and the locations in which the funding has been spent in 2017, in tabular form. [43339/17]
View answerTogether with An Taoiseach, and the Minister for Health, I recently announced the first allocations from the Healthy Ireland Fund, for national actions. This Strand of approximately €1.35m will promote partnerships and actions that support the implementation of key national policies and plans under Healthy Ireland dealing with issues such as physical activity, obesity prevention and creating a tobacco-free society.
Applications have been invited from all Local Community Development Committees and Children and Young Persons Services Committees, all of which have applied for funding. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs have provided some co-funding for CYPSC related actions in this strand. The overall amount available is approximately €3.8m. At this stage we expect that every LCDC and CYPSC will receive some level of funding in this round. The appraisal process by Pobal to finalise the recommendations for allocation of funding is currently underway and will be completed shortly. More detailed information relating to the location and the nature of funded activities will be available before the end of the year.
The link to the recent announcement of the Healthy Ireland Fund can be found at:
http://health.gov.ie/blog/press-release/33350/.
136. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the promised €14 million investment over three years in Cork University Maternity Hospital; the amount which has been allocated and drawn down; the items or services which have been provided with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43340/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the South South West Hospital Group Maternity Services Directorate has developed a plan to improve gynaecology services across the maternity network. The plan provides for a phased approach to implementation and I have indicated my support to the approach adopted.
I am pleased to note that investment and improvements to services have already been made and this will continue next year. Details of the new investment will be outlined in the National Service Plan, 2018. In the meantime, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to you in relation to the improvements that have been achieved to date in 2017.
137. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if there are now 81 doctors working as consultants in public hospitals who are not on the specialist register of the Medical Council; and if claims are accurate that in some cases the least experienced persons working remotely without senior consultant peer back-up were performing high-risk exploratory surgery for abdominal pains. [43341/17]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy concerning the specific issues raised. I would like to outline steps the HSE has taken to ensure that consultants employed in the public services are on the specialist register of the Medical Council and that where this is not the case appropriate clinical supervision is in place.
In March 2008 the HSE amended the qualifications specified for Consultant posts to require membership of the specialist division of the Register of Medical Practitioners maintained by the Medical Council. Consultant Contract 2008 reflects this requirement. Data from HSE National Doctors Training and Planning indicates that approximately 80 Consultant post holders out of over 3,000 do not hold specialist division registration. Some of these were appointed prior to March 2008 and therefore did not have to meet that requirement on appointment.
In December 20015 the Director General of the HSE requested Professor Frank Keane to lead a process to address a range of issues associated with the creation and approval of Consultant posts and successful recruitment to such posts. In February 2017 the HSE published the Report of the Committee established to undertake this work:- ‘Successful Consultant Recruitment, Appointment and Retention’. The Committee recommended that measures be adopted to cease the poor employment practice which gives rise to contracts of indefinite duration and risk to the public arising from provision of services by persons who are not appropriately qualified. The HSE is focused on implementing the recommendations of the Committee.
On 17th July National HR, HSE issued a detailed Circular “HR Circular 021/2017 re Qualifications required for Consultant Posts”. The Circular reaffirmed the HSE’s regulatory functions in relation to all consultant appointments in the public service in Ireland, including new and replacement posts, locum and temporary posts, contract type and qualifications to apply. It stated that health service employers are required to seek the prior approval of the HSE before making a Consultant appointment (whether permanent or non-permanent) and to comply with the HSE Letter of Approval concerning any post in making an appointment. It also provided that a risk mitigation plan be put in place for each consultant post where the appointee does not hold the qualifications specified for the appointment, and this should include appropriate arrangements for senior clinical oversight as required. It also provided for the early termination of contracts of temporary/locum doctors who do not hold the qualifications required.
138. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide mortality and morbidity information below county level here particularly in the context of the proposed health information and patient safety Bill; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this breakdown of mortality and morbidity information below county levels is essential as a baseline for assessment of potential health risks to the public from environmental and other sources and is a requirement of EU member states under the Aarhus Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43358/17]
View answerThe Department of Health has created the Public Health Information System (PHIS) to provide detailed information on mortality and morbidity at county level. The system is populated, inter alia, with data from several sources including the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) system for hospital discharge data, Central Statistics Office for mortality and fertility data, the National Perinatal Reporting System for data on perinatal events and the National Cancer Registry of Ireland for cancer incidence. Most of these data sources can provide data at a disease-specific level which makes it a key tool for monitoring of trends in public health.
The National Healthcare Quality Reporting System is an annual report published by the Department of Health which includes information on 27 public health and patient safety indicators, including figures on morbidity and mortality. The indicators are presented at varying levels of detail including some at hospital level and some at county level.
The recent Census also provides data on population health and disability at local level. It is possible to analyse these data at very low levels of granularity, down to small area level which is the lowest analytical level available.
The Environmental Protection Agency also provides an Air Quality Index for Health which informs on air quality at local level.
139. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of current or pending green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, applications that must include commonage framework plans. [43222/17]
View answer140. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of GLAS applications to date that have included commonage framework plans. [43223/17]
View answer141. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the consequences for farmers who do not have their commonage framework plans completed by the deadline of 31 October 2017 in view of the fact that applications opened on 2 October 2017. [43224/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 139 to 141, inclusive, together.
Where commonage is included in a GLAS application, a Commonage Management Plan or a Commonage Farm Plan as appropriate, must be submitted before GLAS payment for the 2017 scheme year can be processed.
Payments cannot issue if commonage framework plans are not completed and submitted.
Over 9,000 shareholders across over 3,800 commonages have declared commonage in their GLAS applications. The necessary pre-payment checks, to be carried out over the coming weeks, will determine the number of shareholders who have subscribed to the individual management plans.
142. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will include two fishing ports (details supplied) in the list of merchant shipping registry of ports in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43227/17]
View answerPursuant to the Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968 (as amended), my Department owns and directly manages the six state-owned Fishery Harbour Centres including those located at Dingle and Castletownbere.
The appointment of home ports of registry for fishing boats is the responsibility of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and governed by the Merchant Shipping Acts.
The provisions of Section 30 of the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Act 2013 provide that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport may appoint a port of registry on the basis of (i) sufficient demand for such an appointment, and/or (ii) the importance of the location for commercial shipping traffic or business, fishing, recreational or other maritime activity, and/or (iii) the geographical location of the port, and/or (iv) the level of maritime activity with regard to shipping at the port.
While the above powers of appointment are entirely the responsibility of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and are not within my remit, my Department will assist by providing any statistical information available that might be required by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for the purpose of any home port appointments he may wish to consider.
143. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43256/17]
View answerAn application under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme 2017 was received from the person named on 20 April 2017. Processing of this application has now been completed and payment will issue to the nominated bank account of the person named in the coming days.
