Written Answers Nos. 211-225
211. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if there is still a difficulty in recruitment of mental health professionals to the HSE; the status of that difficulty; and the way in which the HSE plans to address same. [44581/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
212. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when pharmacists and other self-employed persons will have their pay restored in view of the fact that FEMPI has been unwound in many sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44582/17]
View answerAs a consequence of the severe difficulties arising from the economic and fiscal crisis of recent years, between 2009 and 2013 a number of reductions were applied under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 (FEMPI), to the fees and allowances paid to primary care contractors.
I recognise that it will, over time, be necessary to invest further in primary care services, while at the same time ensuring best value for such additional spending. As such, I am examining the avenues that could be taken in relation to private contractors, having regard for the need to ensure best value for public spending and the Government's commitment to continue to develop and strengthen primary care services.
213. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if his Department has provided funding to the HSE in order to enhance the ophthalmic services in County Kerry regarding the community ophthalmic services medical treatment scheme, in view of the fact that there are persons on the waiting list since 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44590/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
214. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health his plans to allocate additional resources to the early intervention occupational therapy services in the HSE West area; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the current waiting list for early intervention services currently runs to 21 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44594/17]
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.
215. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will liaise with occupational therapy services in County Longford to ensure a specialised chair is provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44599/17]
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.
216. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be issued with a date for early intervention; the reason for the delay in issuing a date for this appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44620/17]
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.
217. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health his views on the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child's concluding observations on Ireland and the decriminalisation of abortion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43755/17]
View answer218. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to implement the recommendation of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding access to safe abortion and post-abortion care services for those under 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43756/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 218 together.
As the Deputy is aware, the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution is now considering the report of the Citizens’ Assembly in order to recommend to the Oireachtas the policy direction it should consider on the issue of abortion. The committee is to report its conclusions and recommendations to the Oireachtas within three months of its first public meeting, which would therefore be due on or before 20 December 2017. The Government has agreed to hold a referendum on the eighth amendment in May or June 2018, subject to the timely passage of a Constitutional Amendment Bill on the matter by the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 currently regulates access to a termination of pregnancy, if a pregnant women’s life, as distinct from her health, is at risk from a threat to her physical or mental health.
The Health Service Executive Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme funds the provision of post-abortion counselling services, in line with crisis pregnancy counselling. A number of state-funded services also provide access to free post-termination medical follow up. The Abortion Aftercare campaign (www.abortionaftercare.ie) aims to raise awareness of free post-abortion counselling and the importance for women who have had an abortion of post-abortion medical follow up.
219. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 213 of 4 May 2017 the reason no reply has been issued; and if a reply will issue forthwith [44624/17]
View answerOfficials from my Department and the HSE will be meeting shortly to consider options for resolving this matter.
220. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of supported accommodation placements for full-time residential care specifically for adults with special needs that are operational in each county, in tabular form; the service user capacity of these houses that are for full-time residential care; the future planning for the long-term residential needs of this category of person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44628/17]
View answer221. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of supported accommodation placements for respite care specifically for adults with special needs that are operational in each county, in tabular form; the service user capacity of these houses; the capacity in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017 for respite beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44629/17]
View answer222. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of supported accommodation placements in houses specifically for adults with special needs that are planned to accommodate growth of demand for residential care placements in line with an ageing population of carers currently dependent on respite services for each county, in tabular form; the expected increase in service user capacity of these houses in the next five years; the funding available to increase placements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44630/17]
View answer223. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of supported accommodation houses specifically for adults with special needs that are operational in each county, in tabular form; the funding that has been allocated per county in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44631/17]
View answer224. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of supported accommodation houses specifically funded by the HSE for adults with special needs that are operational in each county, in tabular form; the service user capacity of these houses which are directly funded by the HSE, co-funded by other funding and operated by private companies and operated by private companies alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44632/17]
View answer225. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of supported accommodation houses specifically for adults with special needs that are operational in each county, in tabular form; the service user capacity of these houses; the capacity in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44633/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 220 to 225, inclusive, together.
The 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.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
The Health Service Executive, HSE, report “Time to Move on from Congregated Settings – A Strategy for Community Inclusion”, (2011) proposes a new model of support in the community by moving people from institutional settings to the community. The plan is being rolled out at a regional and local level and involves full consultation with stakeholders.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to continue to move people with disabilities out of congregated settings, to enable them to live independently and to be included in the community. In May 2016, 2725 people lived in congregated settings and our objective is to reduce this figure by one-third by 2021 and ultimately, to eliminate all congregated settings.
The HSE has established a subgroup, under ‘Transforming Lives’, the programme to implement the recommendations of the Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services, which is developing an implementation plan for moving people from institutions. The needs of people moving from congregated settings will be fully taken into account during this process as the model of care for individuals will be based on a person-centred plan.
At the end of December 2016, fewer than 2,600 people with a disability were living in congregated settings. The HSE's 2017 National Service Plan has set a target of 223 to move from institutions in 2017. This will ensure that people are able to move out of congregated settings, and into their own homes in the community. I must emphasise that the appropriate supports and resources are being put in place to ensure that people are supported as they move out of residential centres.
As the HSE is responsible for leading out on the recommendations on "Time to Move on from Congregated Settings - A Strategy for Community Inclusion", and the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
