Niamh Smyth
Question:409. Deputy Niamh Smyth 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. [8707/18]
View answerHospital Waiting Lists
Questions (409)
Written answers
Under 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 the Deputy directly.
Dental Services Provision
Questions (410)
Paul Kehoe
Question:410. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the date a dentist will visit a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8710/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services Staff Recruitment
Questions (411)
Michael Harty
Question:411. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who applied for the position of Sláintecare executive director; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8728/18]
View answerWritten answers
The recruitment of a person to fill the post of Executive Director of Sláintecare is an ongoing process and the competition is being run independently of the Department of Health by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC).
TLAC's function is to independently recommend candidates to Ministers and Government for the most senior positions in the Civil Service, strictly on the basis of the relative merit of the candidates for the positions concerned.
The Department of Health is not involved in the selection process at this point and therefore cannot comment on the number of candidates who may have applied to the Public Appointments Service for the position.
Ambulance Service
Questions (412)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:412. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the location from which equipment for the national ambulance service incident response team which is currently being established is being supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8765/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you.
Ambulance Service Staff
Questions (413)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:413. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if personnel from outside Ireland attended training alongside staff from here for the national ambulance service incident response team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8766/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (414)
Niamh Smyth
Question:414. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8772/18]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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 the Deputy directly.
Question No. 415 answered with Question No. 347.
Medical Card Eligibility
Questions (416)
Michael Collins
Question:416. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if full medical cards will be granted to all organ-transplant patients (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8776/18]
View answerWritten answers
A key recommendation of the 2014 Report of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility was that a person’s means should remain the main qualifier for a medical card. The report also concluded that it is neither feasible nor desirable to list conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. Therefore, medical card provision is solely based on financial assessment. Under the legislation, having a particular illness, in itself, does not establish eligibility for a medical card.
Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. It should be noted, in certain circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds his or her income threshold, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services. The HSE affords applicants the opportunity to furnish supporting information documentation to fully take account of all the relevant circumstances that may benefit them in the assessment, including medical evidence of cost and necessary expenses.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (417)
Niamh Smyth
Question:417. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); if a date for this appointment will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8788/18]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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 the Deputy directly.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (418, 419)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:418. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the wait times for providing clinical supports to children with a confirmed diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder without a significant intellectual disability, by CHO, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8789/18]
View answerCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:419. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the wait times for providing occupational therapy to children with a confirmed diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder without a significant intellectual disability, by CHO, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8790/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 419 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.
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.
Hospital Staff Recruitment
Questions (420)
Michael Harty
Question:420. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health if the HSE is planning to recruit radiologists and radiographers to increase the amount of scanning time provided at Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8793/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (421)
Thomas Byrne
Question:421. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied). [8796/18]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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 the Deputy directly.
Dog Breeding Industry
Questions (422)
Clare Daly
Question:422. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the role his Department will take to work with UK authorities to prevent the illegal cross-border trade of puppies. [8745/18]
View answerWritten answers
Trade within the EU of dogs is governed by EU law. Dogs moved to another EU Member State from Ireland must be accompanied by an EU pet passport and a health certificate issued by a Department veterinarian, be microchipped and have a valid rabies vaccination. Before travel, dogs must undergo a clinical examination by an authorised veterinarian, who must verify that the animals show no obvious signs of disease and are fit to be transported.
The premises exporting dogs to the other EU Member States must be registered with my Department in advance of the export.
These procedures ensure that only healthy dogs, over the age of 15 weeks, are allowed to be exported.
Exporters must also comply with national and EU law on the protection of animals during transport, while the transport of animals by air is also governed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Information about any breaches of these regulations can be provided to my Department, which will treat any information received in the strictest of confidence.
The vast majority of dogs that are moved from Ireland go to the UK (of the 12,898 dogs exported to the EU in 2017; 10,560 were exported to the UK). The Department carries out unannounced checks at our ports and will continue to do so.
My Department and the UK authorities work together on areas of common interest and have agreed to keep canine exports on the agenda.
Laboratory Facilities
Questions (423)
Tony McLoughlin
Question:423. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the cost-benefit analysis of the regional veterinary laboratories; when a decision will issue on a laboratory in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8063/18]
View answerWritten answers
Following a competitive tender process, my Department has commissioned RSM Ireland to undertake a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of options that have been proposed for the future development of the Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVLs). The team conducting the CBA includes internationally recognised, independent experts in economic analysis and animal disease surveillance. It is expected to complete its work in mid-2018, after which a report and recommendations will be presented to me.
To date no decision has been taken in respect of the options proposed for the RVLs, including the RVL in county Sligo. My Department completed an initial consultative process with all relevant stakeholders on the options for the RVLs during the course of last year. Any decision that is made on the RVLs will be informed by both that consultative process and the outcome of the CBA.