Written Answers Nos. 187-206
187. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the percentage of persons employed in her Department that have a disability, expressed in whole-time equivalent terms and in head count terms; and the way in which the number of persons with disabilities employed compares with national targets. [14432/18]
View answerData on the number and percentage of persons employed in my Department that have a disability is currently being collated for end of 2017. This data is being prepared for submission to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Monitoring Committee by the 31st March 2018.
The latest figures available in respect of my Department are for end of 2016. At 31st December 2016, my Department had 854 employees. Of these, 44 declared that they had a disability. This represents 5.15% of the Department’s Staff. This data is per head count. Data is not recorded in whole time equivalent terms.
My Department as a public service employer has a legal obligation under the Disability Act 2005 to report each year on the number and percentage of employees with disabilities. Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 sets out the following obligations on Government Departments and public service bodies with regard to the employment of people with disabilities.
Public bodies must, insofar as practicable, take all reasonable measures to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities.
Public bodies shall ensure, unless there are good reasons for not doing so, that at least 3% of their employees are people with disabilities.
Public bodies must report on an annual basis to a statutory monitoring committee within their parent Department on the number of people with disabilities in their employment and the measures they are taking to promote and support their employment. The monitoring committees in turn submit their reports on such compliance to the Minister of their parent Department and the National Disability Authority (NDA).
The National Disability Inclusion Strategy, 2017 to 2021 is committed to increasing the public sector employment target of persons with disabilities from 3% to 6% by 2024, and will embed this target into all public service workforce planning and recruitment.
188. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the funding that was provided to a hospice (details supplied) in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the basis upon which this funding level was arrived at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14302/18]
View answer189. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of patients treated at a hospice (details supplied) in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and the rates of mortality or further transfer. [14303/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together.
As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
190. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when a decision on a medical card application review by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14310/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond directly to the Deputy.
191. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health the number of home care package scheme applications awaiting assessment by local health office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14311/18]
View answer192. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health the number of home care packages applications in which home care started in each month of the past 12 months, by local health office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14312/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together.
As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
193. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason adequate funding is not being provided to the HSE in County Galway to provide full-time respite care in a facility (details supplied); the measures he expects parents to take in crisis situations when no respite care is available to them, particularly in circumstances in which other family illnesses arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14313/18]
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.
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.
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.
194. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of home help hours for an elderly person (details supplied) in County Cork; if additional home help hours can be provided to allow the person remain in their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14314/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
195. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if correspondence from a person (details supplied) will be responded to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14320/18]
View answerThe information that the Deputy seeks is not readily available. Therefore, I have asked the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) to investigate the matter and reply directly to the Deputy.
196. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason technicians in Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, have stated that they could not stand over the quality of the outputs from the echocardiogram machine in the hospital; if this is affecting the ability of doctors to make the quality diagnosis; when the funding application for a new replacement machine was made; when it was finally replaced; the number of patients that have had to use this faulty diagnostic tool; and if there is a necessity for patients to be called back for diagnosis with a functioning echocardiogram. [14322/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
197. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health his views on whether Addison’s disease should be included in the list of illnesses under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14323/18]
View answerThe Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme.
198. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the actions he and the HSE have undertaken following a decision reached at a meeting (details supplied) he attended with representatives from an organisation (details supplied) and others regarding further discussions to take place relating to funding for Translarna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14324/18]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The Act specifies the criteria to be applied in the making of reimbursement decisions which include the clinical and cost effectiveness of the product, the opportunity cost and the impact on resources that are available to the HSE.
In July 2017, the HSE informed my Department that, following an intensive process, the HSE decided not to reimburse Ataluren (Translarna) for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The HSE in deciding not to reimburse Translarna did not consider the evidence for its clinical benefit to be sufficiently strong, in the context of the proposed cost and budget impact.
The HSE informed the applicant company of this decision, in keeping with the requirements of the 2013 Act. The applicant has appealed the HSE’s decision to the High Court, which is part of the statutory process under Section 27 of the 2013 Act.
As you are aware, a meeting took place on the 11 December 2017 with 2 representative from Muscular Dystrophy Ireland, Dr O'Rourke and HSE and Departmental officials.
Following on from this meeting, the HSE advised the applicant that it is willing to complete a timely review of any new application. It would be open to the company to make revised proposals in relation to pricing or access in this context.
The HSE has notified the company that is ready and willing to review any new application irrespective of the ongoing court proceedings.
199. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health the reason persons in County Clare who have outpatients appointments for procedures in Croom Hospital, Limerick, are no longer being held in Ennis Hospital; his plans to reinstate an outpatient clinic in Ennis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14328/18]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
200. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the status of the refurbishment works at Millstreet community hospital, Millstreet, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14337/18]
View answerMy Department has asked the Health Service Executive to provide the Deputy directly with the information requested in respect of Millstreet Community Hospital, Cork.
201. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [14344/18]
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 the Deputy directly.
202. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when a health facility (details supplied) will be progressed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14347/18]
View answerThe Programme for Partnership Government contains a Government commitment regarding the development of a dedicated Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Unit in Beaumont Hospital, to be progressed in the context of a CF Model of Care.
This CF Unit capital project will thus be underpinned by the “Model of Care for People with Cystic Fibrosis in Ireland” which is being developed by the National Clinical Programme for Cystic Fibrosis (NCPCF). The Model of Care will set out standards and requirements for the physical and human resources to be provided for treatment of cystic fibrosis patients from a national perspective.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform governs the processes surrounding the development of healthcare projects by way of guidelines, principally the Public Spending Code. Further rigour is demanded by, and set out in, relevant EU Directives. All proposed projects must be submitted to the HSE’s Capital and Property Steering Committee for approval and prioritisation prior to inclusion in its multi-annual Capital Plans. In terms of the progression of the CF Unit capital project I am happy to confirm that it has been included in the National Planning Framework under Project Ireland 2040, as well as being recommended for inclusion in the capital plan by the HSE National Capital Steering Committee.
203. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation plan promised under National Policy and Strategy for the Provision of Neuro-Rehabilitation Services in Ireland 2011-2015; and if a working group to develop this plan has been established [14350/18]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to publish "a plan for advancing Neuro-rehabilitation services in the community". The development of an implementation framework for the National Policy and Strategy for the provision of Neuro-rehabilitation Services in Ireland is a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE).
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
204. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Louth that have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. [14351/18]
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.
205. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the services in County Louth for persons with a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease; and the number of staff involved [14352/18]
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.
206. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the needs of persons with a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. [14353/18]
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.
