Written Answers Nos. 877-893
877. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the provision of continuous glucose monitoring for all type 1 diabetics and not just persons under 18 years of age will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15905/18]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
878. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if cannabis based medicines will be made available to terminal lung cancer patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15907/18]
View answerUnder the Misuse of Drugs Act an Irish-registered doctor may apply to me for a licence for access to Tetrahydrocannabinol-based (THC) products for medical purposes, for named patients, where this course of treatment has been endorsed by the patient’s consultant who is responsible for the management of the patient and who is prepared to monitor the effects of the treatment over time.
The main elements of an application submitted under the Misuse of Drugs legislation for a licence for THC-based cannabis for medical purposes must include:
- An outline of the treatment the patient has received to date and justification from the prescriber as to why it is appropriate in their patient’s specific circumstances to prescribe cannabis products.
- Details of the cannabis product which it is proposed to prescribe and administer to the patient.
- The source of the cannabis product.
- The arrangements for the ongoing clinical monitoring and care of the patient once the cannabis-based treatment has commenced.
As the Deputy is aware it is the decision of the clinician, in consultation with their patient, to prescribe or not prescribe a particular treatment, including cannabis for medical use, for a patient under their care. As Minister for Health I have no role in this clinical decision-making process.
For additional information on this matter, there are two active extracts of the cannabis plant that are of particular interest for medical use; tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
THC is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis. As described above, under the Misuse of Drugs Act products containing THC are strictly controlled and possession is unlawful except under licence.
CBD is derived from cannabis. However, since it does not have psychoactive properties it is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Acts. CBD oil is sometimes marketed as a nutritional or dietary supplement, however it should be noted that it is not authorised as a medicinal product in Ireland.
879. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a costed plan has been made by his Department for the potential number of abortions that will take place here if the eighth amendment is repealed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15918/18]
View answer880. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if public moneys will go towards private abortion clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15919/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 879 and 880 together.
The Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018 completed all stages in the Houses of the Oireachtas on Wednesday 28 March 2018.
The Minister for Housing Planning and Local Government has made a Polling Day Order for a referendum to be held on Friday 25 May 2018.
On Polling Day, the people will be asked to vote on whether they agree or disagree with the proposal to delete Article 40.3.3 in its entirety, and to substitute an article in the Constitution, the object and effect of which would be to articulate clearly the principle that laws may be enacted by the Oireachtas to provide for the regulation of termination of pregnancy.
In the event that the proposed Referendum on Article 40.3.3 is passed by the people, the Government would seek to give effect to legislation regulating the termination of pregnancy in Ireland. Any necessary planning would take place at that stage.
881. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if information is kept on the varying cost of emergency contraception; his views on establishing a maximum price; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15920/18]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
882. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health the timeline on the deployment of the modular unit project at South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel, County Tipperary. [15921/18]
View answerAgainst a background of growing demand for unscheduled care and high acute hospital occupancy rates, as highlighted by the Health Service Capacity Review, Government has provided €40 million in funding in 2018 for measures to increase acute hospital capacity and alleviate overcrowding in Emergency Departments this winter.
As part of this, funding has been allocated for the provision of a new 40 bed modular unit at South Tipperary General Hospital. Work on the development of the project is ongoing and the facility is scheduled to open in the last quarter of 2018.
883. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health if modular unit projects are in operation in hospitals in County Cork. [15922/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
885. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health if funding will be granted to a day care centre (details supplied) for two full-time staff members to meet its obligations under health and safety legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15925/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
886. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the reason Entresto has been withdrawn from the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15933/18]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
887. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of children diagnosed with dyspraxia in each county in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [15934/18]
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.
888. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the person or body responsible within the public health service for the diagnosis of children with dyspraxia; and the desired length of time that the process of diagnosis should take from the report of suspected dyspraxia to confirmed dyspraxia by the public health service. [15935/18]
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.
889. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be issued to a person (details supplied); and the steps which will be taken to ensure the appointment is maintained. [15982/18]
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.
890. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the steps he must take to make the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitor available to all persons with diabetes based on clinical need at the discretion of their diabetes consultant; if the age barrier which was recently established by the HSE will be removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15983/18]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
891. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when an early intervention team service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; the reason for the delay in providing the service; his views on the adequacy of the existing provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15986/18]
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
892. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the vaccination rates for vaccines (details supplied) in each of the years 2008 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15989/18]
View answerAs the information relating to vaccination rates is not readily available, the PQ has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
893. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if the provision of funding in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be expedited. [15992/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
