Written Answers Nos. 206-220
206. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she has communicated with the Health and Safety Authority on updating the Electricity Regulations 2007 on portable appliance testing, in particular section 81(II) (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18877/18]
View answerI have not had any communication with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) in relation to updating the Regulations on potable electrical appliance testing.
Regulation 81(c) of the 2007 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations (S.I. No. 299 of 2007) includes the issue of portable electrical appliance testing within its scope.
This Regulation states:
“portable equipment which is—
(i) exposed to conditions causing deterioration liable to result in danger, and
(ii) supplied at a voltage exceeding 125 volts alternating current,
is—
(I) visually checked by the user before use, and
(II) periodically inspected by a competent person, appropriate to the nature location and use of the equipment”
Part of the remit of the HSA, under section 57 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, is the continuous review of all occupational safety and health legislation on the statute books and to make appropriate representations to the Minister when replacement, amendment or revocation is considered necessary. No such representations have been made, to date, from the HSA in relation to the Regulation 81(c) of the 2007 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations (S.I. No. 299 of 2007)
I have been informed by the HSA that, given the wide variation in the types of workplaces and the conditions therein, the current wording in the Regulation is suitable and is the most appropriate approach to cover the range of issues involved. The wording in the existing Regulation is also consistent with the general approach to occupational safety legislation that requires that safety provisions be determined by risk assessments relevant to the specific workplace.
The HSA provides extensive guidance on the application of this Regulation on its website through free to download material.
I would advise the Deputy that in any instances where persons may have concerns that the necessary testing is not being carried out in a particular workplace or industry, they can bring this matter to the notice of the HSA through its Workplace Contact Unit (wcu@hsa.ie).
207. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the supports that are available to a small start-up company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18953/18]
View answerThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports for anyone who intends to start or grow their own business.
In the first instance, the LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State support available through agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Employment and Social Protection, Education and Training Boards, Credit Review Office, and Microfinance Ireland. The LEOs can also offer advice and guidance in areas such as Local Authority rates, public procurement and other regulations affecting business.
There are a range of supports available from the LEOs to assist start-ups. The LEOs can offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (10 employees or fewer) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities. These include feasibility grants (investigating the potential of a business idea) and priming grants (to part-fund a start-up). In 2017, almost €6.5 million in priming grants was approved for 294 new LEO clients across the country. It should be noted that the LEOs do not provide direct grant-aid to areas such as retail, personal services, local professional services, construction/local building services, as it may give rise to the displacement of existing businesses).
The LEOs may be able to offer ‘soft’ supports in the form of training, such as a Start Your Own Business (SYOB) course, or assign a mentor to work with the business proposer. Over 3,700 participants attended SYOB courses run by the LEOs in 2017.
Anyone with a viable business proposal can also use the LEOs to make an application to MicroFinance Ireland, which offers support in the form of loans of up to €25,000 to start-ups with viable business propositions that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by the banks. Successful applicants can avail of a more favourable interest rate from MFI if they make their application through the LEO.
There are 31 LEO’s located nationally. Further details and local contact information can be found at localenterprise.ie.
Finally I should mention an online toolkit that provides a range of information on State supports for the business sector the ‘Supporting SMEs’ Online Tool, which is a cross-governmental initiative to help start-ups navigate the range of Government business supports for which they could be eligible. The tool is available at www.supportingsmes.ie. By answering the eight questions in the Online Tool, a small business will, in one location, be able to:
- find out which of the over 170 Government business supports from 27 different Government Departments, Agencies and Initiatives are available to them;
- obtain information on the range of Government supports for accessing credit;
- identify their nearest Local Enterprise Office where they can discuss the outcomes of the guide further;
- download all these filtered results into a document for their further use.
208. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to conduct a survey to quantify how much traffic congestion costs businesses in the cities of Dublin, Cork and Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19000/18]
View answerIn 2017 the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport’s Economic and Financial Evaluation Unit published a report “The cost of congestion, an analysis in the Greater Dublin Area”. The analysis estimates that the cost of time lost due to aggravated congestion is €358 million in the base year (2012).
The National Competitiveness Council’s forthcoming report Cost of Doing Business in Ireland 2018 also provides data on journey times in busy periods. The Report is due to be published shortly.
I do not plan, at this stage, to conduct a survey quantifying the costs of traffic congestion to business.
209. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she has had contact with a company (details supplied) over the threat posed to the business and hundreds of jobs due to international sanctions on the parent company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19083/18]
View answerThe Government is very much aware of the situation involving Aughinish Alumina. I have spoken directly with the company's CEO and both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have met with its senior management. IDA Ireland has also been in regular contact with the firm since details of the sanctions first emerged.
This remains a complex and fluid situation which will continue to evolve over the coming weeks. The Government will continue to monitor developments very closely and will do everything it can to assist the company.
210. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the guidelines regarding travel expenses for local authority members who are also members of the HSE regional health forums in view of their additional travel burden; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18838/18]
View answerSection 42 of the Health Act 2004 provided for the setting up of a system of four Regional Health Forums.
Section 42(9) provides for the travel expenses and states that a member of a regional health forum, or a committee established by such forum, may be paid by the Health Service Executive travelling and subsistence allowances in accordance with such scales as may, from time to time, be approved by this Department, with the consent of the Minister for Finance.
211. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if there is a reimbursement option available to a person (details supplied) following a procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18552/18]
View answerThe HSE operates two schemes which facilitate patients accessing treatments abroad. The first is the Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) which applies where the treatment is not available in the Irish Republic hospital system.
The second is under the Cross Border Directive (CBD) and reimburses patients for treatments received in another EU/EEA Member State where the treatment is one which is provided in Ireland. The HSE provides information for patients on the CBD and TAS on its website which can be accessed at http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes and also by phone at 056 7784551.
The Deputy should advise their constituent to contact this HSE office to discuss the possibility of availing of either of the schemes.
212. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 930 of 17 April 2018, the number of bids submitted; if there is a time limit on the sale of the property; when it was first put up for sale; the active seller; if it is unsold, if this building can be offered to the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18554/18]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the health care infrastructure estate, the Executive has been requested to reply directly to you in relation to the sale of Keadue Health Centre, County Roscommon.
213. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the status of hip replacement surgery for a person (details supplied); and when the individual can expect a date for the surgery to be performed in St. James's Hospital. [18559/18]
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.
214. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health when parents' representatives will be included on the primary care steering group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18567/18]
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.
215. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if the policy of in loco parentis will be reviewed in view of the impact this rule is having on families caring for children or adults with significant disabilities and special needs [18568/18]
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 Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list to be assessed and treated, respectively, for juvenile arthritis at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin; the number of paediatric rheumatologists employed by the HSE; his plans to increase this to the required number of six; and his plans to reduce the treatment time from three years to six months, as recommended by the World Health Organization. [18569/18]
View answerI am aware that there are challenges in meeting the growing demand for paediatric rheumatology services, and that the Health Service Executive is working towards improving access to such services. In relation to current rheumatology service provision and the number of children on the waiting list to be assessed and treated, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
217. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if funding has been allocated for essential upgrade works at Falcarragh Community Hospital, County Donegal; if so, when this funding will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18582/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
218. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to remove the in loco parentis clause from all HSE homecare nursing packages for sick children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18585/18]
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.
219. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the status of the reimbursement of the drug Ocrevus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18587/18]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory power or function in relation to the reimbursement of medicines. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.
In line with the 2013 Act, if a company would like a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE pursuant to the Community Drugs scheme, the company must first submit an application to the HSE to have the new medicine added to the Reimbursement List.
As outlined in the IPHA agreement, and in line with the 2013 Act, the HSE will decide, within 180 days of receiving the application (or a longer period if further information is sought from the company), to either add the medicine to the reimbursement list or agree to reimburse it as a hospital medicine, or refuse to reimburse the medicine. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). The NCPE conducts health technology assessments (HTAs) for the HSE, and makes recommendations on reimbursement to assist HSE decisions. The NCPE uses a decision framework to systematically assess whether a drug is cost-effective as a health intervention. The HSE strives to reach a decision in as timely a manner as possible. However, because of the significant monies involved, it must ensure that the best price is achieved, as these commitments are often multi-million euro investments on an on-going basis. This can lead to a protracted deliberation process.
I have been informed that Ocrelizumab for the treatment of adult patients with early primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) in terms of disease duration and level of disability, and with imaging features characteristic of inflammatory activity and for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) with active disease defined by clinical or imaging features is currently undergoing a full pharmacoeconomic assessment by the NCPE.
220. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the way in which a person is referred to the National Treatment Purchase Fund or NTPF scheme; if it is the doctor or consultant who refers the person; the length of time a person must be on the waiting list before being referred; and the type of health issues that are referred to the NTPF. [18593/18]
View answerImproving waiting times for hospital procedures is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and in 2018 €50 million was allocated to the NTPF to provide treatment for patients.
The recently launched Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan outlines the combined impact of HSE and NTPF activity in 2018 to reduce the number of patients waiting for treatment. Under the Plan, the NTPF will outsource 20,000 inpatient day cases, while the HSE will deliver 1.14 million hospital operations or procedures. This will mean that by the end of 2018 we will expect to see a significant reduction in the number waiting for a procedure to under 70,000, from a peak of 86,100 in July 2017.
There are seven high volume procedures that are the focus of the NTPF funded treatments, specifically cataracts, hip/knee replacements, tonsils, angiograms, cystoscopies, skin lesions and varicose veins. All patients who are clinically suitable for outsourcing waiting more than 9 months will be offered treatment in 2018 for targeted high volume procedures. For patients who are waiting longest for other procedures, the NTPF and HSE will work together to identify the requirements, develop treatment plans, and where possible offer treatments from within existing resources.
In terms of treatment offers, the NTPF authorises public hospitals to offer outsourced treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an inpatient/day case waiting list for surgery. These are patients who have been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment by a consultant/specialist at an outpatient clinic. NTPF authorisations are made in respect of the longest waiting patients first.
Decisions regarding the appropriate care pathway for an individual patient will be a matter for their treating clinician.
