Written Answers Nos. 281-300
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Written Answers Nos. 281-300
281. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the status of the Children and Families Relationships Act 2015 (details supplied); when it will be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28762/18]
View answerThe Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 reforms and updates family law to address the needs of children living in diverse family types, and the commencement of Parts 2 & 3 of the Act is the responsibility of the Minister for Health. During the preparation of regulations to facilitate the commencement of Parts 2 & 3 of the Act a number of technical drafting issues came to light that required amendments to the Act of 2015 through primary legislation. I received Government approval on Tuesday 26th of June to draft an amendment Bill to remedy the defect in the Act of 2015 . The commencement of parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 will allow same-sex couples to apply to the courts for parentage rights. This will be a very welcome step for lots of families. I hope to be in a position to introduce this legislation into the Dail as soon as possible and commence in the autumn. The registration of births is the responsibility of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
282. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a matter raised in correspondence regarding the lack of services at a school (details supplied) in County Cork will be addressed; his plans to improve the services; when he expects same to happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28764/18]
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 particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the HSE. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
283. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment to see a consultant. [28798/18]
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, since 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.
284. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans for the future use of buildings and land on a site (details supplied); if the older buildings, some of which are unoccupied, are to be retained; if consideration has been given to transferring a portion of the site to the local authority for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28800/18]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the health care property estate, my Department has asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to the future use of buildings and land on a site in Limerick.
285. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the status of financial support for couples who have to pay for in vitro fertilisation; and his plans in this regard. [28803/18]
View answerThe Government approved the drafting of a Bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated areas of research in October last year. The introduction of legislation in relation to AHR and associated research is a priority for me and officials in my Department are engaging with the Office of the Attorney General in relation to the process of drafting this Bill. The General Scheme is published on my Department’s website and the Joint Committee on Health is currently conducting a review of the General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017 as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process, which began in January of this year.
In order to support the commencement of the legislation, officials in my Department are working with the HSE over the course of this year in developing a model of care for infertility to ensure the provision of safe, effective and accessible services through the public health system as part of the full range of services available in obstetrics and gynaecology.
Part of this work includes identifying policy options for a public funding model for AHR treatment. Once I have had the opportunity to consider these policy options I will bring a Memorandum to Government in relation to a model of care for infertility, including public funding for AHR treatment, for the Government's consideration.
It should be noted that any funding model that may ultimately be introduced would need to operate within the broader regulatory framework set out in the AHR Bill and a model of care for infertility.
While IVF treatment is not currently provided by the Irish public health service, there is some support available in that patients who access IVF treatment privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme. In addition, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Scheme administered by the HSE. Medicines covered by the High Tech Scheme must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and approved by the HSE ‘High Tech Liaison Officers’. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme. In addition to these schemes, there is a limited specialist AHR service available through the HSE, which provides funding for fertility preservation for cancer patients whose treatment is likely to impact on their future fertility.
286. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that appropriate and adequate home help is provided to a person (details supplied); if same can now be addressed by way of providing a weekend care programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28808/18]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
287. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an audit or feasibility study has been carried out to assess the possible future use of the St. Loman's Hospital site, Mullingar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28809/18]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the health care property estate, my Department has asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to the future use of the St. Loman's Hospital site, Mullingar.
288. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the detail of the recent announcement that Ireland will be joining with EU partners to address the issue of the cost of critical orphan drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28816/18]
View answerThe challenge of securing affordable access to innovate medicines is not unique to Ireland. Over the past two years, I and officials have been engaging with a number of voluntary EU forums including the Roundtable meetings with EU Health Ministers and the pharmaceutical industry, High Level Pharmaceutical Policy Meetings and the Valletta Technical Committee in an effort to identifying solutions to issues of medicine pricing, sustainability and supply.
On the 22 June 2018, I signed the Beneluxa Initiative on Pharmaceutical Policy to work with Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. This Agreement is in line with my objective to work with other European countries to identify workable solutions, in an increasingly challenging environment, to secure timely access for patients to new medicines in an affordable and sustainable way.
The Beneluxa collaboration was established in 2015, with a view to taking a collective approach to pharmaceutical procurement and evaluation. This Initiative seeks to enhance patients' access to high quality and affordable treatments, improve the payers' position in the market through joint negotiations, increase transparency on pricing between the collaborating countries, share policy expertise and focus on knowledge building.
This Initiative is well established, with clear goals and a pragmatic approach to delivering on its objectives. Four areas of collaboration has been identified: horizon scanning, health technology assessment, information sharing and policy exchange and joint price negotiations.
The Beneluxa Initiative on Pharmaceutical Policy will have an important role to play in securing faster access to innovative medicines and provide important platforms in which to strengthen the policy mix and deliver on the shared objective of securing access to high cost, innovative treatments at affordable prices. The patient is at the centre of this collaborative international approach.
Members of the Beneluxa Initiative will work closely together to identify pragmatic solutions to the challenges which we all now face with medicine pricing, sustainability and supply.
289. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if beds are closing in Dingle Community Hospital due to nurse shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28817/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
290. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the provision made for children (details supplied) to receive a dental appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28818/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
291. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of respite care hours provided for the first quarter of 2017 compared to the number of respite care hours provided in the first quarter of 2018 in each community healthcare organisation, CHO, area in tabular form. [28824/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
292. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the reason an ambulance took almost five hours to attend to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim on 11 June 2018; if inquiries will be made into the event; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28839/18]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
293. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on the reason survivors of the Magdalen laundries cannot receive the podiatry services they require owing to their county of residence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28844/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
294. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if an outpatient appointment for a person (details supplied) who was placed on the waiting list in October 2016 will be expedited. [28846/18]
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, since 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.
295. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of Parkinson's care at Cavan and Monaghan Hospital; the services available on both sites; his plans to introduce a nurse, particularly at Cavan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28861/18]
View answerThe Model of Care for Neurology was launched in late 2016. The model was developed by the HSE’s National Clinical Programme for Neurology in collaboration with patient support groups, consultants, nurses and health and social care professionals. It aims to address the need for strategic development of neurology services in the provision of better care for these patients. Progress is being made in this area. For example, this year funding has been allocated to commence development of peri- and post-operative services to support patients with Parkinson's Disease receiving Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS).
In relation to the particular queries raised, as these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
296. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the status of a funding submission made by a hospital (details supplied); when he expects same to be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28872/18]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
297. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is being asked for certified accounts in respect of a medical card application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28873/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
298. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of charging ports and parking bays for electric vehicles at his Department building and other buildings used by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28893/18]
View answerMy Department's new Headquarters in Miesian Plaza has two parking spaces that have e-charging points.
299. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made by the Health Service Executive, HSE, in filling a position (details supplied) at St. Patrick's Hospital, Fermoy, County Cork; and if his attention has been drawn to the length time this issue has been ongoing [28910/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
300. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health his plans for the refurbishment or upgrading of a health centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28915/18]
View answerAs the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
