Wednesday, 14 Nov 2018

Written Answers Nos. 182-196

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Questions (182)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

182. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the medicines that patients with multiple sclerosis have access to through the healthcare system; the difference between medicines that patients here with multiple sclerosis have access to through the healthcare system compared with other European countries; and the average length of time for which persons here with the condition must wait for the delivery and administration of medicines. [47261/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Nursing Home Accommodation Provision

Questions (183)

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Question:

183. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health if he is actively engaged in a process to guarantee the future of Lifford Community Hospital; if proposals are being considered for a replacement facility for the Lifford area in the context of post 2021; if so, the timeframe for such proposals; the details of the extent of proposals being considered for the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47262/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The need for additional beds and the potential to develop a replacement facility to the existing community nursing unit in Lifford will be reviewed further post 2021, when new Census data is available and the Health Service Capacity Review and the National Development Plan have been advanced. The existing unit at Lifford will continue to operate in intervening period. As I advised the Deputy at a meeting on the 7th of November last, I welcome the community continuing to engage with the HSE, as appropriate, over the next while regarding further ideas and proposals for community based options that may be considered.

Ambulance Service Provision

Questions (184)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

184. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if an ambulance service was not available in Maynooth on 7 November 2018; if only three ambulances were serving the area between Navan, Monaghan and Cavan on the same date; and his plans to rectify this situation. [47265/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Provision

Questions (185)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

185. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the development of adult and child mental health intellectual disability teams in 2018; and the number of additional new staff appointed to date in 2018. [47271/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (186)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

186. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant posts in whole-time equivalent terms in the CAMHS service for each CHO in tabular form. [47272/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospitals Car Park Charges

Questions (187)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

187. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 479, 496 and 498 of 6 November 2018, the reason for the delay in the review into car parking charges in public hospitals in view of the fact that, in previous parliamentary questions (details supplied), the review was expected to be submitted by August 2018. [47273/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Early this year I requested the HSE to undertake a review of car parking charges in public hospitals. I understand that this report is currently being finalised by the HSE and will be submitted for my consideration shortly.

Commencement of Legislation

Questions (188)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

188. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delays in the commencement of Parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015; when these sections will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47282/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Children and Family Relationships (Amendment) Bill 2018 was enacted on 24 July 2018. This Act was introduced to correct typographical and technical errors in the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, which will facilitate the subsequent commencement of Parts 2 & 3 of the Act. Parts 2 & 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 contain provisions relating to the regulation of donor-assisted human reproduction (DAHR) procedures carried out in the State, including dealing with the rights of children born as a result of those procedures. There are important administrative and operational arrangements to be put in place to facilitate the implementation of Parts 2 & 3, including the establishment of the National Donor-Conceived Person Register and the appointment of authorised persons under the Act. It is my intention that Parts 2 & 3 of the Act will be commenced as soon as possible.

Hospital Equipment

Questions (189)

Gerry Adams

Question:

189. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if software (details supplied) and equipment for foetal assessment scanning and anomaly scanning is being used in hospitals here. [47284/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have arranged for it to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Equipment

Questions (190)

Gerry Adams

Question:

190. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if software (details supplied) and equipment for foetal assessment scanning and anomaly scanning is being used in hospitals in County Louth. [47285/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Hospital Equipment

Questions (191)

Gerry Adams

Question:

191. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if the RCSI hospital group has requested funding to obtain software (details supplied) technology for use in hospitals in County Louth. [47286/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (192)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

192. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is not eligible for a full medical card. [47287/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Brexit Issues

Questions (193)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

193. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if a current service (details supplied) provided in County Derry will continue after Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47288/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Staff Data

Questions (194)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

194. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of ultrasonographers operating in maternity hospitals in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47289/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Birth Rates

Questions (195)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

195. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of births in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018. [47290/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

According to CSO , the number of live births in Ireland for the relevant period of interest are outlined in the table below.

Year	Number of live Births
2015	65,536
2016	63,841
2017*	62,053
2018^	15,659

*Please note birth information related to 2017 is based on year of registration of birth and therefore should be considered provisional.

Information on the number of births in 2018 is only currently available for the months January - March 2018 and is based on year of registration.

Hospital Procedures

Questions (196)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

196. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of 20-week foetal anomaly scans carried out in maternity hospitals in each of the years 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018, by community health organisation and by individual maternity hospital in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47291/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.