Written Answers Nos. 346-365
346. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to make the physiotherapy room in the primary care centre in Wexford town available to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47727/18]
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.
347. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a full-time dedicated social worker will be appointed to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47729/18]
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.
348. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the breakdown of the multidisciplinary team for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47730/18]
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.
349. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [47733/18]
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.
350. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 195 of 3 October 2018, when a position will open for applications; the way in which persons can apply for same (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47741/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
351. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he and the HSE have plans to expand the sponsored nursing training scheme for persons already employed in the health service such as care assistants. [47743/18]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
352. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health when promised funding for a project (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be forthcoming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47745/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
353. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the allocation of home help for a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47749/18]
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.
354. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the mechanism through which he sought advice on public health and consumer interests in the area of food safety and hygiene before the establishment of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47752/18]
View answerPrior to the establishment of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), the Food Safety Advisory Board provided advice to the Minister for Health on food related issues. The functions of the Food Safety Advisory Board were:
(a) to organise and administer a service for obtaining and assessing information as regards the safety of food,
(b) to organise and administer a service for obtaining and assessing information as regards zoonotic diseases,
(c) to advise the Minister of developments in domestic and European law relating to food,
(d) to advise the Minister on matters relating to food with particular reference to nutrition,
(e) to coordinate scientific cooperation with other European Union Member States in accordance with Council Directive 93/5/EEC,
(f) if requested by the Minister, to consider and report to him or her on arrangements to be made:
- for ensuring that the control of food processing and handling is compatible with accepted safety standards,
- for the registration and inspection of premises carrying on a food business,
(g) to undertake such other tasks as are consistent with its remit which the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry and the Minister for the Marine may require,
(h) to consider and report to the Minister on such general matters in regard to food safety and nutrition as he or she may refer to the Board for advice.
The Board consisted of sixteen persons appointed by the Minister having a knowledge and experience of food safety, nutrition and consumer requirements.
SI No. 523/1997 - The Food Safety Advisory Board (Revocation) Order, 1997, which came into effect on 1st January 1998, transferred functions, property, rights, etc. to the FSAI.
355. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) regarding respite care will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47758/18]
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
356. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of children in CHO area 7 on the waiting list for an appointment with a child psychologist; the length of time each has been waiting; the measures in place to ease the backlog in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47760/18]
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.
357. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to create awareness of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hypermobility; the supports in place for persons suffering with the condition here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47763/18]
View answerAs this query relates specifically to the work of the National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
358. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no upright or stand-up MRI machines; when funding will be provided for this equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47764/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
359. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no facility for persons who require an upright MRI and that persons must travel to England for same at a cost of €1,600; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this is not covered under the EU cross-border directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47765/18]
View answerAs the provision of specific services in the acute hospital setting are an operational matter for the HSE I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on the issue of lack of upright MRI facilities.
In relation to accessing upright MRI facilities it is noted that patients often access services in other EU/EEA member states under different routes.
The Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) allows public patients to be referred to another EU/EEA country for treatment that is not available in Ireland, subject to qualifying criteria. A patient's Irish based consultant is responsible for referring the patient abroad under the terms of the TAS, after having exhausted all treatment options including tertiary care within Ireland. Applications to the TAS are processed and a determination given in accordance with the statutory framework prior to a patient travelling to avail of treatment. The statutory framework stipulates the patient must be a public patient and is required to have followed public patient pathways. Also, the treatment must be a proven treatment and not experimental/trial and it must be provided in the public health service of the country which the patient is being referred to.
In relation to the Cross Border Directive (CBD), patients in Ireland can seek to be referred to another EU/EEA country for medical treatment that is available in the public health service in Ireland. The patient my access the overseas service in either the public or private health sector of the country they choose to receive the service in. The patient pays for the treatment and claims reimbursement from the HSE at the cost of that treatment in Ireland or the cost of it abroad, whichever is the lesser.
Further information on the TAS may be obtained from the HSE website, by phone at 056 77845548 or by writing to the TAS Office, St. Canice’s Hospital Complex, Dublin Road, Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny. The contact details for the CBD are: National Contact Point: HSE Cross Border Directive, St Canice's Hospital, Dublin Road, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 778 4547 or 056 778 4546 or 056 778 4556. email: crossborderdirective@hse.ie.
360. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are no Ehlers-Danlos syndrome specialists working here; his plans to provide funding to secure such a specialist here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47766/18]
View answerAs this query relates specifically to the work of the National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
361. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 238 of 18 October 2018, when the rare diseases technology review committee will begin assessing and reporting on orphan medicinal products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47767/18]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines , in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
362. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 238 and 670 of 18 October 2018, the reason the rare diseases technology review committee does not have a direct input into the NCPE health technology assessment process; if the committee will be permitted to replicate to the Scottish PACE model to have a direct input into the pharmacoeconomic evaluation of orphan medicinal products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47768/18]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
363. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the reason the foot shoe clinic for those with disabilities was relocated from Dungarvan Community Hospital to UHW; if his attention has been drawn to the inconvenience this has caused to those that use this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47770/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
364. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve counselling services in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47772/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
365. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the status of the reimbursement of the drug Respreeza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47779/18]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines , in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
