Written Answers Nos. 152-176
152. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the action he will take to address the long outpatient waiting times at Cork University Hospital and Mercy University Hospital, Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49926/18]
View answerImproving access to hospital treatment is a key priority for government. This year €55 million was allocated to the NTPF to provide treatment for patients. This has been increased to a total of €75 million for 2019 and as a result of this additional funding, my Department is working closely with the NTPF and the HSE to finalise a Scheduled Care Access Plan for inpatients/day case and outpatients for 2019.
I recently met with the CEO's of all hospital groups and requested that they develop innovative proposals to address their outpatient lists in 2019.
Each year, 3.3 million patients attend Hospital Outpatient clinics for appointments. While the total numbers on the outpatient waiting list continues to grow, a targeted approach by the HSE in late 2017 and into 2018 has impacted on the level of growth. From January to September 2018, the rate of growth of the outpatient waiting list was a quarter of what it was in the same period in 2017.
In addition, this year has seen the NTPF approve almost 12,700 additional first-time outpatient appointments nationally and this is projected to increase to 40,000 appointments next year.
Furthermore, validation will play a key role in ensuring the accuracy of the outpatient waiting list and it is projected that 30,000 patients will be removed from the national outpatient waiting list through the validation consultation process in 2019.
The South-South West Hospital Group and NTPF have advised that they are working closely to deliver initiatives aimed at tackling Outpatient Waiting lists. Initiatives to date include weekend and out of hour clinics in the specialities of Ophthalmology, Plastics and Urology. I expect this collaboration will be maintained into 2019.
153. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for paediatric occupational therapy appointments in County Cork; and the action being taken to address long waiting times. [49927/18]
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.
154. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for paediatric speech and language therapy appointments in County Cork; and the action being taken to address long waiting times. [49928/18]
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.
155. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce the long waiting times for primary care ophthalmology appointments in County Cork. [49929/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
156. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing vacancies in St. Finbarr’s hospital, Cork University Hospital, Mercy University Hospital, Mallow General Hospital and Midleton Community Hospital, County Cork; and the steps being taken to address the recruitment and retention crisis in same. [49930/18]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
157. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant vacancies in St. Finbarr’s, CUH, Mercy and the South Infirmary hospitals, County Cork; and the steps being taken to address the recruitment and retention crisis in same. [49931/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
159. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an early appointment will be arranged for a person (details supplied). [49954/18]
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.
160. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when special footwear will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); if the service in general will be restored and made available to a facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49999/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
161. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a facility (details supplied) is likely to be restored, in particular to meet the needs of persons previously receiving treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50000/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
162. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will issue in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50001/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
163. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if an augmented home help or homecare package will be made available to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50026/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
164. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the stage of development the access programme for medicinal cannabis products is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50027/18]
View answerConsiderable progress is being made in relation to the Cannabis for Medical Use Access Programme.
An Expert Group has drawn up clinical guidance for healthcare professionals treating patients through the Access Programme. These guidelines are available on the Department’s website. The guidelines contain detailed information on medical cannabis, including clinical guidance on the use of medical cannabis and guidance on which cannabis products are appropriate for medical use.
Officials in my Department are working on secondary legislation in the form of three Statutory Instruments.
Whilst medical cannabis products are not medicines, ensuring that such products meet appropriate quality standards when they are made available to the Irish market is a critical aspect of facilitating safe access to medical cannabis for Irish-based patients. Department of Health officials are working intensively on this issue to ensure a supply of appropriate medical cannabis products to meet the needs of Irish patients. However, the Department of Health has no control in relation to business decisions taken by commercial product manufacturers and has no powers to compel such companies to supply their products to Irish market.
Pending full operation of the Access Programme, doctors continue to utilise the Ministerial licencing route to prescribe medical cannabis for their patients. Licences have now been granted for twelve individual patients. Until suitable medical cannabis products are made available in Ireland, prescribers and their patients are sourcing the prescribed product from a pharmacy in The Netherlands, on foot of their medical prescription. It is intended that the Ministerial licence application scheme will continue to operate in parallel with the Cannabis for Medical Use Access Programme, after the programme becomes operational, for exceptional cases only where there is an unmet clinical need.
165. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health when a money message will be sanctioned to allow the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health to proceed with Committee Stage of the Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill 2016, as directed by Dáil Éireann on 9 November 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50028/18]
View answerI continue to support the recommendation of the Health Committee that the Bill, in its current form, should not proceed to Committee Stage, and the recommendations of the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) that access to cannabis, if permitted for medical purposes, should only be initiated under the direct supervision of an appropriate medical consultant, as part of a clearly defined monitored access programme.
Pending full operation of the upcoming Medical Cannabis Access Programme, doctors continue to utilise the Ministerial licencing route to prescribe medical cannabis for their patients. Licences have now been granted for twelve individual patients, the majority of whom are obtaining their medical cannabis from a Dutch pharmacy on foot of their medical prescription.
166. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 159, 163 and 164 of 22 November 2018, the outcome of the review of all 335 positive BRCA results processed by the department of clinical genetics in Our Lady's Children’s Hospital, Crumlin; and when he expects to receive a report on the review of the negative BRCA tests. [50047/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy.
167. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 161 of 22 November 2018, the reason a report (details supplied) on the review of genetic services in Ireland 2014 has not been published; and if he will undertake to publish it without further delay. [50048/18]
View answerThe Donnai-Newman Report on the Review of Genetics Services in Ireland (2014) was commissioned by the HSE to recommend improvements in the governance, management and future development of the genetic services.
In relation to the matter of the publication of this report, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
168. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 161 of 22 November 2018, and the recommendations from a report (details supplied) which established a steering group by the HSE in early 2015, if he will report on the appointment of a national director and a clinical laboratory director of the national genetic and genomic medicine network; when these posts were advertised; and when it is proposed to provide funding for the commencement of these posts. [50049/18]
View answerThe HSE National Service Plan 2018 includes a commitment to commence development of the National Genetics and Genomic Network. As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
169. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if there has been cuts in funding for mammograms at St. James’s Hospital breast cancer history clinic; if so, the reason for such a decision in view of the importance of this clinic; if assurance that the clinic will continue at full capacity into the future will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50050/18]
View answerIn parallel with the Rapid Access Clinic for Symptomatic Breast Disease in St James's Hospital, a Familial Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Service has evolved to provide a clinical service to women who are considered to be at higher than average risk of developing cancer in their lifetime. Due to increased referral rates to the symptomatic breast disease clinic, as well as to the 'family risk' clinic, the hospital is currently prioritising the symptomatic patients to ensure that a quality, timely and sustainable service is available to them. This has resulted in the suspension of the family risk service, other than for urgent cases.
One of the hospital's two mammography machines which was at end of life has recently been replaced. A third machine is on order and is expected to be installed either late this year or early in 2019. Capacity for mammography has been a major part of the challenge in meeting demand for breast services in St James's.
The intention is to restore the Familial Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Service in St James's as early as possible in the new year.
170. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment for 2018 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49856/18]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2018 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes application on the 30th April 2018. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Ground Eligibility inspection. This inspection has been processed and the person named was notified of the findings on 27th November 2018. The notification issued outlines the options available at this stage, namely to accept the findings or to submit comments to my Department for consideration. On completion of this process, the inspection outcome will be finalised and any payments due will issue to the nominated bank account of the person named as soon as possible.
171. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications received, approved and processed, respectively in relation to the low cost cashflow loan scheme for farmers announced in budget 2018, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49862/18]
View answerThe Future Growth Loan Scheme is being developed by my Department and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in partnership with the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) and the European Investment Fund (EIF).
It will be delivered through participating finance providers and make up to €300 million of long-term investment loans available to eligible Irish businesses, including the primary agriculture, agri-food & seafood sectors. The loans will be competitively priced and will be for terms of 8-10 years.
The fund is leveraged by exchequer funding of €62 million, of which 40% or some €25million will be provided by my Department. My Department’s contribution announced as part of Budget 2018 will be paid to the Scheme by the end of 2018. The Scheme is expected to launch in early 2019.
172. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial value of the horticultural sector to the economy in 2017 and to date in 2018; his plans to further enhance the horticultural sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49863/18]
View answerThe farm-gate value of horticultural output for 2017 was estimated by my Department as just over €433million, of which the mushroom sector accounted for €118 million. This was followed in value terms by the protected crops and potato sectors which contributed over €80 million each.
Given that harvesting of certain horticultural crops is still on-going the output estimate for 2018 will not be available until after year-end.
In addition to considering the farm-gate value of horticultural output, it is important to bear in mind that the industry also contributes significantly to both upstream and downstream economic activity.
My Department operates two schemes which aim to facilitate development of Ireland's horticultural sector.
The Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector provides grant aid for specialised horticultural capital investments. This scheme is fully funded by the Irish Exchequer. The budget for the Scheme has been increased by €1m to €6m for 2019 and the Scheme is currently open to applications.
The Scheme of Aid for Producer Organisations in the Fruit and Vegetables Sector provides support for growers to come together to form a Producer Organisation that collectively markets the grower's production and engages in various measures to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of production. This Scheme is 100% EU funded and provides aid at a rate of 50% on approved expenditure.
Further information on both of these schemes is available at: https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmingsectors/horticulture/horticultureschemes/
173. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49871/18]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received payments in respect of 2015 and 2016 and the 2017 advance payment. The 2017 balance payment was delayed due to issues relating to an inspection. These issues will be concluded shortly and the 2017 balance payment will then issue. Once the 2017 balance payment is made the case will move forward for processing of the 2018 advance.
174. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the suckler cow benefit announced in budget 2019; when he plans to move to the €200 suckler payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49953/18]
View answerMy Department has provided €20 million in budget 2019 for a new pilot scheme for suckler farmers, specifically aimed at further improving the carbon efficiency of beef production. The Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot (BEEP) will target the weaning efficiency of suckler cows and calves - measuring the liveweight of the calf at weaning as a percentage of the cow's liveweight.
Building on the success of the Beef Data and Genomics Programme, the data collected will also be a valuable addition to Ireland's already impressive database on cattle genomics.
Details of the scheme will be announced in due course following further consultation.
I have no plans to move to a €200 suckler payment. As I have stated previously, targeted supports for the sector will continue to focus on economic and environmental efficiency in the sector in order to help ensure its long term viability. The following outlines the supports for the suckler sector which are currently in place. According to National Farm Survey data, suckler farmers currently receive support equivalent to approximately €500 per suckler cow on average.
My Department is examining all appropriate measures to support the different agrifood sectors, including the suckler sector in preparation for the next iteration of the CAP. The measures adopted will be informed by stakeholder consultation on the needs of the sector to develop in an economically and environmentally sustainable way, as well as the relevant research and the available budget and structure of the new CAP when it is finalised.
The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) is currently the main support specifically targeted for the suckler sector, which provides Irish beef farmers with some €300 million in funding over the current Rural Development Programme (RDP) period. This scheme is an agri-environmental measure to improve the environmental sustainability of the national suckler herd by increasing genetic merit within the herd.
My Department has rolled out a range of schemes as part of the €4 billion Rural Development Programme (RDP), 2014 - 2020. In addition to the BDGP, other supports which are available for suckler and sheep farmers under Pillar II of the CAP include GLAS, ANCs and Knowledge Transfer Groups. Suckler farmers also benefit from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Greening payments under CAP Pillar I.
I am conscious that this has been a difficult year for the sector in terms of weather and the range of challenges associated with it. At the latest meeting of the Beef Roundtable on 3 October, I highlighted the need for stakeholders to recognise their inter-dependency. I urged processors to engage positively with their farmer suppliers to build the sustainability of the sector as a whole and to ensure a reasonable return for the farmers upon whom the sector relies for its development. It is essential that the position of the primary producer in the supply chain be secured if we are to build a sector for the future.
The Beef Roundtable also included discussions on the potential for producer organisations and the development of new technologies as ways of adding value along the whole supply chain, all tools to build resilience in the sector. Producer Organisations would allow farmers to engage collectively with processors, with the aim of strengthening farmers' bargaining power. Additionally, I have asked Bord Bia to conduct a detailed examination of market dynamics, with the cooperation of the industry, taking into account sales of particular cuts into particular segments of the market in order to improve price transparency.
I am strongly of the view that the existing range of supports available to suckler farmers, together with ensuring access to as many markets as possible, both for live animals and beef exports, are appropriate supports for the continued development of the sector. According to National Farm Survey dats, suckler farmers receive support equivalent to approximately €500 per suckler cow on average.
I will continue to argue for as strong a CAP budget as possible, post-2020. In particular, I am committed to ensuring that suckler farmers continue to receive strong support in the next CAP. My view is that such payments should support and encourage suckler farmers to make the best decisions possible to improve the profitability, and the economic and environmental efficiency, of their farming system. The Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot is a positive step in that direction.
175. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the new townlands in County Tipperary that will be eligible for the 2019 ANC scheme that were not eligible for the 2018 ANC scheme; and the townlands in County Tipperary that will not be eligible for the 2019 ANC scheme that were eligible for the 2018 ANC scheme. [49964/18]
View answerA listing of Tipperary townlands newly eligible for the 2019 ANC scheme and the townlands no longer eligible for the 2019 ANC scheme is attached. In each case the total area of the townland and the agricultural area (ie the potential payable area) is included. Where townlands are no longer eligible in 2019, this may not necessarily lead to a direct financial loss for an individual farmer within that townland
176. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the 2013 to 2017 European Maritime and Fisheries Fund allocation to Ireland by Exchequer and EU funds; and the 2014 to 2020 EMFF funding allocation. [49988/18]
View answerMy Department's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Programme is the vehicle for financial supports to the seafood sector for the period 2014 to 2020. The Programme delivers a wide range of supports for aquaculture, fisheries and seafood processing through a suite of schemes.
The Programme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union and provides €239.3 million in funding - an investment of €91.7 million provided by the Government of Ireland and €147.6 million provided by the European Union.
The predecessor to the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund was the Seafood Development Operational Programme which was implemented over the period 2008 to 2015. An investment of €21.1million was provided by the Government of Ireland and €42.3 million provided by the European Union.
