Written Answers Nos. 492-513
492. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if future pay deals with nurses in the public sector health service have been costed; if he will meet with nursing union representatives to discuss such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49211/18]
View answerThe Public Service Stability Agreement, which the nursing unions are signed up to, is in place until 2020. This provides for a series of pay increases for the duration of the agreement for all public servants who adhere to the agreement. Any new agreement which may be negotiated in the future will require engagement with union representatives of all public servants, rather than unions representing any one group of staff, such as nurses. In that regard, it would not be appropriate for me to meet with any health sector union, including those representing nurses, to discuss any proposals in relation to pay.
493. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health if the specialist access team for homeless persons with severe mental health difficulties at Conyngham Road, Dublin 8, is now closed to new referrals due to staff shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50955/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly as soon as possible.
494. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health his views on whether supporting the health insurance industry with community rating, risk equalisation and tax expenditure runs contrary to the medium-term and long-term aims and objectives of Sláintecare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50961/18]
View answerCommunity rating, where risk is shared across all the community of insured people, ensures solidarity with and more affordable premiums for less healthy people and for older people. In effect, everyone pays the same amount of money for the same level of health insurance coverage, regardless of their age or health status.
Risk equalisation is essential to underpin community rating, as without it insurers with older and sicker customers would be forced to charge higher premiums. It is important to note that risk equalisation is Exchequer neutral: stamp duty is charged on each health insurance contract and redistributed to insurers based on their risk profile.
The voluntary private health insurance market in Ireland is proportionately one of the largest in the world. Given the fact that over 45% of Irish people hold health insurance, it is appropriate that our health insurance system is community-rated and is supported by risk equalisation. There is long-standing and cross-party political support for community rating, which is reflected and reaffirmed in the Oireachtas each year during the passage of the Health Insurance Bill.
The Sláintecare report anticipates that implementation of its reform programme will have an impact on the demand for private health insurance in Ireland, as enhancements and changes are made to the public health system. There is close and robust regulation of the health insurance market on an ongoing basis. In the coming years, we will continue to ensure that the regulatory regime in place is appropriate to the size of the market and to the role played by private health insurance within the healthcare system.
495. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he has been in contact with the HSE about the interview board involved in recruiting a person (details supplied); if the members of the board will no longer be involved in future interview panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50607/18]
View answerI wrote to the Director General on 8 November concerning all of the circumstances around the recruitment of the person concerned. The Director General replied on 12 November. He advised that the Interview Board included two senior clinicians together with a representative from the HR Department, reflecting what is understood to be best practice.
The Director General has confirmed that a range of recruitment issues will be considered in detail to support the strengthening of the HSE’s recruitment and selection processes and this work is in train. The HSE has recently approved, in principle, the development of a new recruitment model that reflects a situation where a greater volume of recruitment is now being carried out at local level, rather than at national level through their HBS Recruit function. He has also noted that implementation of the new recruitment model will require enhanced supports and training to local recruiters.
496. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health his plans to invest in Cavan General Hospital and Monaghan Hospital; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50605/18]
View answerThe establishment of hospital groups has enabled a better configuration of hospital services with benefits relating to safety, quality, access, cost and sustainable medical staffing. Hospitals working together in a group can support each other, providing a stronger role for smaller hospitals in delivering less complex care, and ensuring that those who require emergency or complex planned care are managed safely in larger hospitals.
The RCSI Hospital Group, which includes both Cavan General Hospital and Monaghan Hospital, has identified the need for development of the resuscitation area in Cavan Emergency Department. Future investment in Cavan General Hospital will be considered within the overall acute hospital infrastructure programme, the prioritised needs of the hospital groups and within the overall capital envelope available to the health service.
With regard to Monaghan Hospital, the Smaller Hospitals Framework focuses in particular on the future role of smaller hospitals and outlines the wide range of services that can be provided within these smaller hospitals. As a Model 2 hospital, in line with the Smaller Hospitals Framework, Monaghan Hospital has a Minor Injuries Unit located on site which provides an important service to the local community. I recently met with the RCSI Hospital Group to discuss how all hospitals within the group can develop and contribute to improvements in both scheduled and unscheduled care for patients.
I am committed to securing and further developing the role of our smaller hospitals with the expansion of services delivered in these hospitals, especially in services such as day surgery; ambulatory care; medical services and diagnostics.
The National Development Plan provides €10.9 billion for Health capital developments across the country, including both national programmes and individual projects, across acute, primary and social care. Health capital projects and programmes currently underway will continue. As to be expected with a ten year plan, many proposals are at an early stage and will require to progress through appraisal, planning design and tender before a firm timeline or funding required can be established.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
497. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the implementation of the recommendations of the island healthcare review; the additional resources that will be provided for the implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50694/18]
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.
498. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the action the HSE will be taking to enable University Hospital Galway regain accreditation for carrying out colonoscopies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50695/18]
View answerThe Deputy's question refers to service delivery matters and accordingly, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
499. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the reason the national Traveller health advisory committee has not been convened since 2012; when the national Traveller health action plan will be published; if he will ensure the simultaneous establishment of the promised planning advisory body for Traveller health to ensure the speediest implementation of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50603/18]
View answerHealth and wellbeing are not evenly distributed across society. There are socially excluded groups who experience extreme health inequalities. Such groups include Travellers, homeless people, refugees and asylum seekers and people with addiction issues. Reducing health inequalities can deliver real benefits for society and for future generations. It requires interventions to address the social determinants of health and to provide integrated and comprehensive healthcare services.
The health needs of Travellers are documented in the All Ireland Traveller Health Study, published in 2010. This study was funded by the Department of Health.
As Minister with responsibility for health promotion and social inclusion, I am very aware of the health inequalities experienced by Travellers. Significant measures have been undertaken across the health service to address these inequalities.
The Department and the HSE participate in various official structures which monitor the provision of heathcare services for Travellers. These include the Traveller Health Advisory Forum and the steering committee for the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy. In addition, the Department convened a workshop on Traveller health needs in May, 2018.
The HSE is developing a detailed action plan on Traveller health as one of the commitments in the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy. I understand a draft of the action plan is being finalised by the HSE. Any proposal in the action plan for a planning advisory body for Traveller health, which might include representation from the Department of Health, will be considered in due course.
500. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health his plans to restore the pay of section 39 workers in accordance with an internal audit carried out by the HSE; the timeline for funding of pay restoration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43894/18]
View answerYou will be aware that in February 2018, an agreement was reached at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) between my Department, the HSE and health sector Trade Unions in relation to a process aimed at resolving the pay restoration issue for staff employed by section 39 bodies in 50 pilot organisations. The 50 organisations included were agreed at the WRC by all parties. I asked the HSE to engage with the Section 39 organisations to establish the facts around what cuts were applied and how and when they were implemented. The HSE has completed the first phase of their work in relation to the agencies identified as part of the WRC process. This exercise has shown that of the agencies who returned data, a majority did apply pay reductions of some form. It also showed that some agencies made some form of pay restoration between 2016 and 2018. Following constructive engagement with the assistance of the Workplace Relations Commission, an agreement was reached on 2 October between the parties. Pay restoration will commence with an annual pay increase of up to €1,000 in April 2019 for those employed by the 50 organisations involved in the pilot. Any outstanding balance will be paid in two equal amounts in 2020 and 2021.
It is recognised that some of the remaining organisations will have pay restoration issues also. A process of engagement to address this will commence in 2019.
501. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the status of pay negotiations with nursing staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48994/18]
View answerThe Public Service Stability Agreement is delivering wage increases of 6.4% to 7.2% over 2018-2020 and is weighted toward the lowest paid. On top of the pay increases provided under the PSSA, in September agreement was reached with staff interests on proposals relating to the so-called “new entrant pay” issue. This would deliver an average of an additional €3,000 over the coming years starting in March next year to over 60,000 post-2011 new entrants, including 10,000 nurses.
In addition, the Public Service Pay Commission recommended a 20% increase in the Location and Qualification Allowances for nurses and midwives and accelerated promotion for nurses to the senior staff nurse level. Subject to acceptance, these measures will be implemented from March 2019 at a cost of €20m per annum.
Both the INMO and the PNA have rejected the pay proposals. However, the pursuit of cost increasing pay claims and engagement in industrial action are both specifically excluded under the terms of the Public Service Pay and Stability Agreement (PSSA 2018 - 2020) - a collective agreement which the INMO and its members currently subscribe to. Concession of any such pay claim, which has been costed at up to €300m p.a. would compromise public pay and budgetary policy and would also generate follow on claims from the rest of the public service workforce.
It should also be noted that there are no 'pay negotiations' underway with nursing staff, as suggested by the Deputy. However, notwithstanding their rejection of these proposals, officials from my Department and the HSE have met the nursing unions to clarify their issues. I understand that the parties have been invited to attend the National Oversight Body and I am hopeful this will help to progress matters.
502. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of pay restoration for section 39 workers; the timeline of funding for pay restoration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49532/18]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that in February 2018, an agreement was reached at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) between my Department, the HSE and health sector Trade Unions in relation to a process aimed at resolving the pay restoration issue for staff employed by section 39 bodies in 50 pilot organisations. The 50 organisations included were agreed at the WRC by all parties.
I asked the HSE to engage with the Section 39 organisations to establish the facts around what cuts were applied and how and when they were implemented. The HSE has completed the first phase of their work in relation to the agencies identified as part of the WRC process. This exercise has shown that of the agencies who returned data, a majority did apply pay reductions of some form. It also showed that some agencies made some form of pay restoration between 2016 and 2018.
Following constructive engagement with the assistance of the Workplace Relations Commission, an agreement was reached on 2 October between the parties. Pay restoration will commence with an annual pay increase of up to €1,000 in April 2019 for those employed by the 50 organisations involved in the pilot. Any outstanding balance will be paid in two equal amounts in 2020 and 2021.
It is recognised that some of the remaining organisations will have pay restoration issues also. A process of engagement to address this will commence in 2019. Based on the information available, full restoration is estimated to be in in the region of €68m.
503. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time between the date of a child and adolescent mental health services or CAMHS referral and the date of assessment, nationally and in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50871/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
504. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if there are persons affected by problems with permanent contraceptives manufactured by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50965/18]
View answerMy attention has been drawn to the recent media coverage around medical devices regulation and certain medical devices which were or are available to Irish patients
I understand that the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has received some incident reports in relation to the Essure contraceptive product, however they have also confirmed that Essure has not been distributed in Ireland since January 2014.
The HPRA has further advised me that the sale of Essure has been voluntarily discontinued across Europe and Bayer has made the business decision to stop distribution in the US by the end of 2018 due to declining sales. The HPRA maintain a dedicated section on their own website to provide information for women who have received this device and for healthcare professionals.
With regard to the wider matter of medical device regulation and safety, a new EU Medical Device Regulation will be implemented over the coming years and will enhance and reinforce the existing regulatory system. The HPRA were one of the strongest proponents of this tightening of Regulation and indeed provided expert advice to the EU during the deliberations of this new Regulation.
505. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount disbursed to the horse and greyhound industries in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; the amount of subvention to the industries in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50139/18]
View answerThe information the Deputy had requested is detailed in the following table.
Under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001 (No.20 of 2001), the horse and greyhound racing industries receive financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (the Fund). In the period 2001 to 2017 a total of €1.12 billion has been paid from the Fund in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Monies are paid out of the fund in the ratio of 80% to Horse Racing Ireland and 20% to Bord na gCon as specified in Section 12 (6) of the Act. State funding provided through the Fund is pivotal to the survival of the horse and greyhound racing industries.
The Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund 2001-2018 (H&G Fund)
|
Year |
Horse Racing Ireland |
Bord na gCon |
|
2001 |
€47,110,330 |
€11,777,583 |
|
2002 |
€54,452,651 |
€13,613,163 |
|
2003 |
€51,348,800 |
€12,837,200 |
|
2004 |
€53,531,200 |
€13,382,800 |
|
2005 |
€54,680,000 |
€13,670,000 |
|
2006 |
€56,047,000 |
€14,012,000 |
|
2007 |
€58,539,000 |
€14,572,000 |
|
2008 |
€61,028,800 |
€15,257,000 |
|
2009 |
€54,502,000 |
€13,625,600 |
|
2010 |
€47,411,200 |
€11,852,800 |
|
2011 |
€45,830,000 |
€11,460,000 |
|
2012 |
€45,032,000 |
€11,258,000 |
|
2013 |
€44,016,000 |
€11,004,000 |
|
2014 |
€43,376,000 |
€10,844,000 |
|
2015 |
€54,400,000 |
€13,600,000 |
|
2016 |
€59,200,000 |
€14,800,000 |
|
2017 |
€64,000,000 |
€16,000,000 |
|
2018 |
€64,000,000 |
€16,000,000 |
*The Department's Accounting and Financial management records are only available from 2001 onwards.
506. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding or grant aid his Department has made to an association (details supplied) from 1 January 2008 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the purpose for which the funding or grant aid was released to the association; if the way in which the funding or grant aid is used is audited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50058/18]
View answerMy Department has not provided any funding or grant aid to the named organisation.
507. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the external consultant reports commissioned by his Department in each of the years March 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the cost of same; the company involved; and the title and publication date by report, in tabular form. [50088/18]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the information requested is outlined in the table at the following link:
508. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50113/18]
View answerFollowing the death of a herd owner, payments due to the herd number for all scheme years are put on hold pending the receipt of specified testamentary documents. The required testamentary documents have all been received in respect of this case. An Indemnity on Payment of Monies application received by my Department in respect of this case has been approved and payments will be released to the Representatives of the Deceased via a solicitor's or executor's bank account in the coming days.
509. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value of all EU grants received by Coillte since its establishment in 1988. [50126/18]
View answer510. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value of all Government grants provided to Coillte since 1988. [50127/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 509 and 510 together.
Coillte was established in 1989 in accordance with the Forestry Act 1988. Since 1989 Coillte has received €109.7 million in grant funding to enable afforestation of c. 78,000 hectares. Coillte also received €45.1 million to enable the building/upgrading of c. 8,100 kilometres of forest roads to facilitate timber mobilisation, along with capital grants of €11.9 million relating to other forestry activities. These are the total grants in relation to Coillte’s core forestry business provided by the Government and EU since 1989.
The capital grants drawn down were the standard ones available to all companies operating in the forestry sector.
Coillte also received an Exchequer Grant of IR£3.855m in 1989 under Section 29(1) of the Forestry Act 1988 for current expenditure.
Coillte does not currently receive any subvention from the Exchequer and has to generate its own income from its various operations. The company was deemed ineligible for forestry premiums in October 2003 and is not eligible for payments under the Afforestation scheme in the current Forestry Programme.
511. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in issuing a GLAS payment to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50166/18]
View answerThis participant's GLAS payments are fully up to date.
512. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a farm payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50167/18]
View answerAn application under the 2018 Basic Payment Scheme was received in respect of the person named on 14th May 2018.
Processing of this application has recently been completed and payment will issue to the nominated bank account in the coming days
513. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in a payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50193/18]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015.
While payments have issued for this case for 2016 and 2017 the Department is aware of an underpayment for 2016. The person named has been contacted this week to advise that the outstanding payment is being processed and will issue in the coming days.
