Written Answers Nos. 204-213
204. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the expenses claimed by HSE staff in connection with the advancing recovery Ireland initiative since its inception by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3633/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Minister as soon as possible.
205. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a primary care centre at a location (details supplied); if the provision of the centre remains a high priority for the HSE; the timescale for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3635/19]
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.
206. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision an out-of-hours general practitioner service for an area (details supplied); when the service will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3636/19]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for it to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
207. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that the HSE national immunisation office will update its delivery and communication strategies for the HPV vaccine programme in advance of the extension of the vaccine to boys in September 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3637/19]
View answerThe 2019 HSE Service Plan included additional funding for the expansion of the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule to include HPV vaccination for boys.
The HSE National Immunisation Office has advised that it will develop updated materials and a communication strategy for a gender neutral HPV programme which will be available for parents and healthcare professionals in advance of the start of the gender neutral programme.
All vaccines administered through the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule are provided free of charge.
208. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if he or his officials have received correspondence from an organisation (details supplied) regarding the lack of funding for the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3639/19]
View answerI am aware of the financial difficulties that the Irish Deaf Society is currently experiencing and concerns regarding its future sustainability. Officials from my Office have been in regular contact with the Society’s C.E.O., Mr. John Sherwin, on the matter.
The Irish Deaf Society focuses its service delivery on advocacy, training and development as distinct from the delivery of health and social care supports to the deaf community and for this reason, it does not receive core-funding from the Health Vote. However, there are a number of other funding options available to the Irish Deaf Society. It has received funding, in the past, from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the Department of Education & Skills. It has also received grants from the Department of Justice and Equality and the National Lottery.
I am currently working with colleagues in Government to see if this issue can be resolved and I remain hopeful of a positive outcome.
209. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed new general practitioner contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3645/19]
View answerThe Government is committed to engaging with GP representatives on the development of modernised GP contractual arrangements.
Talks between the State and the Irish Medical Organisation resumed in October 2018 and there was intensive engagement, particularly in the weeks leading up to Christmas. While some progress was made, there are a number of outstanding issues that need to be progressed before any agreement can be secured.
The State’s negotiating team is keen to bring a renewed focus to the engagement with the IMO and talks are continuing in an effort to bring matters to a conclusion.
I look forward to positive and productive engagement with all parties concerned. Agreement on the delivery of service improvements and contractual reform would facilitate a very substantial increase in the resourcing of general practice on a multi annual basis.
In line with the long-established approach to such processes, and by agreement of the parties concerned, I am not in position to give further details while engagement between the parties is under way.
210. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when a hip operation will take place for a person (details supplied). [3647/19]
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.
211. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3648/19]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for it to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
212. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if immediate steps will be taken to issue an emergency medical card in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3659/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
213. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have a knee replacement. [3683/19]
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.
