Written Answers Nos. 115-132
115. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the commencement of the remaining parts of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7376/19]
View answerThe Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 provides a modern statutory framework to support decision-making by adults with capacity difficulties. The Act was signed into law on 30 December 2015 but has not yet been fully commenced. New administrative processes and support measures, including the setting up of the Decision Support Service within the Mental Health Commission (a body under the Department of Health), must be put in place before the substantive provisions of the Act can be commenced.
A number of provisions of the 2015 Act were commenced in October 2016 in order to progress the setting up of the Decision Support Service. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 515 of 2016), brought Part 1 (Preliminary and General) and Part 9 (Director of the Decision Support Service) of the Act, other than sections 3, 4 and 7 in Part 1 and sections 96 and 102 and Chapter 3 in Part 9, into operation on 17 October 2016. These provisions were brought into operation in order to enable the recruitment of the Director of the Decision Support Service.
The commencement of Part 8 of the Act, which provides a legislative framework for advance healthcare directives, is a matter for the Minister for Health. The Minister for Health, under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 517 of 2016), brought some provisions of Part 8 of the Act into operation on 17 October 2016. The provisions commenced in Part 8 were the definition of “Minister” in section 82; the definitions of “code of practice” and “working group” in section 91(1); and section 91(2). The commenced provisions provide for the establishment by the Minister for Health of a multi-disciplinary group to make recommendations to the Director of the Decision Support Service in relation to codes of practice on advance healthcare directives.
The Minister for Health commenced the remainder of section 91 on 17 December 2018 (S.I. No. 527 of 2018) to enable the Director of the Decision Support Service to progress the preparation of the codes of practice as soon as the multi-disciplinary group submits its recommendations to the Director.
The remainder of the 2015 Act has not yet been commenced. A high-level Steering Group comprised of senior officials from the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department of Health, the Mental Health Commission and the Courts Service, together with the Director of the Decision Support Service, is overseeing the establishment and commissioning of the Decision Support Service and this work is ongoing. The key preparations are being put in place under the oversight of the Steering Group to allow for further commencement orders for the provisions of the 2015 Act to be made when the Decision Support Service is ready to roll out the new decision-making support options. Every effort is underway to ensure that the Decision Support Service has all necessary capacity to open for business as soon as possible. While the Decision Support Service has been working towards being operational and ready for the commencement of the main provisions of the Act in 2020, the situation is being kept under review as the preparatory work on implementation moves forward.
The 2019 Revised Estimates Volume provides for an allocation of €3.5 million in the Justice and Equality Vote for the establishment of the Decision Support Service.
116. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of reports commissioned from firms (details supplied) in 2018; the firm that completed each report; and the cost of each report. [7171/19]
View answer117. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of consultants from firms (details supplied) contracted to perform work in 2018; and the amount spent on consultants from each firm. [7188/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together.
Details of contracts that my Department entered into during 2018 with the named companies are set out in the table below.
|
Company |
Contract Details |
Cost |
|
KPMG |
Data Analysis and Benchmarking Exercise for the Personal Injuries Commission. |
€43,050 |
|
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) |
Developed an information guide for SME’s on currency risk. |
€11,070
|
118. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of claims made to the Primary Care Reimbursement Service of the Health Service Executive under the drug payment scheme for children between zero and 15 years of age for adrenaline auto-injectors in each of the years 2010 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7162/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
119. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of reports commissioned from firms (details supplied) in 2018; the firm that completed each report; and the cost of each report. [7180/19]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. I have surveyed the Department and the collated replies will be prepared into a full response to the Deputy as soon as possible.
120. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants from firms (details supplied) contracted to perform work in 2018; and the amount spent on consultants from each firm. [7197/19]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is as set out hereunder -
Ernst & Young (EY) - Independent Expert Review of Delayed Discharges
The total amount paid in 2018 was €71,955.00 and reflected a fee in respect of a team.
Deloitte Ireland - Provision of Actuarial and Insurance Advisory Services
The total amount paid in 2018 was €69,021.45. Advice is provided as and when required and charges are based on a blended daily rate.
It is the policy in my Department only to engage the services of external consultants where highly specialised skills are not available within the Department and, in particular, when such an approach is felt to be more appropriate and cost-effective.
121. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive urgent surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7204/19]
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.
122. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [7205/19]
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.
123. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of the 1,800 members of the National Ambulance Service availing of the mechanism to have union deductions taken by the NAS payroll; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7213/19]
View answer124. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of members of the National Ambulance Service that were having deductions taken for union membership (details supplied) on the date in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7214/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 124 together.
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to these Deputy on this matters.
125. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of the 1,800 National Ambulance Staff directly involved with patients; the number in an administrative role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7215/19]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
126. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the efforts being taken to remove a false HSE website disseminating false information on abortion services; his plans to protect the dissemination of information on abortion services in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7219/19]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
127. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be scheduled for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7221/19]
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.
128. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review and schedule an occupational therapy appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7222/19]
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.
129. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [7224/19]
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.
130. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the €50 million that has to be provided from the 2019 budget of his Department relating to the cost of the national children’s hospital will not delay a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7228/19]
View answerThe Health Service Executive is currently developing its Capital Plan for 2019. The HSE Capital Plan will determine the projects that can progress in 2019 and beyond having regard to the available capital funding, the number of large national capital projects currently underway and the relevant priority of each project. The requirements of the new children's hospital and other health capital projects, currently at various stages of development, are being considered as part of this process. Once the HSE has finalised its Capital Plan for 2019, it will then be submitted to me for consideration.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to the current position of capital developments at St. Camillus' Hospital Limerick.
131. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if there is a procedure in place for availing of a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7232/19]
View answerPeople who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with.
GPs are private contractors and it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients. In some instances GP practices have a full list of patients and cannot take on new patients. If this happens, patients should contact other GP practices in their area.
While I have no role in relation to such matters, I would expect clinicians to consider the importance of patients having access to a GP service close to home when deciding whether or not to accept private patients.
132. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for an operation in the case of a person (details supplied); the timeframe for pre-assessment; the position of the person on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7245/19]
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.
