John Lahart
Question:375. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if the satellite children’s hospital at Tallaght University Hospital will be delayed; and if so, the timeline for same. [7950/19]
View answerHealthcare Infrastructure Provision
Questions (375)
Written answers
Development is well advanced on the two paediatric outpatients and urgent care centres. Works at Tallaght are underway and on track for a target handover date of July 2020.
Drug Treatment Programmes Places
Questions (376)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:376. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7953/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Domestic Violence Services Funding
Questions (377)
Bernard Durkan
Question:377. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the funding channels available to an organisation (details supplied) including the next round of the National Lottery funding programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7963/19]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that the organisation to which the Deputy refers provides support services to victims of domestic abuse and violence and to their families.
The Department of Justice and Equality leads on the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence. I understand from that Department that the Victims of Crime Office, under its annual funding scheme, is providing funding of €18,000 this year to the organisation referred to by the Deputy. This funding is provided for a court accompaniment service to victims of domestic abuse. Following the budget in October this year, it will also be open again to the group to apply for funding under this scheme in 2020.
The Department of Health no longer operates a National Lottery Scheme. However, the Health Service Executive runs a National Lottery Scheme, details of the scheme are available at:
www.hse.ie/services/national-lottery-grants/national-lottery-grants.html.
A number of other Government Departments and State agencies may operate National Lottery Schemes which may be open to the organisation in question.
Counselling Services Provision
Questions (378, 379)
John Brady
Question:378. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the reporting mechanisms to monitor the successes and shortcomings of the telecounselling service being piloted in south County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7968/19]
View answerJohn Brady
Question:379. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the reports which will be published on the pilot telecounselling service in south County Wicklow; when these reports will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7969/19]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 and 379 together.
As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (380)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:380. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7971/19]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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.
Disabilities Data
Questions (381)
Anne Rabbitte
Question:381. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the number of young persons diagnosed on an annual basis with ASD and AAH in each CHO, in tabular form; the number by age ranges (details supplied) in each of the years 2011 to 2018, by CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7999/19]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Disability Services Funding
Questions (382)
John Brassil
Question:382. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if approval for funding for a facility (details supplied) will be provided; the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8000/19]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Question No. 383 answered with Question No. 328.
Mental Health Services Provision
Questions (384)
John Brady
Question:384. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 375 of 19 December 2018, the outcome of the meeting between the HSE and a service (details supplied) to identify and prioritise areas of need nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8012/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Brexit Preparations
Questions (385)
James Browne
Question:385. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans for patients receiving treatment and who will need treatment for eating disorders within UK health facilities in view of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8013/19]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Health and its agencies have been conducting detailed analysis on the impacts of Brexit in the area of health. Contingency planning for a range of eventualities is also underway. A priority will be to ensure that there is minimum disruption to health services and that essential services are maintained on a cross-Border, all-island and Ireland-UK basis.
In relation to mental health, patients only go to the UK for treatment for mental health disorders when all options in Ireland have been exhausted.
The HSE's Mental Health Operations are endeavouring to increase the availability of specialist supports for children in Ireland. For example, there will be 10 beds in the new CAMHS Forensic Service and an additional 20 beds in the National Children's Hospital of which 8 are specialist eating disorder beds. This will increase the range of mental health services available to children in Ireland.
When children travel to the UK for treatment for mental health disorders, an application is made to the High Court to place the child in a UK facility for the purpose of receiving treatment. If the High Court is in agreement, an Order of the Irish High Court is then made under Wardship jurisdiction.
Recent cases involving the placement of Irish citizens with UK healthcare providers for the purpose of receiving mental health treatment have involved an application on behalf of the HSE to the Court of Protection in London for recognition and enforcement of Orders of the Irish High Court which permit the proposed placements.
The legal mechanism which facilitates recognition and enforcement of Irish Court Orders by the UK Court of Protection is under the UK's Mental Health Capacity Act 2005. The mechanism gives effect to the Convention on the International Protection of Adults and is a convention of the Hague Conference on Private International Law being the World Organisation for Cross Border Co-operation in Civil and Commercial matters (HCCH). HCCH currently has over 80 state members including Ireland and the UK. The European Union is also a member. As such, HCCH is not part of the EU.
My Department and the HSE have been meeting regularly to ensure that all relevant units are prepared for Brexit and to consider what, if any, steps need to be taken to ensure that the Irish health service can continue to refer patients to the UK for specialised care as deemed appropriate once the UK leaves the EU.
I am not aware of anything that would indicate that the UK intends to exit HCCH as part of Brexit, and so it would seem that the current mechanism for legal recognition and enforcement of Irish Court Orders by the UK Court of Protection under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 should not be impacted by Brexit.
Eating Disorders
Questions (386)
James Browne
Question:386. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if the National Centre for Eating Disorders will be included in the national children's hospital development as recommended in A Vision For Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8014/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications
Questions (387)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:387. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for processing applications under the nursing home support scheme in CHO area 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8026/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Question No. 388 answered with Question No. 328.
Blood Transfusion Service Provision
Questions (389)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:389. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 147 of 28 February 2018, the status of a pilot programme; if results are available from the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8054/19]
View answerWritten answers
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is now accepting hereditary haemochromatosis patients who are eligible to donate blood at their fixed and mobile donation clinics nationwide.
Patients can attend a maximum of four times a year with a minimum of ninety days between phlebotomies. The patient's hereditary haemochromatosis will continue to be managed by their treating physician, including the monitoring of ferritin levels.
Question No. 390 answered with Question No. 374.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (391)
Peter Fitzpatrick
Question:391. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment. [8075/19]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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.
Disability Support Services Funding
Questions (392)
Margaret Murphy O'Mahony
Question:392. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a letter sent recently to the three umbrella disability bodies seeking savings of up to €500,000; the rationale for the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8077/19]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that the Health Service Executive ( HSE) has determined the necessity that it include HSE funding allowances to disability representative bodies, as part of its commitment to achieve value improvement targets within the Disability sector.
As these bodies are in receipt of funding from the HSE, I have requested the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
Disability Support Services Funding
Questions (393)
Margaret Murphy O'Mahony
Question:393. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if he or the HSE has written or is writing to disability organisations requesting savings to be made in their budgets; if so, the organisations concerned; the saving required from each; the rationale for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8078/19]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that the Health Service Executive ( HSE) has determined the necessity that it include HSE funding allowances to disability representative bodies, as part of its commitment to achieve value improvement targets within the Disability sector.
As these bodies are in receipt of funding from the HSE, I have requested the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
Ambulance Service Data
Questions (394)
Pat the Cope Gallagher
Question:394. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulances and ambulance crews stationed within County Donegal in each of the years 2010 to 2018 and to date in 2019; his future plans for improving ambulance services within the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8079/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
Question No. 395 answered with Question No. 328.
Primary Care Centres Provision
Questions (396)
Joan Collins
Question:396. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 131 of 31 January 2019, the status of same. [8120/19]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to outline the current status of the primary care centre at Curlew Road directly to the Deputy.