Written Answers Nos. 886-906
886. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 302 and 303 of 5 March 2019, if the contractor awarded the contract is an established supplier and payee with the HSE (details supplied); and the date that such a status was first established. [13844/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
887. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 302 and 303 of 5 March 2019, the amount of public funding paid directly from the HSE to a contract holder (details supplied) in each of the years 2011 to 2018 and to date in 2019, for contracts and other additional contracts. [13845/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
888. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [13848/19]
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.
889. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a medical card application will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; if the matter will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13849/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
890. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a programme (details supplied); the efforts he has made to work with the initiative through the Department of Health in Northern Ireland; and his plans to do so [13852/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
891. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of multidisciplinary intervention services to the pupils of a school (details supplied) in County Cork; the multidisciplinary supports available; his plans to increase these supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13863/19]
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.
892. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the details of the planned primary health care centre in Drimnagh, Dublin 12; the proposed opening date of the facility; the reason for the delay on this project; if the current cost overrun at the national children’s hospital has an impact on the provision and opening of the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13879/19]
View answerAs 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 regarding the primary care centre at Drimnagh, Dublin 12.
The new children’s hospital is a vital and much needed project. The Government has examined the funding pressures associated with delivering this important project. In meeting these funding pressures, Government has examined all projects and programmes across Government and has made adjustments to ensure that the much-needed new children’s hospital will be delivered and will facilitate delivering the overall investment programme, as set out in Project Ireland 2040.
The Health Service Executive is currently developing its Capital Plan for 2019.
Once the HSE has finalised its Capital Plan for 2019, it will then be submitted to me for consideration.
893. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health the number of unpaid assistant psychologists working in the HSE; the policy of the HSE on recruiting unpaid positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13882/19]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
894. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the waiting time to access the early intervention teams covering the Dublin 5, 13 and 17 areas; if plans will be put in place to increase the capacity of the early intervention teams to meet the growing demand for this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13910/19]
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.
895. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health if the Rotunda Hospital will move to a new location at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown; if so, when the process will commence and be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13929/19]
View answer896. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health the projected cost for the relocation of the Rotunda Hospital to Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown; the amount by which this has increased since the move was first announced in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13930/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 895 and 896 together.
Project Ireland 2040 provides €10.9 billion for health capital developments across the country, including funding to support implementation of the National Maternity Strategy. I am pleased to confirm that the relocation of the Rotunda Hospital to the Connolly campus is one of the key infrastructure projects which will be funded under Project Ireland 2040. As to be expected with such a 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 requirement can be established. In that context. I am not in a position to provide any cost projections for the Rotunda project at this stage.
897. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health if the increase in the cost of the national children's hospital will result in delays to the proposed move of the Rotunda Hospital to a new location at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13931/19]
View answerProject Ireland 2040 and the National Development Plan are the long term plans which will provide the capital funding to develop, amongst other projects, maternity hospitals on the sites of acute hospitals in accordance with the National Maternity Strategy including the Rotunda moving to Connolly Hospital's campus.
We must ensure that we carefully plan the use of this capital funding so as to meet the populations health needs and achieve value for money.
It is important to recognise that the Project Ireland 2040, the National Development Plan and implementing Sláintecare include many capital proposals that are at an early stage and, as with all capital development proposals, will require further appraisal, planning, design and tender before a firm timeline or funding required can be established.
The new children’s hospital is a vital and much needed project. The Government has examined the funding pressures associated with delivering this important project. In meeting these funding pressures, Government has examined all projects and programmes across Government and has made adjustments to ensure that the much-needed new children’s hospital will be delivered and will facilitate delivering the overall investment programme, as set out in Project Ireland 2040.
898. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health when the building of the new satellite unit of the national children’s hospital at Connolly Hospital will be completed; when the unit will open to patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13932/19]
View answerWorks at Connolly are on target for substantial completion of the building in the Spring with the opening of the unit scheduled for July 2019.
899. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health if there have been problems in recruiting staff for the new satellite unit of the national children’s hospital at Connolly Hospital; if this is causing a delay in the opening of the unit to patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13933/19]
View answerWorks at Connolly are on target for substantial completion of the building in the Spring with the opening scheduled for July 2019. As the recruitment of staff is a service matter, I have asked Children's Health Ireland to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
900. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if step-down care will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13943/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
901. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if a decision on signing the draft new rules on temporary cover for pharmaceutical assistants into law will be paused in order to consider amending the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019 to deal with this issue; and if amendments (details supplied) will be considered [13944/19]
View answerThe Pharmacy Act 2007 established the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) and the functions of the Society are set out in the Act. The functions of the PSI are carried out on its behalf by the Council of the Society.
Section 30 of the Pharmacy Act 2007 provides for an exception to the general provision in the Act which requires the sale and supply of medicines at a pharmacy to be conducted under the personal supervision of a registered pharmacist, and specifies that no offence is committed where a registered pharmaceutical assistant “acts on behalf of a registered pharmacist during the temporary absence of the registered pharmacist”.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Temporary Absence of Pharmacist from Pharmacy) Rules 2019 were developed by the PSI in accordance with Section 30 of the Pharmacy Act 2007, which also permits the Council to make rules as to:
What may or may not be done by a registered pharmaceutical assistant when acting on behalf of a registered pharmacist; and
What constitutes the temporary absence of a registered pharmacist.
On 6 December, the Council of the PSI approved a revised draft of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Temporary Absence of Pharmacist from Pharmacy) Rules 2018 for issuance for public consultation. This public consultation commenced on 13 December 2018 and ran until 11 January 2019, affording any interested party the opportunity to make representations on the matter directly to the PSI.
At its meeting on 14 February 2019, the Council of the PSI approved the draft Rules, subject to certain amendments made on foot of the Council’s consideration of the results of the latest public consultation.
On 08 March 2019, the PSI submitted the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Temporary Absence of Pharmacist from Pharmacy) Rules 2019 to me for my consent, in accordance with the requirements of the Pharmacy Act 2007. These were accompanied by a lengthy submission detailing the PSI’s rationale for the drafting of the Rules.
Throughout the course of this process my Department has received correspondence from and on behalf of registered pharmaceutical assistants outlining their concerns with regard to the drafting of these Rules.
Under the Pharmacy Act 2007, my role in relation to this process is limited to the consideration of any such Rules once submitted for my consent and in doing so I will give careful consideration to the Rules as submitted by the PSI and to the concerns raised by or on behalf of registered pharmaceutical assistants.
902. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure that a person (details supplied) is provided with transport to enable the person to attend an adult day service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14019/19]
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.
903. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalents employed in the occupational therapy service in County Wexford in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14024/19]
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.
904. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health if an assessment of needs form must be submitted before a child receives an early intervention assessment through the HSE; if this is made clear to parents when presenting at their general practitioner or seeking information online; if the HSE has considered creating a step-by-step guide to accessing early intervention services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14029/19]
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.
905. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 400 of 13 November 2018, if a replacement has been provided to cover the maternity leave. [14030/19]
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.
906. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time equivalent speech and language therapists in the HSE by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14031/19]
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.
