Written Answers Nos. 1034-1051
1034. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of children at the end of April 2019 or the latest available date who were awaiting a first assessment from the HSE under the Disability Act 2005 by each local health office area in tabular form. [19918/19]
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.
1035. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy assessment waiting list at the end of April 2019 or the latest date available; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively, by each local health area in tabular form. [19919/19]
View answer1036. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy initial treatment waiting list at the end of April 2019 or latest date available; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively, by each local health area in tabular form. [19920/19]
View answer1037. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy further treatment waiting list at the end of April 2019 or latest date available; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively, by each local health area in tabular form. [19921/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1035 to 1037, inclusive, together.
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 questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for them to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
1038. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy first time assessment waiting list; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; the number waiting in each category of zero to four, five to 17, 18 to 64 and more than 65 years of age by each local health area at the end of April 2019 or the latest date available in tabular form. [19922/19]
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.
1039. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy treatment waiting list; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number waiting aged zero to four, five to 17, 18 to 64 and more than 65 years of age in each category by each local health area in CHO1 at the end of April 2019 or latest date available in tabular form. [19923/19]
View answer1040. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy treatment waiting list; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number waiting aged zero to five, five to 17, 18 to 64 and more than 65 years of age in each category by each local health area in CHO 2 at the end of April 2019 or latest date available in tabular form. [19924/19]
View answer1041. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy treatment waiting list; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number waiting aged zero to five, five to 17, 18 to 64 and more than 65 years of age in each category by each local health area in CHO 3 at the end of April 2019 or latest date available in tabular form. [19925/19]
View answer1042. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy treatment waiting list; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number waiting aged zero to five, five to 17, 18 to 64 and more than 65 years of age in each category by each local health area in CHO 4 at the end of April 2019 or latest date available in tabular form. [19926/19]
View answer1043. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy treatment waiting list; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number waiting aged zero to five, five to 17, 18 to 64 and more than 65 years of age in each category by each local health area in CHO 5 at the end of April 2019 or latest date available in tabular form. [19927/19]
View answer1044. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy treatment waiting list; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number waiting aged zero to five, five to 17, 18 to 64 and more than 65 years of age in each category by each local health area in CHO 6 at the end of April 2019 or latest date available in tabular form. [19928/19]
View answer1045. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy treatment waiting list; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number waiting aged zero to five, five to 17, 18 to 64 and more than 65 years of age in each category by each local health area in CHO 7 at the end of April 2019 or latest date available in tabular form. [19929/19]
View answer1046. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy treatment waiting list; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number waiting aged zero to five, five to 17, 18 to 64 and more than 65 years of age in each category by each local health area in CHO 8 at the end of April 2019 or latest date available in tabular form. [19930/19]
View answer1047. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy treatment waiting list; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number waiting aged zero to five, five to 17, 18 to 64 and more than 65 years of age in each category by each local health area in CHO 9 at the end of April 2019 or latest date available in tabular form. [19931/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1039 to 1047, inclusive, together.
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 questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for them to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
1048. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health his plans for vital breast cancer assessment services following proposals to cut the existing five one-stop centres to three; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19934/19]
View answerSymptomatic Breast Disease Clinics operate in the eight designated cancer centres (also in Letterkenny University Hospital, as a satellite of the service at Galway University Hospital).
There are no plans to reduce the number of Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinics.
1049. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19937/19]
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.
1050. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if an illness (details supplied) will be considered as a long-term illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19940/19]
View answerThe LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of thalidomide.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme at this time. However, I wish to inform the Deputy that the LTI Scheme will be included as part of a review of the current eligibility framework, including the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, to be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.
For people who are not eligible for the LTI Scheme, there are other arrangements which protect them from excessive medicine costs.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €124 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family.
People who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of GP consultations.
1051. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if there is an overspend to date in 2019 of €11 million at University Hospital Kerry, the measures in place to address this matter; the services that will be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19942/19]
View answerAs this is an operational issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
