Thursday, 16 May 2019

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (126)

Willie Penrose

Question:

126. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if an orthopaedic procedure will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21285/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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 Services Funding

Questions (127)

Willie Penrose

Question:

127. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the serious financial difficulty being experienced by RehabCare; his plans to ensure that the necessary additional funding will be put in place to enable these services to be provided to persons that use and need same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21286/19]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

This Government’s on-going priority is the safeguarding of vulnerable people in the care of the health service. We are committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives.

Significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services over the past number of years. Since this Government took up office, the budget for Disability Services has increased by €314 million. This year alone, the Health Service Executive has allocated €1.9 billion to its Disability Services Programme.

My primary concern is to ensure the continuity of appropriate person-centred disability services is maintained and delivered in an equitable manner consistent with the care and support needs of individuals. I want to acknowledge the important services provided by Rehab and the commitment of the staff of Rehab to people with a disability and their families.

I am informed by the HSE that the total revenue allocation provided by the HSE to Rehab for social services has increased by €8.1 million to €56.1 million in 2019 when compared with the allocation in 2016.

Rehab provides a range of services to young people and adults with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities, mental health difficulties, autism, or acquired brain injury. Services are co-ordinated through Rehab’s three service delivery divisions, RehabCare, the National Learning Network and Rehab Enterprises.

Rehab and the HSE have committed to working intensively together with a view to making substantive progress in reaching a solution to the issues.

Rehab have agreed not to issue a notice of termination, pending the conclusion of this intensive work with the HSE. Both I and Minister Harris had a further meeting with Rehab and the HSE yesterday, Wednesday, 15th May.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (128)

Peter Burke

Question:

128. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied). [21290/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (129)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason a full medical card was not renewed in the case of a person (details supplied); if the matter will be urgently examined with a view to restoration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21321/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (130)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will issue in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21297/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Home Care Packages Funding

Questions (131)

Brendan Smith

Question:

131. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when necessary financial resources will be allocated to the HSE to eliminate the delays in providing home support for persons already approved for home help but awaiting provision of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21320/19]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Improving access to home support is a priority for Government. Over the past four years we have seen a considerable increase of nearly €140 million in the budget which has grown from €306 million in 2015 to almost €446 million this year.

This year the HSE intends to provide 17.9 million home support hours to 53,000 people and intensive home care packages to 235 people.

Despite this significant level of service provision, the demand for home support continues to grow. The allocation of funding for home supports across the system, though significant, is finite and services must be delivered within the funding available. Preliminary data indicates that at the end of March there were 52,360 people in receipt of home support. During the first quarter of the year 4.2 million hours were delivered nationally, 4,411 new clients commenced the service and 6,238 people have been assessed and are waiting for either new or additional home support services.

I acknowledge that in some cases access to the service may take longer than we would like. However, the HSE has assured my Department that those people who are on a waiting list are reviewed, as funding becomes available, to ensure that individual cases continue to be dealt with on a priority basis within the available resources and as determined by the local front line staff who know and understand the clients’ needs, and who undertake regular reviews of those care needs to ensure that the services being provided remain appropriate.

While the existing home support service is delivering crucial support to many people across the country, it needs to be improved to better meet the changing needs of our citizens. We are developing plans for a new statutory scheme and system of regulation for home support services. This will improve access to the service on an affordable and sustainable basis while also introducing a system of regulation that will ensure public confidence. The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy commits to the introduction of the new scheme in 2021.

In the meantime, the Department and the HSE are continuing to improve existing services, including in 2018 the introduction of a single funding stream for home support services. This is providing significant benefits including making the services easier to understand; streamlining the application and decision-making processes; and facilitating service users to move to changed levels of service as their assessed needs change, without the need for an additional application process.

Health Strategies

Questions (132)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

132. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health his views of claims by an organisation (details supplied) that the funding being proposed for the new oral health policy is completely inadequate. [21328/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Smile agus Sláinte, the new National Oral Health Policy provides the groundwork to transform oral health services over the next eight years.

The ESRI worked with my Department to provide indicative costings for the delivery of various interventions under the proposed packages of care for children and adult medical holders and it is estimated that the cost of implementing the packages in full would be in the region of €80m.

The roll-out of these packages will take place incrementally over the next number of years. The detail of the packages and the resource requirements will be agreed as part of the implementation process. The progressing of any measures with resource implications, contained in Smile agus Sláinte, will be dependent on the outcome of the normal budgetary process in any given year.

A key priority of mine for 2020 is the introduction of packages of care for children under 6 years of age and I will be seeking funding for this under the Estimates 2020 process.

Dental Services Expenditure

Questions (133)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

133. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of a reversal of FEMPI fee cuts for dentists. [21329/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The cost of providing treatment under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) was €58.8 million in 2018. The estimated additional cost of providing the same number and range of services at the pre-FEMPI rates would be approximately €2.5 million.

Regarding future dental services, the new National Oral Health Policy, "Smile agus Sláinte" includes proposals for the introduction of packages of care for children from birth to 16 years of age to be delivered by contracted local dental practices. It also proposes preventive packages of care to be made available for all eligible adults at different intervals during their life course. The Department of Health intends to progress the development of appropriate contractual proposals on the part of the Department and the HSE to be followed in due course by a process of engagement with the dental profession.

Home Help Service Data

Questions (134)

Brendan Smith

Question:

134. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons approved for home help in CHO 1 and CHO 2 areas and awaiting provision of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21330/19]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Coillte Teoranta

Questions (135, 145, 146)

Denis Naughten

Question:

135. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the disposal of Coillte telecommunications infrastructure in 2015 to a company (details supplied) was approved; the discussions held with the then Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in advance of the approval; if he or the former Minister raised concerns with him and Coillte on the potential implications of disposal of this asset on the future ownership model for the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21256/19]

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Denis Naughten

Question:

145. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the disposal of Coillte telecommunications infrastructure in 2015 to a company (details supplied) was approved; the discussions held with the then Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the then Minister in advance of the approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21257/19]

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Denis Naughten

Question:

146. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the disposal of Coillte telecommunications infrastructure in 2015 to a company (details supplied) was approved; the discussions held with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in advance of the approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21258/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 135, 145 and 146 together.

The sale of Coillte’s telecoms business in 2015 was fully approved by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in accordance with paragraph 14.1 of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies (2009). The sale was in line with a Government Decision taken in June 2013 that Coillte undergo a fundamental restructuring overseen by NewERA and the relevant stakeholder Departments.

The objective of the restructuring was to create a streamlined and refocused state company, concentrating on its core activities in the bio-energy and forestry sector. The telecoms business, which Coillte had built as part of its non-core activities, was therefore offered for sale. This sale was completed in 2015 after consent had been received from the two shareholding Ministers.

There were ongoing discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform during the consideration of the proposed disposal, with observations also sought, and received from the then Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (now the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment) as part of the consideration process.

Food Labelling

Questions (136, 137)

Clare Daly

Question:

136. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if fish produced at a farm by a company (details supplied) that was in excess of the permitted harvest limit has been awarded organic status. [21178/19]

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Clare Daly

Question:

137. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will order an independent investigation of the organic labelling system for all salmon farms licensed by his Department in view of his decision to revoke the licence held by a company (details supplied) due to overharvesting. [21179/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together.

My Department as the Competent Authority under EU regulations has delegated the organic certification function to independent control bodies, in accordance with the relevant EU regulations and in common with the practice in many other EU MS. The organic status of food products including salmon here in Ireland is certified by rigorous on-going assessment undertaken on behalf of my Department by the aforementioned Organic Control Bodies.

The certification system for organic salmon in Ireland is subject to ongoing review and assessment by my Department and was also included in the 2016 comprehensive audit by the EU of the controls applied by Ireland to the organic sector generally.

I have no plans for an independent investigation of the nature suggested by the Deputy. However, as indicated in previous replies to similar questions from the Deputy, my Department keeps under close review compliance with the existing suite of organic requirements. Reviews of this nature are an important part of my Department’s controls in this area.

As the aquaculture licence in respect of the site named has been revoked, the Organic Control Body concerned in accordance with its procedures has taken the necessary action and suspended certification of the site concerned and instructed the Company to remove organic certification trademarks completely from the product. If the Company fails to resolve the situation by a specified date, then the organic certificate for the site in question is completely withdrawn.

Food Labelling

Questions (138)

Clare Daly

Question:

138. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the sale of fish labelled as organic that are produced in breach of licensing conditions can be described as "green washing". [21180/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

At the outset, I wish to make very clear that the procedures operated by my Department are designed to ensure that the highest standards apply to all areas of Irish organic production. The award of organic status is secured by a formal certification process delegated by my Department to various Organic Control Bodies in accordance with the relevant EU regulations. The certification process involves regular inspection of all organic operators, production techniques and sampling of organic produce to ensure compliance with all EU requirements.

The inspection process for producers of organic fish is extremely detailed and includes adherence to a range of core organic principles, as well as stocking levels, feed practice, traceability and fish-welfare and husbandry amongst other things. Organic aquaculture sites are also subject to the standard inspection regime applying to conventional producers by the Marine Institute and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. In addition, all Organic Control Bodies are independently accredited by an external accreditation body.

With regard to the organic status of an operation, where a breach of licensing conditions is determined and an aquaculture licence is revoked, the Organic Control Body concerned in accordance with its procedures, takes the necessary action to suspend certification and remove organic certification trademarks completely from the product in question. If the organisation concerned fails to resolve the situation by a specified date, then the organic certificate for the site in question is withdrawn.

Grant Payments

Questions (139)

Clare Daly

Question:

139. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the grants awarded to a company (details supplied) since 2012. [21181/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Operational Programme is the vehicle for financial supports to our seafood sector for the period 2014 to 2020. The Programme delivers a wide range of supports for aquaculture, fisheries and seafood processing through a suite of 18 schemes.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. These grants were awarded under the EMFF Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme.

Project	Date awarded	Grant awarded	Grant drawn down
Upgrade of Lough Altan Smolt Farm and Treatment Plant	04/05/2016	€93,749.01	€91,723.39
Investment in equipment for mechanical delousing, a non medical-chemical solution to remove sea lice from salmon	04/05/2016	€179,550.00	€179,550.00
Purchase and Installation of Aqualine Pens – Phase 1	20/02/2017	€276,948.55	€215,548.49
Installation of Aqualine Pens – Phase 2	09/03/2018	€168,696.27	€150,291.49
Construction of an aquaculture workboat and installation of an aqualine pumping system	20/02/2017	€276,948.55	0

Aquaculture Regulation

Questions (140)

Clare Daly

Question:

140. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the salmon farm sites operated by a company (details supplied) that are being investigated for breaches of licence conditions. [21182/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department is currently conducting a formal examination of possible breaches of licence conditions at a number of aquaculture sites operated by the Company referred to by the Deputy.

I do not consider it appropriate to identify these sites during the course of such examination.