Written Answers Nos. 481-501
481. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the way in which the €19.4 million indicated in the Health Service Executive, HSE, national service plan for full year cost in 2019 of 2018 home support levels including the 2017 to 2018 winter plan is to be spent; and the way in which it has been spent to date in tabular form. [25507/19]
View answer482. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on home support to date; the hours delivered; and the number of persons to which hours have been delivered in tabular form. [25508/19]
View answer483. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of older persons waiting for home support packages; and the waiting list for home care packages by community health organisation, CHO, and local health office, LHO, in tabular form. [25509/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 481 to 483, inclusive, together.
As these are a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
484. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if the contraception working group within his Department will meet with organisations (details supplied) in the course of its work. [25510/19]
View answerThe Working Group on Access to Contraception intends to seek written submissions from stakeholders and other interested parties and is currently developing a consultation questionnaire. The Chair of the Group will ensure that the organisations identified by the Deputy are invited to participate in the consultation exercise.
485. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 401 of 21 May 2019, the number of staff working in the health service in each of the years 2008 to 2018, by CHO in tabular form. [25511/19]
View answer486. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 401 of 21 May 2019, the number of staff working in the health service in each of the years 2008 to 2018 by LHO in tabular form. [25512/19]
View answer487. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 401 of 21 May 2019, the number of staff working in the health service in each of the years 2008 to 2018, by hospital in tabular form. [25513/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 485 to 487, inclusive, together.
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
488. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be reimbursed for treatment through the cross-border scheme. [25531/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
489. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health his plans to reintroduce the dial-to-stop drug dealing initiative in view of an increase in drug dealing, intimidation and violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25545/19]
View answerEffective law enforcement and supply reduction strategies and actions to prevent, disrupt or otherwise reduce the availability of illicit drugs is an objective of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - a health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025.
The use of violence or the threat of violence to enforce debts related to drug use creates an atmosphere of fear and undermines the health and well-being of families affected and the wider community.
The National Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme which was developed by the National Family Support Network and An Garda Síochána, provides a framework to allow reporting of an incident of intimidation to a nominated inspector. An Garda Síochána and the national family support network have concluded separate evaluations of the drug related intimidation reporting programme and jointly agreed a number of actions to strengthen its effectiveness.
The Dial to Stop Drug Dealing Campaign has been in operation since September 2008. The objective of the campaign is to provide people with a safe and confidential means to pass on information on drug dealing.
Following a review, it was decided to put in place a more cost effective approach to promoting the campaign and this initiative has been undertaken in partnership with Crimestoppers since 2012.
The Department of Health has made regular contributions, over the past number of years, to Crimestoppers towards the cost of funding such media campaigns.
I believe that drug-related intimidation is an issue which requires special attention. It presents a real threat to public safety. It is my priority to protect families and communities from intimidation because of drug use.
490. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the details of the proposed national awareness campaign on drug-related violence and intimidation to be carried out in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25546/19]
View answerThe national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, contains a strategic action to strengthen the effectiveness of the drug-related intimidation reporting programme.
The National Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme which was developed by the National Family Support Network and An Garda Síochána, provides a framework to allow reporting of an incident of intimidation to a nominated inspector.
An Garda Síochána and the National Family Support Network have concluded separate evaluations of the drug-related intimidation reporting programme and jointly agreed a number of actions to strengthen the programme, including external promotion of the programme through the media, external contacts and various forums.
On 6th March 2019, I announced additional funding of €1 million for the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy; "Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery". This funding, which will be provided on a recurring, multi-annual basis, will address strategic actions in the Strategy.
Following a consultation process, I approved a three-strand funding model for this additional funding. Strand 3 provides for funding of a national awareness campaign on the drug-related violence and intimidation reporting programme. The funding will be up to €140,000 over three years.
A workshop will be arranged for stakeholders on the application process for a national awareness campaign on drug related violence and intimidation under strand 3 funding.
I feel strongly that families and communities affected by drug use need to have appropriate, accessible and timely services available to help them cope with the problems they are facing. It is important that we get the message out there that help is available and that families and communities know where to go for help.
491. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will facilitate all hospital consultants who were on the 1997 consultants contract that commenced before 2008 to switch to the 2008 contract arising from the High Court decision on 15 June 2018 prior to which the HSE was not honouring the contract until decided upon by the court; if the contracts will be made available to all those on such contracts and not only those that had taken a case against the HSE; if these consultants can be put on the SA A2 point on the pay scale in order to ensure there is no discrimination against senior consultants that were earlier entrants with more experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25553/19]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Section 57 of the Health Act, 2004, transferred a number of statutory functions, including the regulation of the number and type of appointments of consultant medical staff, previously performed by Comhairle na nOispidéal to the HSE.
Consultant Contract 2008 provides for the HSE determining changes in Contract Type for all consultants. Section 22 of the Contract, together with Appendix IX, sets out the arrangements that apply and the role of the Consultant Applications Advisory Committee. National Doctors, Training and Planning, HSE, administers the arrangements.
492. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if his Department and HSE salary scale rates for hospital consultants for each of the three types of contracts will be provided; the number of points on each of the scales; the number of different payment rates for hospital consultants in the system; the actual amounts at each point on the different scales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25554/19]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter. The consolidated salary scales can also be found on the Department of Health website for which the link is attached.
https://health.gov.ie/blog/publications/1st-april-2019-consolidated-pay-scales-and-department-of-health-circular-6-2019/.
493. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken and plans to take following his recent meeting with family members of a group (details supplied); when persons can expect to access the residential care service they need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25555/19]
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 a service issue, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
494. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the extent to which delays are impacting the construction of the national children’s hospital; the potential extra cost to the project of the delays; his views on whether the project will be delivered on time in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25561/19]
View answerThe new Children's Hospital is a large scale and complex construction project and construction is due to be completed by Quarter 3 2022. As stated by the Chair of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health, last week, some elements of the project are behind schedule and some are ahead of schedule. Over the next three years of construction there would be opportunities to mitigate these types of delays. As the Chair also pointed out there are certain issues which may give rise to additional costs such as construction inflation, any changes in the scope of project or statutory changes. There is a robust process in place for the assessment of additional claims by the contractor. All claims are independently assessed and were there is a dispute on the validity of a claim the contract sets out a dispute management process to resolve the matter.
495. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if an analysis has been carried out to assess the cost differential between a patient staying in an acute bed versus receiving home help hours; the average cost of keeping a person in an acute bed for a week; the cost per week of using home help hours; if the cost is less, the reason he is not increasing spending on home help while reducing spending on the acute side; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25562/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
496. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if an admission date for surgery will be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [25563/19]
View answerReducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for Government. Budget 2019 announced that the Government has further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019.
The joint Department of Health/HSE/NTPF Scheduled Care Access Plan 2019 was published in March and sets out measures to improve care for patients waiting for scheduled care in 2019 by reducing waiting times for inpatient/day case treatment and outpatient appointments. The plan will place a strong focus on a number of high-volume procedures. When combined with HSE activity, it is projected that the NTPF will be in a position to offer treatment to all clinically suitable patients waiting more than 6 months for one of these high-volume procedures.
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.
497. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the design brief for the national children’s hospital will be published. [25606/19]
View answerThe National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has statutory responsibility for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital. I have referred your question to the NPHDB for direct reply.
498. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when a report (details supplied) on the separation of public and private healthcare in public hospitals was received; and if the report will be published. [25607/19]
View answerThe Report of the Independent Review Group established to examine private activity in public hospitals has been received and is being examined in my Department. It is a comprehensive examination of private activity in public hospitals and contains a small number of recommendations. When the recommendations have been examined and considered in my Department and by other relevant Government Departments, it is intended to bring proposals to Government and to publish the Report thereafter.
499. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason there has been no national roll-out of an eye care scheme for children aged more than eight years, in which children are discharged to community optometry in view of the success of same in the Tipperary north and Limerick mid-west region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25608/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
500. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason the Sligo cataracts scheme has not been rolled out nationally in view of its clinical success, cost effectiveness and the fact that the National Health Service in Northern Ireland has replicated this model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25609/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
501. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect a date for a tonsillectomy from Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25613/19]
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.
