Written Answers Nos. 144-158
144. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of firms that have applied for working capital under the Brexit loan scheme; the number of firms that have been sanctioned financing to date by firm size (details supplied); and the value of same in tabular form. [27199/19]
View answerThe €300 million Brexit Loan Scheme provides relatively short-term working capital of 1 to 3 years, to eligible businesses with up to 499 employees to help them innovate, change or adapt to mitigate their Brexit challenges. Businesses can confirm their eligibility with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) and if deemed eligible, can apply to one of the participating finance providers for a loan under the scheme.
The scheme was launched in March 2018 and, as at close of business on the 21 June, there were 656 eligibility applications received, of which 596 have been approved and 144 loans progressed to sanction at bank level to a value of €31.73 million.
Of the 144 loans sanctioned, just over 51% were sanctioned to micro enterprises, 40% to small enterprises and the balance to medium enterprises. The table below details the number of loans sanctioned by firm size.
|
Firm Size |
No. of Firms |
|
10 or Less |
74 |
|
11 - 49 |
58 |
|
50-249 |
12 |
|
Total |
144 |
While the conversion of eligibility to loan application has been impacted by the uncertainty surrounding the final form that Brexit will take, as at end of Q1 2019, 89 loans for a value of €19.4 million were drawn down. This represent a conversion rate of 88% of the total value of loans sanctioned (101 loans were sanctioned at bank level for a value of €22 million at 31st March 2019).
With Brexit in the horizon, the availability of the Brexit Loan Scheme means that qualifying Irish businesses will have access to low cost working capital without delay and forms part of the support for Irish business to cope with potential Brexit challenges.
145. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the costs incurred to date by the State Claims Agency; the award levels and legal costs, respectively, in respect of the cervical screening programme; the number of ongoing cases involving the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27093/19]
View answerThe State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims, including claims in respect of clinical negligence, on behalf of Delegated State Authorities (DSA’s) including the Health Service Executive.
The specific details relating to the Deputy's question have been provided to me by the State Claims Agency and are set out below.
This information has been extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and is correct as at 24th June 2019. It relates to the costs paid to date by the State Claims Agency with respect to National Screening Service – CervicalCheck misdiagnosis claims.
i. Award levels Due to the low number of claims, SCA is unable to publish this figure as it could lead to the identification of an individual.
ii. Legal costs Payments amounting to €781,811 with respect to Legal Costs have been paid by the SCA to date.
iii. Number of ongoing cases involving the programme There are currently 115 claims under active management by the State Claims Agency which relate to allegations of misdiagnosis in relation to the National Screening Service – CervicalCheck programme
146. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he has the authority to direct the State Claims Agency to make a particular payment by way of an award in an individual case in respect of the cervical screening programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27094/19]
View answerClaims against the Health Service Executive are managed by the State Claims Agency under delegated authority, and the Minister for Health does not have the authority to direct the Agency in the particulars of how a claim is managed.
147. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the person or body responsible for the implementation of the HSE report on lymphoedema and lipoedema treatment in Ireland 2018; the details of the implementation plan; the timeline of same; his plans to ensure access to services for lymphoedema, primary and secondary patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26936/19]
View answerThe working group report detailing the proposed model of care for lymphoedema and lipoedema treatment in Ireland has been finalised and was published on the HSE website in April 2019.
The HSE has advised that it will initiate a 12-month 'proof of concept' programme in September this year. This programme will consist of:
- an early detection service in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin;
- a community demonstration site in Community Healthcare Organisation 8 (Laois/Offaly);
- the introduction of lymphoedema education into undergraduate programmes; and,
- eLearning modules in lymphoedema awareness for health care practitioners.
The broader implementation of the Model of Care will be addressed by the HSE in the coming months in the context of the budget process for 2020.
148. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of persons offered treatment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26943/19]
View answerBudget 2019 announced that the Government had further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the NTPF increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019. The joint Department of Health, HSE, and NTPF Scheduled Care Access Plan 2019 was published on 11 March.
Under the Plan the HSE, in line with the National Service Plan, will aim to deliver 1.155 million elective inpatient and day case discharges at a value of €1.4 billion in 2019. The Scheduled Care Access Plan includes:
- detailed plans from the NTPF to fund 25,000 IPDC treatments at a total cost of €58 million; 5,000 Gastro Intestinal Scopes at a cost of €5 million; and 40,000 outpatient first appointments at a cost of €6 million.
- It is also projected that for ten identified high volume procedures, including cataracts, all clinically suitable patients waiting more than 6 months will be offered treatment in 2019. These 10 procedures account for over a third of the active inpatient day case waiting list and represent 60% of NTPF planned activity in 2019.
In relation to the specific matter raised by the Deputy, the NTPF has advised that for the period January to May 2019 the NTPF has arranged treatment for 636 patients awaiting a cataract procedure on the Saolta Hospital Group Inpatient/Day Case Waiting List. Under the 2019 Scheduled Care Access Plan, it is projected that all clinically suitable patients waiting over 6 months for cataract surgery will receive an offer of treatment by year end.
149. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for appointments for children in locations (details supplied); his plans to address the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26944/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
150. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for orthodontic appointments for children in an area (details supplied); his plans to improve waiting times in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26945/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
151. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26946/19]
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.
152. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the pilot inpatient detox programme available for persons with a dual diagnosis in counties Clare and north Tipperary can be extended to include persons from County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26947/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
153. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost for one year of extending the reimbursement scheme for the FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system to all type 1 diabetics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26963/19]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
154. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the amount spent to date on reimbursing the FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system to type 1 diabetics aged four to 21 years of age; the number of persons that have taken up this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26964/19]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
155. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health if there is a phased joint handover to adult services for persons engaged in CAMHS when they reach 18 years of age. [26982/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
156. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if there is a one-stop shop for persons experiencing mental health difficulties or crises in which they can obtain information regarding services available and the way in which to access them; if not, if consideration will be given to establishing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26983/19]
View answerI have been working with the HSE on developing several information supports for individuals seeking Mental Health supports.
A newly revised 'yourmentalhealth.ie' website went live on October 10 2018. The public can now find personalised support options through an integrated search tool that generates information on online resources, telephone and face-to-face supports and services relevant to a wide range of mental health issues.
In addition to the website, the HSE is advancing the establishment and operation of a single and stand-alone National Mental Health Service Telephone Contact Facility to effectively manage mental health service related queries emerging from the community. This service will operate on a 24/7 basis and will encompass (i) the provision of information about, and direction of callers to, the most appropriate national and local pathway(s) to care specific to the query raised, and (ii) where possible, the direct transfer of callers to the most appropriate existing helpline partners and/or services as required. Minister Daly is working with National Ambulance Service to establish this support line which will be operational in Quarter 3, 2019.
These additional online and telephone supports will provide a one stop shop for all enquiries pertaining to mental health.
157. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of persons presenting to accident and emergency departments with a dual diagnosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26984/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
158. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health when the FreeStyle Libre device will be available to persons with type 1 diabetes; when the HSE review of the matter will be completed; if the results of the survey by an organisation (details supplied) on the life experience of using flash glucose monitoring will be taken into consideration in the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26989/19]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
