Written Answers Nos. 1345-1359
1345. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 144 of 10 April 2019, if the position of clinical nurse specialist for multiple sclerosis in University Hospital Limerick has been filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36772/19]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
1346. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the progress made to establish a funding package to sustain and satisfy the long-term funding requirements of a service provider (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36774/19]
View answer1347. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has established a core funding package to finance the services of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36775/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1346 and 1347 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 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.
1348. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of a primary health centre in Dunfanaghy, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36812/19]
View answer1349. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of a primary health centre in Donegal town, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36813/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1348 and 1349 together.
As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
1350. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the details of expenditure in the NMBI relating to the organisational staff development programme; the costs associated with this development programme to include all payments made to date and future expected payments to complete the programme; the number of staff undertaking this training, their role, grade and tenure in the NMBI permanent, contract, agency in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36815/19]
View answerAs this question relates to an operational matter I have referred it to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland for attention and direct reply.
1351. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken to ensure that the South Westmeath Hospice facility is protected and adequately funded going forward; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the HSE had planned to close the facility by the end of August 2019; and the reason for the decision in view of the fact that a large percentage of the funding to build the hospice facility was raised within the community. [36837/19]
View answerI met a delegation from the South Westmeath Hospice Committee on Tuesday 3 September to discuss their concerns about the HSE's proposal to realign palliative care support beds located on the St Vincent's Care Centre campus in Athlone.
A working group is being established by the HSE, which will include representatives of palliative care staff and members of the South Westmeath Hospice Committee, in relation to services on the current campus and to identify the future delivery of the service as part of a planned 50-bed Community Nursing Unit to be constructed in Clonbrusk, Athlone, as a public private partnership project.
No decision has been made in relation to these proposals pending consultation with key stakeholders to identify the optimum service delivery arrangements to meet local needs.
1352. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of additional accommodation facilities to administer the cross-border directive; and if his attention has been drawn to the impact which the lack of adequate facilities is having on the administration of this service and the lengthy delay this is causing in refunding patients. [36838/19]
View answerThe HSE is responsible for the operation of the Cross Border Directive and the management of the HSE Cross Border Directive (CBD) office is an operational matter for the HSE. Officials of my Department recently met with the HSE to discuss this matter and have requested the Executive to examine current resourcing of the CBD office, and to identify necessary actions to mitigate waiting times arising from current demands for the Scheme. As the HSE have operational responsibility for the CBD office I have also referred the Deputies questions to them for direct reply.
1353. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on the pre-budget submission of an organisation (details supplied), in particular its demand for €18 million in investment for community supports and home care for persons with dementia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36876/19]
View answerThe implementation of the 2014 National Dementia Strategy is being led by the National Dementia Office in the HSE, which has made substantial progress in developing evidence-based care pathways for people with dementia. Actions are being implemented progressively as resources allow and Dormant Accounts funding is allowing a number of key projects to proceed. The HSE is working with key partners, including the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, to implement specific elements of the Strategy, including the Understand Together awareness campaign and the attendant community activation programme.
With regard to the specific pre-budget submission referred to by the Deputy, the level of funding available for the Department of Health in 2019 and the quantum of services to be provided by the HSE will be considered as part of the national Estimates and budgetary process and National Service Planning.
1354. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken to address the shortage of child and adolescent acute mental health beds in view of recent figures (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36879/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1356. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the drug reimbursement applications in cases in which the HSE has decided it will approve in tabular form; the next steps to be taken following such a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36906/19]
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.
1357. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the current and-or expected position in regard to the outstanding phase or phases of the Naas Hospital development programme; the extent to which progress in this regard is anticipated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36908/19]
View answerThe Health Service Executive recently published its Capital Plan for 2019-2021 outlining 250 projects to be progressed over the three-year period.
The Capital Plan includes a number of projects at Naas General Hospital, including the development of new units for endoscopy, day procedures, physical medicine and oncology, for which planning permission has been granted.
The Capital Plan also includes a new acute mental health unit, for which the design team been appointed and the design is being progressed with a view to making an application for planning permission in the first half of 2020.
The delivery of capital projects is a dynamic process and is subject to the successful completion of the various approval stages, in line with the Public Spending Code, which can impact on the timeline for delivery. In some instances, this can necessitate an extension of the planning permission, as in the case of Naas General Hospital.
1358. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when Repatha will fall within the criteria for reimbursement by the HSE (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36909/19]
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.
1359. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if a review of the nursing home subvention scheme is planned; if the disincentives to renting out a home that is owned by a person who is in a nursing home will be examined to examine if the scheme can be altered in order to free up more of the empty homes nationwide to the private rental sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36949/19]
View answerUnder NHSS rental income is considered income for the purpose of the financial assessment, and is assessed at 80% less any allowable deductions. Allowable deductions include income tax and, therefore, any income tax arising from rental income should be deducted; other deductions include some health expenses, levies required by law to be paid, and interest on some loans in respect of a person’s principal private residence.
Action 17 of the Strategy for the Rental Sector commits the Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government (DHPLG) to examine the treatment, under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme's financial assessment, of income from the rental of a person's principal private residence where they move into long term residential care. My officials are working with DHPLG officials and examining a number of possible options. I am not in a position, however, to provide detail on these as discussions and detailed examination are ongoing and any potential proposals have not been finalised.
