Written Answers Nos. 418-442
418. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is being left short four years in their pension benefit calculation; and if a review of their entitlements will be expedited. [37392/19]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
419. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be called for an assessment of needs at a location. [37393/19]
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.
420. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children on a waiting list for the HSE Galway and Roscommon autism services to date in 2019, in tabular form; the average length of waiting periods; the numbers waiting in excess of 3, 6, 12 and 18 months respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37400/19]
View answer421. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the lengthy waiting periods for children to access services through the HSE Galway and Roscommon autism services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37401/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 420 and 421 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.
422. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if an outpatient appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37411/19]
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.
423. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if he has received communication from the family of a person (details supplied) who is waiting for surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37424/19]
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, I have asked the HSE, who are looking into this matter, to respond directly to the Deputy.
424. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding the disability sector (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37427/19]
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.
Significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services over the past number of years. In 2019, the Health Service Executive allocated funding of €1.9 billion to its Disability Services Programme. This has supported the delivery of targeted improvements in a number of priority areas. For example, an additional €12 million was allocated this year for the provision of services for 1,500 young people leaving school and rehabilitative training in 2019 and funding has been provided for 100 additional therapy posts in 2019 in children’s disability services. Dedicated capital funding of €100m for disability services over the period 2016–2021, together with the establishment of a Service Reform Fund, will support the phased transition to person-centred models of services and supports.
The Deputy may be aware that my colleague, the Minister for Health, and I brought a Memorandum to Government on proposals for a new Transport Support Payment Scheme. Following consideration of the matter, it was decided to withdraw the Memorandum from the Cabinet Agenda at that time. We intend to revert to Government in due course with revised proposals to reflect the discussions at that Cabinet meeting and further discussions between myself and Minister Harris, on the best way to progress the Transport Support Payment Scheme.
The level of funding available for Departments next year is being considered as part of the national Estimates and budgetary process for 2020 which is currently underway. Pending completion of this process it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
425. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the action he is taking to resolve the issues being experienced by the employees of a centre (details supplied) relative to decongregation and their redeployment; if he will approve a redundancy package in cases in which alternative employment cannot be found within the HSE; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that for a considerable length of time and through no fault of their own some employees turn up for work but do not have work to do; his views on the fact that management in the HSE are prepared to accept such poor value for taxpayers money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37438/19]
View answerThe Report “Time to Move on from Congregated Settings – A Strategy for Community Inclusion” proposes a new model of support in the community moving people from Congregated settings to the community in line with Government policy. The Report identified around 4000 people (based on 2008 census) with disabilities in Ireland living in congregated settings, defined as a residential setting where people live with ten or more people.
The Programme for Partnership Government contains a commitment to continue to move people with disabilities out of congregated settings, to enable them to live independently and to be included in the community. The objective is to reduce this figure by one-third by 2021 and ultimately, to eliminate all congregated settings.
The HSE has prioritised the transition of a further 160 people from congregated settings in 2019 under its Service Plan.
The HSE is responsible for leading out on the recommendations of "Time to Move on from Congregated Settings - A Strategy for Community Inclusion". In this regard, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy
426. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if funding for a further podiatrist in County Wexford will be made available to support persons with diabetes; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is only one senior podiatrist based in St. John’s Hospital that is servicing the whole of the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37449/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
427. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the projected increase in the gross capital expenditure ceiling applying to his Department in 2020 over 2019; and the projects this increase has been earmarked for. [37455/19]
View answerThe Health capital allocation in 2019 is now €742m, including the additional capital funding of €75m provided by the Government in the context of the increased costs of the new Children’s Hospital project.
The capital allocation for 2020 is €774m, as notified in the context of Budget 2019.
The Government has committed to provide the additional capital funding required in 2020 to cover the increased capital expenditure for the new Children’s Hospital in 2020. The Summer Economic Statement provides an expenditure reserve of up to €200m in 2020 to accommodate funding requirements for the new Children's Hospital and the National Broadband Plan. This will be considered further as part of the Budget 2020 estimates process.
The Health Service Executive recently published its Capital Plan for 2019-2021 outlining the projected capital spending across a range of investment programmes, covering 250 projects to be progressed over the three-year period.
428. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure there are no further delays by the HSE in reviewing blood sugar monitoring technology such as the FreeStyle Libre device; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37479/19]
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.
429. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [37488/19]
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.
430. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be assessed under the Disability Act 2005. [37501/19]
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.
431. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of an urgent medical procedure for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [37502/19]
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.
432. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when an operation will be provided for a person (details supplied); if they can undergo the procedure on the treatment purchase fund scheme or in another way in view of the exceptional circumstances of the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37503/19]
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.
With regard to whether the patient can avail of treatment through the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). The NTPF works with public hospitals, as opposed to with patients directly, to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an inpatient/day case waiting list for surgery, having been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment by a consultant/specialist at an outpatient clinic.
The key criteria of the NTPF is the prioritisation of the longest waiting patients first. While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.
In addition, the HSE operates the Cross-Border Directive (CBD) in Ireland which entitles persons ordinarily resident in Ireland who have an appropriate referral for public healthcare to opt to avail of that healthcare in another EU/EEA Member State. The CBD provides rules for the reimbursement to patients of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State, and supplements the rights that patients already have at EU level.
Referral for care under the CBD may be made by a GP, a hospital consultant and certain other clinicians. In line with practice in other EU Member States, the HSE through the National Contact Point (NCP) provides information for patients on the CBD on its website which can be accessed at https://www2.hse.ie/services/cross-border-directive/about-the-cross-border-directive.html and also by phone at 056 7784551
Prior authorisation may be required from the HSE for certain healthcare so patients intending to access care under the CBD should check with the HSE in advance of travelling. The HSE advises where a patient is in any doubt as to the need to seek prior authorisation before availing of a consultation or treatment abroad to contact the NCP.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
433. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter in relation to audiology booths (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37507/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
434. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a procedure for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37528/19]
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.
435. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when an approved homecare package will be put in place for a person (details supplied). [37535/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
436. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined. [37537/19]
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.
437. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when assessments will be carried out in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37541/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
438. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the wait time for a dental appointment for children in the public health system in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37545/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
439. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health his plans to close Cobh Hospital in County Cork. [37548/19]
View answerCobh Community Hospital is an independent facility providing residential care services for older people in Cobh and its environs.
The majority of its funding comes under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) for long term residential care, however the hospital also provides short stay care. Having recently discussed the operations of the hospital with the Health Service Executive (HSE) management, I am not aware of any plans to close the unit. The HSE have engaged with the Hospital Board in relation to funding and I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
440. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will be provided for a person (details supplied). [37560/19]
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.
441. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason for the ongoing delays in relation to the approval of applications submitted to the health centre in Ballinasloe, County Galway under the HSE community ophthalmic services scheme for medical card patients in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37574/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
442. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of applications awaiting approval under the HSE community ophthalmic services scheme for medical card patients in counties Galway and Roscommon to date in 2019; the waiting period for the approval of applications under the scheme for medical card patients in the counties in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37575/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
