Written Answers Nos. 337-351
337. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if naltrexone prescribed for the treatment of a child (details supplied) in County Kerry will be made available under the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47171/19]
View answerAs this refers to an individual case, I have referred this matter to the HSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
338. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of a group home (details supplied); when the home will be open and residents allocated their spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47172/19]
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.
339. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated to community and voluntary groups providing dementia day care services in County Louth in each of the years 2011 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the groups and services that were allocated the funding in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47176/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
340. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated to community and voluntary groups providing dementia day care services in each CHO area in each of the years 2011 to 2018 and to date in 2019 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47177/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
341. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated to a group (details supplied) in County Louth in each of the years 2011 to 2018 and to date in 2019. [47178/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
342. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a case made by a group (details supplied) to the HSE for additional funding in County Louth; the reason the case for additional funding was not favourably looked upon; if other funding streams are available for the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47179/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
343. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to plans to build a permanent centre for services (details supplied) in County Louth; and if supports will be provided to the group. [47180/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
344. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the counties in which a dementia adviser is in place; and the counties which do not have an adviser in place in view of the commitment in budget 2020 to provide a dementia adviser in each county. [47181/19]
View answerThe Dementia Adviser Service was established by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) in mid-2014 and has been co-funded by the HSE since 2016. Dementia advisers provide information, advice and support to people with dementia and their families, or anyone concerned about their cognitive health, at all stages of their journey, from diagnosis through to end-of-life. A recent evaluation has shown that people with dementia and their families highly value the services provided.
In recognition of this, the Government has decided to fund an additional ten dementia advisers as part of an expansion of health care delivery in the community in Budget 2020 to deliver on the vision of Sláintecare. The locations of the additional dementia advisers will be considered as part of the National Service Plan discussions and planning for 2020.
In relation to the specific issue raised, as this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
345. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy 2014 being led by the national dementia office in the HSE; the progress made to date in developing evidence-based care pathways for persons with dementia; the specific elements of the strategy that have been rolled out to date in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47182/19]
View answerThe National Dementia Office (NDO) was established early in 2015 to lead the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy across the HSE. Numerous projects are under way across the Strategy's six priority action areas to improve the organisation and delivery of dementia care spanning the entire dementia journey, from prevention right through to end of life care for people with dementia. Progress made in implementing the National Dementia Strategy is set out in the Mid-Term Review of the Strategy, published in mid-2018.
The development of national and local dementia care pathways is being progressed through a number of on-going projects including a diagnostic and post-diagnostic framework project; an acute hospital integrated care pathway project; and a GP-specific dementia diagnostic pathway.
The Dementia Diagnostic Project will establish a standardised approach to the assessment and diagnosis of dementia across primary, secondary and tertiary services. A three-tiered approach to diagnostic services is proposed and work is commencing on the development of a diagnostic framework and implementation plan. The Project will link with the post-diagnostic framework in development. The funding awarded in Budget 2020 for the recruitment of an additional ten Dementia Advisers will play a key role within the dementia post-diagnostic pathway.
Work has begun to develop a national dementia care pathway for acute hospitals, drawing heavily on work undertaken at three demonstrator sites in Cork and Dublin. A national audit of acute hospital dementia care is under way and will provide current data on acute hospital dementia care policy and practice, to inform local pathway development and implementation.
In relation to the specific elements of the Strategy that have been rolled out to date in County Louth, as this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
346. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the capital funding used to help persons in congregated settings in each year since 2016; the funding spent each year in 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the way in which the funding has been spent in each CHO area; and the number of persons supported by such capital funding. [47184/19]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare services and infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
347. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 363 of 14 May 2019, the status of the recruitment process of an autism therapist post in Inishowen, County Donegal the disability services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47185/19]
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.
348. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the minutes from the meetings of the fluorine consultative council 1957. [47200/19]
View answerThe Fluorine Consultative Council was established by the then Minister for Health in 1956 to advise as to the best methods to provide for an increased intake of fluorine with a view to reducing dental caries.
My Department has no record of any minutes of meetings of the Council. In addition, records in my Department show that a search of the National Archives was undertaken by a researcher in the early 2000s and no such minutes were found.
349. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount the average household spends on private healthcare and private health insurance each year on average. [47217/19]
View answerThe Central Statistics Office carries out a Household Budget Survey every five years. The figures from the latest survey for the period 2015-2016 show that the average household spent €18.48 per week on medical expenses which was 2.2% of the total weekly spend, or €960.96 annually. This figure covers a wide variety of services including GP and dentist visits, hospital visits, physiotherapy and medicines and other medical expenses. The Household Budget Survey gives a combined figure for medical and dental insurance in the same period of €23.66 per week, which was 2.8% of the total weekly spend, or €1,230.32 annually.
The Health Insurance Authority collects information on the average annual premium paid in the Irish health insurance market, which was €1,214 as of June 2018. This is the gross premium before tax relief on health insurance premiums is applied. The Health Insurance Authority does not collect information on the amount households spend on private health insurance.
I hope this information is helpful for the Deputy's query.
350. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of new staff needed and the roles to meet existing demand in the health service; and the amount it would cost to fill these roles. [47218/19]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
351. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health the wait time for orthotic shoes within the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47226/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
