Written Answers Nos. 563-582
563. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health when the implementation of the €10 cap on hospital car park charges will be introduced at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital car parks in Drogheda, County Louth which is one of the most expensive in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2768/20]
View answerIn 2018, the Minister for Health requested the HSE to conduct a review of all hospital car parking charges, including Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth, with a view to establishing clear national guidelines in the area. The Review process included consultation with key stakeholders, including patient advocates. The Department and HSE are currently liaising on an implementation plan to accompany the Review report.
564. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the support services available for persons who have been adversely affected by the use of the thalidomide drug; his plans to increase wrap-around support for an association (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2769/20]
View answerFollowing an Irish Government decision in 1975, the Government granted an ex-gratia sum equivalent to 4 times the German lump-sum and an ex-gratia monthly allowance for life equal to the German monthly allowance to each of the Irish children found to have thalidomide related injuries. The German monthly payments are made by the Contergan Foundation, which is established under German legislation. From 1st August 2013, the Contergan Foundation substantially increased its monthly payments to thalidomide survivors, including Irish survivors. There are currently 29 Irish people in receipt of ex-gratia monthly payments from my Department.
Both the German payments and the Irish ex-gratia payments made to the survivors are exempt from Universal Social Charge, tax, including DIRT and are not reckonable as means for the purpose of Social Welfare payments.
In addition to the payments outlined above, the supports provided to each Irish survivor include a medical card on an administrative basis regardless of means, provision of appliances, artificial limbs, equipment, housing adaptations and access to a full range of primary care, hospital and personal social services.
Since 2010, there is a designated senior manager in the Health Service Executive who acts as a liaison to assist Irish survivors to access health and personal social services.
In 2013, 15 of the survivors accepted a further Government payment of a once-off ex-gratia payment of €62,500 each.
It is important to note that it is open to any Irish person to apply to the Contergan Foundation for assessment of their disability as being attributable to thalidomide. Any Irish person who establishes that their injury is attributable to thalidomide will be offered appropriate supports by the Irish Government, commensurate with those currently provided to Irish thalidomide survivors, as outlined above.
565. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed Dundalk primary care centre; if a site has been secured; if so, the full list of services that will be provided on site; the reason for the current delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2770/20]
View answerAs 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.
566. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the caseload per speech and language therapist for counties Louth and Meath in each of the years 2018 and 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2773/20]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
567. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of the 50-bed new St. Joseph's Hospital in Ardee and other relevant details; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2775/20]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
568. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed 100-bed unit at the St. Mary's Hospital site, Dublin Road, Drogheda; the most recent specification brief on the project; if specific commencement dates have been agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2782/20]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
569. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of enhanced respite services or part-time residential care for a child (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2792/20]
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.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
As the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
570. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health when an alternative respite care facility will be opened to accommodate children and adults with intellectual disabilities in counties Cavan and Monaghan (details supplied). [2794/20]
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.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
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.
571. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the position of a person (details supplied) on the waiting list for decompression surgery and a spinal fusion in Merlin Park University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2796/20]
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.
572. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if a device (details supplied) is available here under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2800/20]
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.
573. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his future plans regarding the provision of a reliable paramedic and emergency response service for the Athlone area; and if an air ambulance service will continue to form an integral part of this plan. [2801/20]
View answerThe National Ambulance Service is the statutory provider of ambulance services in the state. The NAS provides a wide range of pre-hospital care services to the public, including Emergency Medical Transfer, an Intermediate Care Service and the coordination of first responder schemes. The NAS also operates the nationwide Emergency Aeromedical Service, in conjunction with the Air Corps, from the Custume Barracks base in Athlone.
The National Ambulance Service is currently undergoing significant reform in line with its strategic plan, Vision 2020, which was published in 2016. Vision 2020 is informed by the 2014 HIQA Review of Ambulance Services and the 2016 NAS Baseline and Capacity Review, which recommended reforms to improve performance. In line with Vision 2020, a significant programme of work is underway to transform the NAS from an emergency medical service into a mobile medical service.
Regarding your specific query in relation to services in Athlone, I have referred your question to the HSE.
574. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2803/20]
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.
575. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2805/20]
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.
576. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if additional home help hours will be awarded to a person (details supplied). [2808/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
577. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the average time allocated per visit to persons in terms of home care packages in each of the years 2018 and 2019, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2812/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
579. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for intervention support in Galway and Roscommon ASD, by one, two, three, four and more than five years, respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2823/20]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
580. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the number of children offered an outsourced assessment by Galway and Roscommon ASD in each of the years 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2824/20]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
581. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the serious delays in the reimbursement of daratumumab Darzalex combination therapy (details supplied) for patients with multiple myeloma; the reason for the delay; when the therapy will be reimbursed and made available to patients here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2825/20]
View answer800. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the delay in the reimbursement of daratumumab combination therapy (details supplied) for persons with multiple myeloma; the reason for the delay; if he will direct the HSE to follow through on its approval decision made in 2019; and when the therapy will be reimbursed and made available to persons here. [3571/20]
View answer801. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if clarity will be provided to clinicians and patients regarding when daratumumab Darzalex combination therapy (details supplied) will be made available as a treatment option for persons with relapsed and or refractory myeloma. [3572/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 581, 800 and 801 together.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 which specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.
In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, if a company would like a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE, the company must submit an application to the HSE to have the new medicine added to the reimbursement list.
Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria. These reimbursement criteria are comprehensive and must all be carefully considered by the HSE when deliberating reimbursement applications, particularly as many of these reimbursement decisions represent multi-million euro investments by the State.
The HSE has received an application for the reimbursement of daratumumab (Darzalex) as indicated for use in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy.
The HSE has advised that, following a positive recommendation from the Drugs Committee, this application is receiving active consideration by the Executive Management Team. The HSE has also confirmed that it is in contact with the applicant company and will keep them updated of all developments in relation to this matter.
582. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment for a service; the current waiting list to access the service; the steps being taken to address the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2829/20]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
