Written Answers Nos. 1090-1109
1093. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for extending the medical card entitlement and general practitioner access for children under 13 years of age as provided for in the Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21356/20]
View answerThe Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020 was enacted on 2nd August 2020. This Act provides for the necessary legislative amendments to the Health Act 1970 (as amended) to increase the weekly gross medical card income limits for those aged 70 and over to €550 per week for a single person (currently €500 per week) and to €1050 per week for a couple (currently €900 per week). The Government is finalising decisions on the associated funding for this measure and the implementation date for the commencement of this provision.
The Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 also provides for the phased expansion of GP care without fees to all children aged 12 years and under. The initial stage of this phased expansion will be the provision of GP care without fees to all children aged between 6 and 8.
The Government is committed to increasing access to GP care without charges for children, an important healthcare measure that will remove a potentially prohibitive cost barrier to accessing GP care and will help to improve children’s health as they develop.
The appropriate date for commencing the expansion remains under consideration in light of COVID-19 and the additional pressures the expansion might place on general practice in that context and in anticipation of the usual increase in demand for healthcare services over the winter period. This date will be determined in consultation with the IMO. It is important to ensure that any additional pressures placed on general practice will not limit its capacity to meet the needs of all patients in the community.
1094. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for increasing the income limits medical card assessments for persons over 70 years of age as provided for in the Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21357/20]
View answer1258. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when the budget 2020 over-70s medical card income thresholds will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21811/20]
View answer1263. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health when the commencement order will be issued to the HSE in order to give effect to the provisions of the legislation on the new thresholds for medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21834/20]
View answer1264. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if legislation will be introduced to ensure the new income eligibility guidelines to qualify for the medical card as announced in budget 2020 are given legal effect; if funding is in place to finance the measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21837/20]
View answer1265. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health when the commencement order will issue to the HSE to give effect to the provisions of the legislation on the new thresholds for medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21857/20]
View answer1287. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health when section 2 of the Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020, which increases the income limit for the over-70s medical card, will be commenced. [21992/20]
View answer1333. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health when the changes to the GMS for persons over 70 years of age will become active; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22159/20]
View answer1335. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when the proposed increase in the income limit for medical cards will commence. [22173/20]
View answer1352. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health when the threshold will be increased from €900 to €1,050 for persons applying for a medical card that are over 70 years of age. [22292/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1094, 1258, 1263 to 1265, inclusive, 1287, 1333, 1335 and 1352 together.
The Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020 was enacted on 2nd August 2020. This Act provides, amongst other things, for the necessary legislative amendments to the Health Act 1970 (as amended) to increase the weekly gross medical card income limits for those aged 70 and over to €550 per week for a single person (currently €500 per week) and to €1050 per week for a couple (currently €900 per week). The Government is finalising decisions on the associated funding for this measure and the implementation date for the commencement of this provision.
1095. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason the monthly medication costs are capped at €15 for a married couple and €10.50 for a single person. [21361/20]
View answerPrescription charges were introduced in the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2010, to address the rising costs in the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme. Since 2010 eligible persons are subject to a co-payment; they are required to pay a prescription charge for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacies.
To clarify, this charge does not vary between married couples and single persons. Additionally, there is no current charge set at a monthly cap of €10.50.
Monthly prescription charges are currently capped at €20 for each person or family unit aged under 70 years, and €15 per person or family unit aged over 70 years.
1096. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a date for surgery will be issued to a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21362/20]
View answerIn response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to pause most elective scheduled care activity with effect from the end March 2020. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work. This decision was in line with the advice issued by National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and in accordance with World Health Organisation guidelines, and the National Action Plan.
To ensure services are re-introduced in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, the HSE launched its Strategic Framework for ‘Service Continuity in a Covid Environment’ on 24 June. Its implementation will ensure service resumption is done in an integrated way. This will involve a phased approach to ensure community services are strengthened. The Framework will also consolidate new ways of working and build on international knowledge. Further detail regarding the phases of service resumption are contained in the HSE’s ‘A Safe Return to Health Services’ document, published on their website on 22 July.
Under 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 is a standardised approach used by the HSE to manage scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures. It sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists and was developed in 2014 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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1098. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if an exemption pass will be issued to those that are unable to wear a face covering on public transport and in shops due to a medical condition such as emphysema. [21366/20]
View answerI wish to assure the Deputy that my Department appreciates the challenges experienced by those with medical difficulties.
The public health advice relating to Covid-19, including that relating to face coverings, is kept under continuing review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). NPHET continues to examine all emerging evidence as it arises and provides advice relating to face coverings on an ongoing basis. Based on current advice, there are no plans at present to issue an exemption pass to those that are unable to wear a face covering as set out in the question.
A person, without reasonable excuse, must now wear a face covering when using public transport, in retail outlets, shops and shopping centres, in other indoor spaces such as libraries, cinemas and cinema complexes, theatres, concert halls, bingo halls, museums, businesses carrying out cosmetic nail care or nail styling, hair care or hair styling, tattoo and piercing services, travel agents and tour operators, laundries and dry cleaners and licensed bookmakers.
The relevant Regulations are:
Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Face Coverings on Public Transport) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 244/2020)
Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Face Coverings in certain premises and businesses) Regulations 2020 (S.I No. 296/2020)
S.I. No. 244/2020 does not apply
(a) to a person under the age of 13 years,
(b) to a person driving a public transport vehicle from a compartment in which he or she is the sole occupant,
(c) where there is a screen in a public transport vehicle which separates the driver of the vehicle from persons boarding or alighting from the vehicle, to a person driving the vehicle from behind that screen,
(d) where there is not a screen in a public transport vehicle which separates the driver of the vehicle from persons boarding or alighting from the vehicle, to a person driving the vehicle during the periods when no person is boarding or alighting from the vehicle,
(e) to a member of the Garda Síochána in the course of performing his or her duties.
S.I. No. 296/2020 does not apply to
(a) a person under 13 years,
(b) the occupier, manager or person in charge or a worker where there is a screen that separates them from other persons or the person takes all reasonable steps to maintain a distance of two metres
(c) a member of the Garda Síochána in the course of performing his or her duties
The public transport Regulations (Statutory Instrument SI No 244 of 202) provide that a “relevant person”, defined as an officer, employee or agent of a public transport operator or of the National Transport Authority, who is responsible for the implementation of the Regulations and it is, therefore, a matter for the public transport operators and the National Transport Authority to make arrangements for what they consider necessary to ensure that such “relevant persons” are satisfied with the information provided by any individual who is using a public transport service.
The retail and other business Regulations (Statutory Instrument SI No. 296 of 2020) provide that it is a matter for the occupier, manager or person in charge to take all reasonable steps to engage with persons entering or in a relevant premises to inform them of the requirements to wear a face covering and to promote compliance with the requirement. It is therefore a matter for the management of the retail operator concerned to decide what he/she may accept in terms of a reason for not wearing a face covering.
The Deputy may wish to note that the requirement to wear a face covering in the situations described is a penal provision for the purposes of section 31A of the Health Act 1947 (No. 28 of 1947). Enforcement is a matter for An Garda Síochána.
A reasonable excuse includes when a person cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability or without severe distress; to communicate with a person who has difficulties communicating; to provide emergency help or care to a vulnerable person; to avoid harm or injury or to take medication. In addition, in retail outlets, it is also permitted to remove the face covering to allow for identification when the sales of goods or services have a minimum age requirement, or to assist in the provision of healthcare or healthcare advice.
The Deputy may also wish to note that it is recommended to wear a face covering when staying 2 metres apart from people is difficult; in a healthcare setting (including hospitals, GP surgeries, care settings, nursing homes and dental practices); when visiting anyone who is more at risk from coronavirus - such as people aged 70 or over or people who are medically vulnerable and in an enclosed indoor space with other people.
The current face covering advice is available at
- https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/face-masks-disposable-gloves.html
- http://www.gov.ie/facecoverings/
1099. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if it is standard practice in cases in which a patient has an ultrasound carried out in advance of surgery that there would be no record of the date, time and professional that carried out the ultrasound on the report; and if it is also standard practice that there would be no imagery or test results made available to the patient or documented on the patient's clinical records. [21367/20]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
1100. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the date on which free general practitioner care will be extended to children under eight years of age as per Budget 2020; and if children that turn six years of age before the end of 2020 will be eligible for the extension. [21370/20]
View answer1334. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health when the changes to the GMS scheme for children under 12 years of age will become active; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22160/20]
View answer1351. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health when section 4 of the Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 is to be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22288/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1100, 1334 and 1351 together.
The Government is committed to increasing access to GP care without charges for children, an important healthcare measure that will remove a potentially prohibitive cost barrier to accessing GP care and will help to improve children’s health as they develop.
The Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 was signed into law in August. This Act provides, amongst other things, for the phased expansion of GP care without fees to all children aged 12 years and under. The initial stage of this phased expansion will be the provision of GP care without fees to all children aged between 6 and 8. Upon commencement of the first phase of the expansion, all children under the age of 8 will have access to GP care without fees.
The appropriate date for commencing the expansion remains under consideration in light of COVID-19 and the additional pressures the expansion might place on general practice in that context and in anticipation of the usual increase in demand for healthcare services over the winter period. This date will be determined in consultation with the IMO. It is important to ensure that any additional pressures placed on general practice will not limit its capacity to meet the needs of all patients in the community.
1101. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of clearing the home support service waiting lists in their entirety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21376/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1102. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing an additional 1.5 million personal assistant hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21377/20]
View answerThe HSE provides a range of assisted living services including Personal Assistant (PA) to support individuals to maximise their capacity to live full and independent lives. While the resources for the provision of assisted living services available are substantial they are finite. The 2020 national service plan allocated €1m additional funding to PA services.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1103. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting an additional clinical psychologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21378/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1104. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting an additional speech and language therapist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21379/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1105. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting an additional occupational therapist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21380/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1106. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting an additional physiotherapist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21381/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1107. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated additional capacity an increase of €10 million in respite care services would provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21387/20]
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.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
1108. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of overnight respite stays provided for each €1 million additional spend provided by his Department. [21388/20]
View answer1109. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated additional volume of respite in the home provided for every €1 million additional spend provided by his Department by the number of hours and days provided and the number of beneficiaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21389/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1108 and 1109 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.As the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
