Parliamentary questions

Drug Rehabilitation Clinics

Dara Calleary

403. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who are currently on a methadone treatment programme; who are on a programme for more than two years; three years; five years; seven years; and ten years; the way these programmes are monitored; the programmes and supports that are in place to support persons who wish to come off methadone, and live drug-free lives; if he will provide the figures for the past three years for the number of persons who have successfully come off methadone, through these programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27522/15]

Universal Health Insurance Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

404. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his plans to make available a copy of the report on the detailed costings of universal health insurance presented to him on 21 May 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27533/15]

Hospital Procedures

Bobby Aylward

405. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health his plans for Kilcreene orthopaedic hospital in County Kilkenny, specifically regarding orthopaedic services and the review of elective orthopaedic services for the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27534/15]

Drug Rehabilitation Clinics

Thomas P. Broughan

406. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health following the appointment of a Minister of State with responsibility for drugs and the current increase in cases of human immunodeficiency virus among intravenous drug users, if he will reconsider his position on the reported potential positive impact of medically supervised injection centres (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27535/15]

Drug Rehabilitation Clinics

Thomas P. Broughan

407. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the draft health (injecting centres) Bill 2015 devised by the Ana Liffey Drug Project and the supporting documentation; his views on the Bill; if the Bill or similar legislation will be introduced before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27536/15]

Drug Rehabilitation Clinics

Thomas P. Broughan

408. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the collaboration taking place with the Department of Justice and Equality (details supplied) in relation to legislation and proposals for the introduction of medically supervised injecting centres in view of the reported success of such centres in Sydney, Australia, and in Portugal in reducing the numbers contracting human immunodeficiency syndrome, the number of ambulance call-outs for overdoses and the improvement of health in intravenous drug users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27537/15]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

409. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if technical aids and appliances grants for vibrating pagers provided by DeafHear are available to deaf persons in counties Louth, Cavan and Monaghan, but not to those in County Meath; if he will ensure funding is extended to County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27539/15]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Regina Doherty

410. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason funding for equipment, such as vibrating pager systems, for deaf persons under the age of 65 years is not provided for by the Health Service Executive in County Meath under the technical aids and appliances grant for the past four to five years, given that funding was available from the executive in counties Louth, Cavan and Monaghan this year. [27541/15]

Hospital Services

Gerry Adams

411. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the total annual spend on oncology services, by location, for each year from 2011 to 2014, inclusive, and for 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27542/15]

Hospital Services

Gerry Adams

412. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the current provision for oncology services available, and all related services and treatments, by location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27543/15]

Hospital Services

Gerry Adams

413. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the current number of oncology consultant posts, and oncology service posts, currently vacant; when they will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27544/15]

Hospital Staff Data

Gerry Adams

414. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the staff numbers employed in the public oncology service, including their principal roles, for example, consultant and radiologist, from 2011 to 2015, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27545/15]

Hospital Services

Gerry Adams

415. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults currently waiting for oncology services, including a breakdown, in tabular form, of location and times for specific services and treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27546/15]

Hospital Services

Gerry Adams

416. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the average waiting time from referral to consultation and treatment, respectively, in the case of persons attending oncology services, from 2011 to 2015, inclusive. [27547/15]

Hospital Services

Gerry Adams

417. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the details of all public hospitals from 2011 to 2015, inclusive, using private facilities to provide treatment for oncology services; the number of public health patients who have been treated using private facilities; the cost of same; and the locations where it has taken place. [27548/15]

Hospital Services

Gerry Adams

418. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, by location, a breakdown of the use of beds in public and voluntary hospitals for oncology services by persons covered by private insurance operators; and the costs of same from 2011 to date in 2015. [27549/15]

Hospital Services

Gerry Adams

419. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the additional revenue which would be raised if all private patients in public hospitals were charged in full for oncology services provided rather than being charged a fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27550/15]

Constitutional Amendments

Micheál Martin

420. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health his plans to hold a referendum on Article 40.3.3° of Bunreacht na hÉireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21328/15]

HSE Staff Remuneration

Seán Fleming

421. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of business cases he has been asked to approve in respect of sections 38 and 39 agencies for payment of salaries over and above approved pay scales; the number approved; the number still being assessed; if he has issued any updated policy directives on the subject; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26389/15]

Suicide Prevention

Peter Mathews

422. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Health if he will consider providing funding for suicide prevention professional training programmes for all students' union officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27582/15]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Pat Deering

423. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive an appointment for surgery in St. Luke's Hospital in County Kilkenny. [27590/15]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Pat Deering

424. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive a date for a procedure in Waterford Regional Hospital, given that the person is on the waiting list since December 2013 [27591/15]

Hospital Services

Charlie McConalogue

425. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if the national hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia centre is operational at Mercy University Hospital in Cork; if it treats patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations which occur in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27592/15]

Services for People with Disabilities

Finian McGrath

426. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason a centre (details supplied) in Dublin 3 has been told there are no more funds and resources to support persons with a disability following a meeting with parents; if he will take action on this urgent matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27606/15]

HSE Reports

Seamus Healy

427. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the terms of reference for the review and assessment of needs at South Tipperary General Hospital being undertaken by a person (details supplied); the nature and extent of the review; the timeframe for the completion of the report; the persons and organisations being consulted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27629/15]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Barry Cowen

428. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will receive a medical appointment. [27631/15]

Primary Care Services Provision

Brendan Smith

429. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when a health centre (details supplied) in County Cavan will re-open; if there are particular issues delaying the re-opening of this much-needed health facility in an area where there has been a huge growth in population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27645/15]

Medical Card Eligibility

Seamus Healy

430. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if he will reimburse a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary for medication and general practitioner charges for the period 1 November 2013 to 25 June 2014, inclusive, when the person's medical card was restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27673/15]

Medical Card Applications

John Halligan

431. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of cases where general practitioners are not registering for the under sixes medical card scheme, their patients feel the need to register with an alternative general practitioner in order to obtain cover for their children and the patients are being charged upwards of €15 for the privilege of having their files transferred to the new general practitioner; his views as to whether this is an opportunistic charge; if he will raise the issue with the Irish Medical Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27675/15]

Abortion Services Provision

Terence Flanagan

432. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27677/15]

Abortion Services Provision

Terence Flanagan

433. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27678/15]

Abortion Legislation

Terence Flanagan

434. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27679/15]

Hospital Appointments Status

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy

435. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will receive an appointment at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27688/15]

Hospital Services

Róisín Shortall

436. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the circumstances surrounding the closure of the pancreatic-kidney transplant unit in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9; the reason a consultant has not been recruited to take over the work of a doctor (details supplied); the arrangements that are in place for the large number of transplant patients attending this clinic and for those on the waiting list for transplants; and when this clinic will be fully functioning again [27692/15]

Information and Communications Technology

Maureen O'Sullivan

437. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the planned information and communications technology-enabled clinical and operational mental health information system, for which €400,000 was allocated in 2013; when the system will be fully operational; if the system will collect social inclusion indicators such as housing, employment, education and income status of persons accessing mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27709/15]

Medical Records

Maureen O'Sullivan

438. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will release all medical records in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; if he will ensure that an examination will take place, of the reason that this public patient's medical files were incomplete when he received them, as this matter is causing great stress for this person' [27710/15]

Services for People with Disabilities

Mick Wallace

439. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the care needs of children with special needs in County Wexford are being met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27369/15]

Hospital Procedures

Bernard Durkan

440. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a computed tomography, CT, scan colonography procedure at Blanchardstown hospital will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27712/15]

Medical Card Applications

Willie Penrose

441. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27717/15]

Medical Card Reviews

Catherine Murphy

442. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he has considered the negative impact of the minimum income thresholds for medical card holders who are also in receipt of social welfare payments; if it is open to him to amend this minimum income threshold to allow the Health Service Executive to award medical cards in such cases of obvious need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24635/15]

Psychological Services

Catherine Murphy

443. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that at present there is no child psychology service available in County Kildare, the fourth most populous county in the State; his views that this presents a significant child welfare issue; the dialogue he has had with the Health Service Executive in respect of this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27274/15]

Passport Services

Ruth Coppinger

444. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the greater diversity in backgrounds of Irish citizens, the steps the Passport Office has taken to better serve those applying for and renewing their passports. [27096/15]

Passport Services

Ruth Coppinger

445. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to minimise the impact of the increased demand for passports from the Passport Office each summer. [27097/15]

Passport Services

Ruth Coppinger

446. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of additional staff in the Passport Office for the summer; if he anticipates a high demand for the passport card in the autumn; and the staffing plans for this service. [27098/15]

Diplomatic Representation

Fergus O'Dowd

447. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide the names of the honorary consuls, by location and country; the term of office of each consul; if he proposes to appoint any consul; if so, the process of appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27440/15]

Northern Ireland

Thomas Pringle

448. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the request by the coroner in the inquest of persons (details supplied) in September 1992, and into the linked murders and attempted murders of 28 persons in Northern Ireland, for a public inquiry to be held into the killings, given that the coroner believes that the inquest is not equipped to deal with the issues involved, including the issue of collusion; if he will support the coroner's call; if he will contact the British Government in relation to the important issues involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27504/15]

Institutes of Technology

Joe Costello

449. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the next stage of the development of the Dublin Institute of Technology campus at Grangegorman in Dublin 7; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27183/15]

Student Universal Support Ireland Administration

Jonathan O'Brien

450. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the projected cost of changing the measurement of geographical distance to a measurement of travel distance in respect of qualifying for grant assistance under the Student Universal Support Ireland scheme. [26892/15]

Student Universal Support Ireland Administration

Jonathan O'Brien

451. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of reinstating the old adjacent rate of the grant under the Student Universal Support Ireland scheme at 24 km. [26893/15]

Student Universal Support Ireland Administration

Jonathan O'Brien

452. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine introducing a special supplementary means tested payment under the Student Universal Support Ireland scheme for those living on islands who incur extra travel costs or living costs because they cannot commute. [26894/15]