Parliamentary questions

Accident and Emergency Departments Waiting Times

Billy Kelleher

1525. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the median average wait in each hospital accident and emergency department; the number in each waiting more than 24 hours to be admitted; the number waiting more than 12 hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37065/12]

Departmental Contracts

Billy Kelleher

1526. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the amount paid to a company (details supplied) since February 2011; the reason for the payment; when his Department entered into a contract with the company; the value of the contract; the weekly hours of employment of the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37066/12]

Departmental Contracts

Billy Kelleher

1527. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the amount paid to a company (details supplied) since February 2011; the reason for the payment; when the Department entered into a contract with the company; the value of the contract; the duration of the contract; the weekly hours of employment under the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37067/12]

HSE Staff Remuneration

Billy Kelleher

1528. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the salaries and working hours of special delivery unit executives; the expenses of each of these executives; if there have been any changes in these since February 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37068/12]

Mental Health Services Provision

Billy Kelleher

1529. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if any posts earmarked for community mental health services are being transferred to inpatient services; if he will rule out such a move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37069/12]

HSE Staff Remuneration

Billy Kelleher

1530. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of staff who have retired from the Health Service Executive and been rehired by it; if he will detail a breakdown in grades; if any such staff are on salaries in excess of €100,000; the total cost of rehiring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37070/12]

HSE Staff Remuneration

Billy Kelleher

1531. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of individual and of WTE agency staff by grade in the Health Service Executive and any other agencies in his Department, the total cost of employing by grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37071/12]

Health Services Reform

Billy Kelleher

1532. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the names and numbers of emergency units which will be downgraded to urgent care centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37072/12]

Health Services Reform

Billy Kelleher

1533. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the basis on which emergency units will be downgraded to urgent care centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37073/12]

Nursing Home Accommodation

Billy Kelleher

1534. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the basis on which community hospitals and beds in community hospitals will close; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37074/12]

Nursing Home Accommodation

Billy Kelleher

1535. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans to bring all community hospitals up to Health Information and Quality Authority standards; if he has a plan for hospitals he intends not to bring up to HIQA standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37075/12]

Health Services Staff

Billy Kelleher

1536. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he has received reports that the early retirement scheme impacted on frontline services and the quality of patient care; if he will provide a breakdown on where services were affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37076/12]

Health Services Staff

Billy Kelleher

1537. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the position of independent adviser on the financial performance of the Health Service Executive was tendered for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37077/12]

Prescription Charges

Billy Kelleher

1538. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he expects to abolish the prescription levy; the amount raised by the levy; if he has considered raising the levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37078/12]

Ambulance Service Provision

Billy Kelleher

1539. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when he expects the air ambulance service to be fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37079/12]

Departmental Budgets

Billy Kelleher

1540. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the years from 1997 to 2011, inclusive, in which his Department asked for and received a supplementary budget; the amount provided in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37080/12]

National Children's Hospital Location

Billy Kelleher

1541. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when he expects to make a decision on the national children's hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37081/12]

Home Care Packages

Billy Kelleher

1542. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of home care packages and home help hours, provided by county, and the same figures for the same time last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37082/12]

Health Services Staff Issues

Billy Kelleher

1543. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide staff and all other facilities to make St. Francis's Hospice, Blanchardstown, Dublin, operational; his views on whether opening the 24-bed facility, an important unused step-down facility, could reduce pressure on local hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37083/12]

Medicinal Products Expenditure

Billy Kelleher

1544. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when he expects to complete discussions on a final agreement with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association on drug costs in addition to the interim agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37084/12]

National Treatment Purchase Fund Payments

Billy Kelleher

1545. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will detail, in tabular form, the number of patients treated by the National Treatment Purchase Fund in each year since its foundation, including 2012; the categories of patient treated in each year; the cost of the NTPF in each year; where its budget has been reallocated in the years 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37085/12]

Universal Health Insurance Provision

Billy Kelleher

1546. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of implementing universal health insurance; the estimated charges to be imposed on persons with and without medical insurance for UHI; how medical card patients will be included in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37086/12]

Universal Health Insurance Provision

Billy Kelleher

1547. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of implementing free GP care; the expected number of patients to be affected; when he expects it to be implemented; the number of times he has met representative bodies on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37087/12]

Universal Health Insurance Provision

Billy Kelleher

1548. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of implementing and extending free general practitioner care to those with long-term illnesses; the expected number of patients to be affected; when he expects it to be implemented; the number of times he has met representative bodies on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37088/12]

Medicinal Products Supply

Billy Kelleher

1549. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when cancer patients can expect to be able to receive ipilimumab; the reasons for the further delay in its provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37089/12]

Medicinal Products Supply

Billy Kelleher

1550. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when cancer patients may expect to be able to receive Gilenya; the reasons for the further delay in its provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37090/12]

Health Services Staff

Billy Kelleher

1551. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he expects agency costs to be reduced by 50% this year; the revised saving to be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37091/12]

Health Services Staff

Billy Kelleher

1552. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he expects agency costs to be reduced by 50% this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37092/12]

Departmental Expenditure

Billy Kelleher

1553. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the total spend on taxis in the Health Service Executive and the National Treatment Purchase Fund in each of the years 2008 to 2011; the total spend to date in 2012; the projected spend in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37093/12]

Hospital Services

Billy Kelleher

1554. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown by hospital of bed closures, theatre closures and ward closures this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37094/12]

Nursing Home Accommodation

Billy Kelleher

1555. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown in each community nursing unit of bed closures in the unit this year; the names of CNUs earmarked to close this year; if this is expected to change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37095/12]

Hospital Services

Billy Kelleher

1556. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the resource implications, in terms of staff, funding, and ancillary support, of implementing the recommendations of the Tallaght hospital report in full nationwide; his plans to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37096/12]

Hospital Services

Billy Kelleher

1557. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he has met with the Health Service Executive, the INMO, the IMO, the INO and other organisations regarding the implications of the Tallaght hospital report; the nature of the discussions; if any decisions were made arising from the discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37097/12]

Hospital Charges

Billy Kelleher

1558. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the actual amount of additional revenue generated by increasing charges on private patients in public hospitals; the amount projected in budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37098/12]

Hospital Services

Billy Kelleher

1559. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the total number of closed operating theatres in public hospitals around the country; if he will provide a breakdown of the hospitals affected; the number of theatres closed in each hospital; the length of time each theatre has been closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37099/12]

Hospital Staff Issues

Billy Kelleher

1560. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will outline in full what he hopes to achieve from the current discussions with the consultant groups and how this will differ to what was already agreed in the Croke Park agreement in 2010 and also as part of the 2008 consultant contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37100/12]

Hospital Staff Issues

Billy Kelleher

1561. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he is committed to ensuring that consultants are rostered for a seven-day week as opposed to a five-day week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37101/12]

Hospital Services

Billy Kelleher

1562. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he intends reopening closed beds following recent figures which show waiting lists have increased by 24% over the past year; and the number of closed beds he intends reopening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37102/12]

Health Insurance Prices

Billy Kelleher

1563. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if his Department has carried out any research or intends to carry out any research into the impact of increased numbers of patients presenting themselves in public hospitals as a result of private patients giving up their private health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37103/12]

Hospital Staff Issues

Billy Kelleher

1564. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will detail, in tabular form, the number of staff in receipt of top-up pay in excess of €10,000, €50,000, €100,000, and €200,000 per hospital; the average amounts of payments; the basis for the payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37104/12]

Health Service Executive Board

Billy Kelleher

1565. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the composition and all changes to the interim Health Service Executive board since April 2011; the roles of those on the board within the Department of Health or HSE; the corporate governance structure currently in place; when he expects HSE governance legislation to be passed; when he expects a new board to be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37105/12]

Health Insurance Prices

Billy Kelleher

1566. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of customers who have left the private health insurance market by county; the average change in premiums over the past year and since budget 2012; the maximum increase in premiums over those time periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37106/12]

Proposed Legislation

Billy Kelleher

1567. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when he expects the health (amendment) Bill to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37107/12]

Proposed Legislation

Billy Kelleher

1568. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the issues that will be rectified in the health (amendment) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37108/12]

Proposed Legislation

Billy Kelleher

1569. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the proposed rectifications for issues identified and to be addressed by the health (amendment) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37109/12]

Ambulance Service Provision

Billy Kelleher

1570. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form for each county or, if not available, each region, the average response times for ambulances in life threatening, potentially life threatening, and all other situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37110/12]

Departmental Strategy Statements

Billy Kelleher

1571. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he intends to publish the positive ageing strategy this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37111/12]

Tobacco Control Measures

Billy Kelleher

1572. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to tackle smoking in society; the rate of smoking in 2003 for men and for women; the rates now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37112/12]

General Practitioner Services

Billy Kelleher

1573. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he has consulted with the IMO regarding the provision of universal GP care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37113/12]

Universal Health Insurance Provision

Billy Kelleher

1574. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when he expects to publish the While Paper on universal health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37114/12]