Parliamentary questions

Primary Care Centres Provision

Billy Kelleher

1575. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he has initiated any discussions with the National Asset Management Agency regarding the use of its buildings for primary care centres, or the Minister for Justice and Equality regarding the use of unused Garda stations as primary care centres; the outcomes of those discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37115/12]

Health Insurance Community Rating

Billy Kelleher

1576. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that private insurers are designing policies to be less attractive to older persons thereby evading community rating policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37116/12]

Primary Care Centres Provision

Billy Kelleher

1577. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of primary care centres by county in February 2011; the number now; the same figures for primary care teams in February 2011 and now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37117/12]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Billy Kelleher

1578. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form by each hospital, the number of patients who have had their operations cancelled or rescheduled since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37118/12]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Billy Kelleher

1579. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the basis on which waiting list category definitions have been changed; the definition of each category in terms of recommended operation time before and after the change; the number of patients in each category before the change; the number in each category after the change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37119/12]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Billy Kelleher

1580. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health inclusive of inpatient, outpatient and elective treatment, the mean average length of time in terms of days for patients on waiting lists in March 2011; the same figure for July 2011; the figure now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37120/12]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Billy Kelleher

1581. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form for each hospital, inclusive of inpatient, outpatient and elective treatment, the number of patients on waiting lists in March 2011 waiting for three to six months, for six to nine months, for nine to 12 months, for 12-24 months, and for longer the 24 months; the same figures for July 2011; the figures now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37121/12]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Billy Kelleher

1582. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health inclusive of inpatient, outpatient and elective treatment, the length of time the longest waiter on waiting lists has been waiting, the county the person resides in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37122/12]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Billy Kelleher

1583. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of patients who have been transferred to another hospital waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37123/12]

Services for People with Disabilities

Billy Kelleher

1584. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the amount of demographic funding to provide emergency placements and services for school leavers with intellectual disabilities; the same figure last year; the number of children who benefitted from the funding last year; the projected number this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37124/12]

Services for People with Disabilities

Billy Kelleher

1585. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided to voluntary service providers for those with intellectual and other disabilities; the same figure last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37125/12]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Billy Kelleher

1586. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health of the €55 million in additional funding allocated to the fair deal scheme, the revised extra amount which is expected to allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37126/12]

HSE Staff Remuneration

Billy Kelleher

1587. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital consultants earning more than €200,000 including allowances from the public health system; the number earning more than €300,000; the number earning more than €400,000; the average salary of hospital consultants; the average hours of consultants in January 2011 and in January 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37127/12]

Universal Health Insurance Provision

Billy Kelleher

1588. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health in the context of his plans for universal health insurance, his plans for the VHI; if it will be broken up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37128/12]

Hospital Closures

Billy Kelleher

1589. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if any small hospitals will be closed either as part of reconfiguration or due to budgetary measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37129/12]

Health Services Staff Issues

Billy Kelleher

1590. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital consultants in breach of the working time directive; if he is concerned that this may impact on the safe delivery of services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37130/12]

Mental Health Services Provision

Billy Kelleher

1591. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if recruitment of the 414 staff for mental health services, as announced in the Health Service Executive service plan 2012, has begun; the number of posts that have been filled; the number of mental health services staff who retired as part of the early retirement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37131/12]

Hospital Staff Issues

Billy Kelleher

1592. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if reductions in fees paid to hospital consultants have been accounted for in his budget estimates; the level by which they will be reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37132/12]

Hospital Charges

Billy Kelleher

1593. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the charges set by him in respect of inpatient and outpatient hospital care and for visiting an accident and emergency department; if these charges have changed since February 2011; if these charges will change in 2012; the revenue accruing from such charges in 2011; the anticipated income in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37133/12]

Public Sector Reform Review

Billy Kelleher

1594. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the total amount of funding made available to the voluntary redundancy scheme in 2012; the estimated cost of the scheme in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37134/12]

Hospital Charges

Billy Kelleher

1595. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the rate of hospital charges - inpatient, outpatient and accident and emergency; the categories of patient required to pay hospital charges; the changes in charges which took place in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37135/12]

Hospital Charges

Billy Kelleher

1596. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the anticipated income from statutory inpatient, outpatient and accident and emergency charges in 2011 and 2012, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37136/12]

Health Insurance Prices

Billy Kelleher

1597. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the meetings he has held with members of the health insurance industry in relation to changes in charges announced in budget 2012, the number of such meetings he has held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37137/12]

Hospital Charges

Billy Kelleher

1598. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the basis on which the figure of €143 million was arrived at in regard to savings to be achieved on the generation and collection of private income in budget 2012; if he expects to achieve this figure; the contacts he has held with insurance companies before arriving at the figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37138/12]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Billy Kelleher

1599. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the level of new funding available for the fair deal scheme; the number of patients waiting to be accepted onto the scheme; the mean average length of time patients are waiting to be accepted to the scheme; the level of funding in 2011; the level of funding in 2012 provided for in budget 2012; the amount drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37139/12]

Services for People with Disabilities

Billy Kelleher

1600. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the total cuts to the budget of service providers to persons with a disability in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37140/12]

Home Care Packages

Billy Kelleher

1601. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the rules for the means test applied for assessing entitlement to a home care package for a person being cared for in the home; if this has changed since the budget; the level of funding in 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37141/12]

Medical Card Eligibility

Billy Kelleher

1709. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if eligibility criteria will be included in the review of medical cards; if there will be a reduction in the number in receipt of medical cards as a result of this review; if existing medical card holders will be affected by this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38157/12]

Hospital Staff Issues

Billy Kelleher

1824. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the actions that have been taken in relation to the consultants who have been identified as being outside the public private ratio specified in their contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39119/12]

Hospital Staff Issues

Billy Kelleher

1825. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants that are still in breach of the public private ratio specified in their contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39120/12]

Hospital Bed Data

Billy Kelleher

1826. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of geriatric beds that have been lost in Nenagh and Roscrea, County Tipperary, in the years 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; if he will provide a breakdown by facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39121/12]

Health Services Provision

Billy Kelleher

1827. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the actions he will take to combat the increasing waiting list for respite in Thurles, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39122/12]

Hospital Bed Data

Billy Kelleher

1828. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he intends to meet the commitment he made in relation to the Community Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles, County Tipperary, to reinstate the respite beds under budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39123/12]

Hospital Services

Billy Kelleher

1829. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the position regarding development of the Galway Rehabilitation Centre, Merlin Park, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39124/12]

Hospital Staff Issues

Billy Kelleher

1830. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of consultants' hours in the public sector by specialty for the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39125/12]

Hospital Charges

Billy Kelleher

1831. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is fair that patients who receive stitches in an accident and emergency unit and who have paid their €100 have to pay a further fee to their GP to have them removed; his views on whether this should be regarded as the completion of the service started in the accident and emergency unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39126/12]

Appointments to State Boards

Billy Kelleher

1832. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when he will fill the place on the board of the Health Information and Quality Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39127/12]

Appointments to State Boards

Billy Kelleher

1833. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if new procedures and requirements to enter expressions with publicjobs.ie was followed in appointing new members to the Health Information and Quality Authority board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39128/12]

Drug Treatment Programmes Availability

Billy Kelleher

1834. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his views on the calls for the provision of supervised injections sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39129/12]

Electronic Health Records

Billy Kelleher

1835. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the measure that have been taken to introduce a universal information technology system to allow immediate access to patient records across the health service; the date on which this will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39130/12]

Home Help Service Redundancies

Billy Kelleher

1836. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if home helps are being made redundant; if so, if he will provide in tabular form the number by county; the amount each will receive in redundancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39131/12]

Home Help Service Provision

Billy Kelleher

1837. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he has or intends to put the provision of home help and home care hours out to tender; the date on which this will happen; the length of time the process will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39132/12]

HSE Funding

Billy Kelleher

1853. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his views on the budget overrun in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; the action he will take; the services that will be impacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39252/12]

Child Care Services Provision

Billy Kelleher

1855. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health to verify the reports of parents in north Dublin that public health nurses dealing with children between six months and 24 months have informed them that there is currently no public hearing testing service available for these children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39258/12]

Civil Registration

Billy Kelleher

327 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm who is entitled to register a death under the Civil Registration Act 2004; if she will also confirm that it is not the case that the Civil Registration Office, Adelaide Street, County Cork, will only allow no one other than a blood relative to register a death for the first 90 days after the death has occurred, which appears to be the case and not in keeping with the Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[36562/12]

Flood Relief

Billy Kelleher

387 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied with the mechanism available through the community welfare officer for the payment of assistance to flood victims; and her views on whether the assessment mechanism is an excessively onerous procedure for the victims to have to go through at this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[36513/12]

Flood Relief

Billy Kelleher

388 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons to date who have been awarded assistance in the Cork area following the recent flooding; if she will break it down by the affected areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[36514/12]

Care of the Elderly

Billy Kelleher

736 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if there are any proposed changes to his policy on day care centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36273/12]

Care of the Elderly

Billy Kelleher

737 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health in view of the upcoming budget, if he envisages a cut to the funding for day care centres; if so, the amount of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36274/12]

Care of the Elderly

Billy Kelleher

738 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if there are any contingency plans in place to cater for clients of day care centres in rural areas who could face closure due to continual budget cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36275/12]