Written Answers Nos. 639 - 661
639. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health if he or his Department has had any discussions with the health Service Executive regarding the waiting times for children who need orthodontic treatment in Navan Hospital, County Meath; if they have discussed any possible solutions to this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44347/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraNeither the Department nor I have held discussions with the HSE on waiting times for orthodontic treatment at Navan Hospital. As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
640. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding St. Gabriel's day Care Centre, Raheny, Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44349/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
643. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in his Department or agencies under his control that are currently on career break; the number of staff currently hired temporarily to cover those on career break; if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers by grade and agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44369/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra711. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the number of staff that availed of the special civil service incentive career break scheme 2009; the cost of the scheme since its introduction; the savings on the pay bill in that time period; the estimated full year cost for the return of all the new civil servants in 2013; the number of staff members that applied for a further extension of their leave; if these staff were counted as a reduction in numbers employed in the public service during that time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45612/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra712. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the number of staff across the public service that are currently on a career break; if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers on career leave by Department and agency; the estimated cost of this scheme per year; the number of staff currently hired temporarily to cover those on career break; the reforms that have taken place in this general area in the past year; if these staff were counted as a reduction in numbers employed in the public service during that time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45627/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 643, 711 and 712 together.
The information in relation to the Non-Commercial State Agencies under the aegis of my Department is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available. With regard to the Health Service Executive, they have been asked to collate the data sought as soon as possible and it will be provided directly to the Deputy by them when available.
My Department operates a standard scheme of career breaks which allow staff to take up to five years unpaid leave. In addition, in 2009 only, Special Incentive Career Breaks were available which provided up to three years special leave, with an incentive payment of a third of gross basic salary, up to a maximum of €12,500, for each year of the break. Those on this special scheme could seek an unpaid extension to bring their total break to a maximum of five years.
Ten staff have availed of this special scheme, as follows: 1 Assistant Principal; 4 Higher Executive Officers; 3 Executive Officers; and 2 Clerical Officers.
The cost of incentive payments to the above staff came to €256,700. Normal salary payments saved as a consequence of these special breaks came to €1,119,574 giving a net overall saving of €862,874. None of the above staff have sought extensions of their special career breaks, and the pay cost of these returned staff in 2013 will be €245,433.
In addition, three staff are currently on standard unpaid career breaks as follows: 1 Assistant Principal; and 2 Clerical Officers.
Staff are not counted as part of the Department's employment numbers while on either standard or Special Incentive career breaks. There have been no additional staff employed to cover for staff on either form of career breaks. Significant reductions in staff numbers have also occurred as a result of retirements. Remaining staff have been redeployed to best address the Department's business priorities, and this will continue on an ongoing basis as circumstances demand.
644. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will grant the 5% increase that was given to staff nurses in the late nineties; if he will give this increase to retired nurses as well due to the nature of the system that was in place prior to this increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44381/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraArrangements were agreed between health service employers and the nursing unions in April 2000 on the filling of Senior Staff Nurse Posts. The posts attracted a salary equivalent to a 5% increase on top of the Staff Nurse long service increment. The agreement did not encompass nurses who retired prior to 5 November 1999, when the payment first took effect. Given the general moratorium on staff recruitment and promotions in place since 2009, appointments to the post of Senior Staff Nurse, which had been granted after 20 years service, have been withheld since November 2009 on the basis that such appointments constitute promotion.
645. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 448 of 25 September 2012, which stated that information is not collected by his Department on the type of accommodation to which persons who have been discharged from psychiatric hospitals are discharged; if he will consider instigating a process whereby such information will be collected and collated by his Department on both a retrospective basis and into the future; if not, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44384/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information referred to by the Deputy is not collected because for patients who are discharged from acute psychiatric units and who require continuing care and treatment, this is mostly provided in the community through a variety of services including community mental health services, day hospitals, day centres and through home based treatment teams where there is no public accommodation needed or provided. Many other patients requiring mental health services outside the acute setting are accommodated in a variety of low, medium and high support hostels. There are approximately 2,790 beds in those settings. However, the latter groups do not necessarily come from discharges from the acute services.
646. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason the parents of an 18 week old baby (details supplied) in County Dublin were refused a home care package [44388/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
647. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding surgery in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44426/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
649. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for patients awaiting x-rays in hospitals throughout the country where they have not been referred as either an in-patient or through the accident and emergency department; his views on whether this is a reasonable time; his plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44436/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
650. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the cost in 2011 to his Department and to each body under the aegis of his Department of implementing the Official Languages Act 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44468/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total expenditure for my Department for 2011 in relation to the implementation of the Official Languages Act, 2003 amounts to €11,905. Details are as follows:
|
Description of service |
Cost |
|
- |
€ |
|
Translation of policy and other documents |
5,670 |
|
Printing costs of Irish version of the ‘Strategic Framework for Role Expansion of Nurses and Midwives: Promoting Quality Care’ |
1,614 |
|
State Directory Eircom Phone Book Entry 2012 for Department of Health |
4,621 |
|
- |
€11,905 |
The cost of implementing the Official Languages Act 2003 in respect of agencies under the remit of my Department is an operational matter for the agencies themselves. With regard to the Health Service Executive the question has been forwarded to their Parliamentary Affairs Division for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
651. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the Directive on cross-border health care, that was adopted by the European Council and the European Parliament in February 2011, will be transposed into Irish law.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44484/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Directive on the Application of Patients' Rights in Cross Border Healthcare was published in the EU Official Journal on 4th April 2011 and the transposition period of 30 months commenced on 24th April 2011. Member States have until October 2013 to implement the Directive. The purpose of this Directive is to establish a clear legal framework to facilitate cross border healthcare with a focus on patient rights, information for patients on entitlements and patient choice. Given the complexity of the issues to be considered, both nationally and between Member States, it is envisaged that the transposition of the Directive into Irish law will be completed within the transposition time frame of October 2013.
652. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay regarding an appliance request in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 [44499/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
653. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health in view of figures from the Health Service Executive that showed that 26,000 people failed to show up for appointments at Waterford Regional Hospital in the past 18 months if he will outline the way this is going to be tackled and the proceedures being put in place to ensure that persons are given adequate notice and encouraged to attend in time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44502/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile acute hospitals currently have in place a variety of DNA (did not attend) policies, a standardised approach is now being developed as part of a national Outpatient Performance Improvement Programme. This Programme, developed by the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) will be implemented nationally over the period 2012 to 2015 to improve the provision of outpatient services. The Programme will address the management of DNAs as well as a range of other issues. If a patient finds they cannot attend the appointment they have been given I would appeal to all such patients to inform the clinic concerned as soon as they know they cannot attend.
654. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of Baha - bone anchor hearing aids that were fitted to children during the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44504/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra655. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of Baha - bone anchor hearing aids that were fitted to children with Down syndrome, during the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44505/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 654 and 655 together.
The information requested is currently being collated by the HSE and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
656. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health if funding has been cut for the applied suicide intervention skills training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44510/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter the question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
657. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the qualifying conditions which nationals of EU and EEA countries, including Switzerland, would have to meet in order for them to be entitled to a medical card if they become an ordinary resident here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44525/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU Regulation 883/04 provides for and supports the movement of people within the European Union /European Economic Area and Switzerland. With regard to healthcare, the principle applied is that persons exercising their right to move and stay freely within the area do not suffer disadvantage. Medical Cards are provided to the following groups of people:
- Persons living in Ireland and receiving a social security payment from another EU/EEA country or Switzerland, who are not in receipt of an Irish social welfare payment and are not contributing to the Irish social welfare system, i.e. paying PRSI contributions.
- Persons living in Ireland and working in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland and are liable to pay social insurance contributions in that country.
- Persons living in Ireland who are the dependent spouse or child of someone employed in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland, not in receipt of an Irish social welfare payment other than Child Benefit or the Early Childcare Supplement and are not liable to contribute to the Irish social welfare system.
Healthcare entitlements of people from other member states on a temporary stay in Ireland, e.g. holidays, are established through the use of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). An EHIC entitles a person to necessary healthcare in the public system of any EU/EEA Member State and Switzerland also if they become ill or injured while on a temporary stay in that country.
658. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44527/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
659. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if he will update Dáil Éireann on services provided by the State for citizens who suffer from Huntington's disease; if he envisages that improved neurological, genetic, psychiatric and psychological services will be available as part of a national strategy for the treatment of rare diseases; if he will engage with the British Government on the idea of sharing services for sufferers of Huntington's disease; if the fair deal scheme will incorporate home care support and respite services for sufferers who are age less than 65 years; if his Department will consider special facilitation for sufferers of chronic, progressive and incurable conditions including Huntington's disease, who must reapply for medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44528/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra687. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health his plans to resource the much needed support for persons living with Huntington's disease (details supplied) [44753/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra688. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Donegal that have been diagnosed with Huntington's disease [44754/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra689. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of persons countrywide that have been diagnosed with Huntington's disease [44755/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 659 and 687 to 689, inclusive, together.
Huntington's Disease (HD) is a genetic, neurological disorder and is classified as a rare disease. The supports provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to people with HD involve a multi-disciplinary team approach to the provision of health and personal supports and incorporates assisted living services, including Personal Assistant Services, Aids & Appliances and hospital, primary care and community services. The Huntington's Disease Association of Ireland (HDAI), provides consultation, information and individualised support to those diagnosed with Huntington's Disease, their families and their health care team.
The HSE is committed to working in partnership with voluntary disability service providers, including HDAI, to ensure that all of the resources available for people with disabilities are used in the most effective manner possible. The HSE recognises the valuable contribution of the HDAI and approved a grant of just over €68,000 for 2012 to support the work of the organisation. The HDAI is a member of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland and the Disability Federation of Ireland. Both umbrella organisations provide support to the HDAI and are supported by the State through funding from the Health Service Executive.
Medical cards are provided to persons who, under the provision of the Health Act 1970, are in the opinion of the HSE unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services and other health services for themselves and their dependants. The assessment for a medical card is therefore determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. Under this legislation, there is no automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons with specific illness such as Huntington's Disease. There is however, a provision for discretion by the HSE to grant a card in cases of "undue hardship", where the income guidelines are exceeded. The HSE has recently set up a clinical panel to assist in the processing of applications for discretionary medical cards where there are difficult personal circumstances.
I established a National Steering Group to develop a policy framework for the prevention, detection and treatment of rare diseases based on the principles of high quality care, equity and to be patient centred. The policy will operate over a five year period, take account of the EU Council Recommendations on Rare Diseases (2009) and define priority actions subject to resource availability. Similar plans are being drafted by individual countries across the EU. Article 12 of Directive 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 on the application of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare establishes that the Commission shall support Member States in the development of European Reference Networks between healthcare providers and Centres of Expertise in the Member States. It is envisaged that the main added value of the European Reference Networks and therefore of the Centres of Expertise will be to facilitate improvements in access to diagnosis and delivery of high-quality, accessible and cost-effective healthcare in the case of patients who have a medical condition requiring a particular concentration of expertise or resources, particularly in medical domains where expertise is rare. Work is ongoing at EU level on the development of criteria, structures and governance arrangements for such networks and the Department of Health is participating in the relevant Expert Groups.
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme, A Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term nursing home care. The Programme for Government commits to review the Scheme with a view to developing a secure and equitable system of financing for community and long-term care which supports older people, including those with Huntington's Disease to stay in their own homes. My Department has requested information from the HSE on the numbers of people in Co. Donegal and nationwide who have been diagnosed with Huntington's Disease and my Department will forward that information to the Deputy as soon as possible.
660. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the preparations he and the Health Service Executive have made to secure adequate supplies of both flu and meningitis vaccines; if he will outline the plan for both campaigns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44574/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
661. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will ask the Health Service Executive if he will restore physiotherapy services available to the community in Athy, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44583/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
