Written Answers Nos. 77-90
77. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he expects the Health Service Executive budget to be in a deficit for the year; the action he will take to ensure that any measures to contain cost overruns will have minimal service impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48932/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe financial situation in the HSE continues to be extremely challenging. In the short term, to address the 2012 position, a range of measures are being undertaken in order to achieve a balanced budget. These include the use of capital to fund revenue on a once-off basis and the transfer of Department funds to the HSE on a once-off basis. The HSE has been required to review all pay and non-pay savings targets with a view to further targeting all areas which do not compromise patient safety.
The HSE has indicated that it will achieve €130m in savings to address the deficit. Nearly 50% will come from more focused cash and stock management initiatives, savings in medical equipment (non-capital), furniture, education, training, office expenses, travel and subsistence and advertising. €6m of savings will come from the non-reimbursement of certain non-essential products. Some €60.5m of savings will come from specific service-related measures. These measures are now the subject of intensive discussions with the HSE and local stakeholders. I have instructed the Executive that efficiencies must be achieved in the first instance before patient services are affected and in this regard, patient safety must be paramount.
79. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure the restoration of the 22 beds cut from the Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles, Couny Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48966/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
80. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the State funding provided to private home care providers for the current year; the projected cost of such funding for 2013; the number of private home care companies in receipt of such funding; the rationale behind the provision of State funding to private care home companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48743/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
81. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 13 of 16 May 2012, if he will provide an update on the changes outlined by him in response; if he will confirm that since the issuing of the letter on 15 May 2012 from the National Directors of the Health Service Executive and Chief Operating Officer of the Special Delivery Unit on the matter concerned all hospitals have ceased refusing referrals from areas where such referrals have been accepted since 2009; if they retrospectively applied the terms of the request to the start of 2012; if the terms have been applied to new referrals and existing patients in long term care; if not, if he will outline his intentions to ensure compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48755/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
82. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the numbers of discretionary medical cards that have been withdrawn to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48950/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, I have asked the Health Service Executive to supply this information to me and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.
84. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health his views on the concern that cutbacks in cardiology in the Midwest Regional Hospital, Limerick, are putting undue pressure on services at University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48951/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
85. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a progress report on the review of accident and emergency service at St. Columcille's Hospital in Loughlinstown, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48890/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
86. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is acceptable that some older persons are receiving just 30 minutes of home help support a week while others are forced to wash and toilet themselves with the help of their overstretched home help within 15 minutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48968/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
87. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the following matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49064/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe offices of the Embassy of Ireland in Bratislava have been located at Mostová 2, 811 02 Bratislava, Slovakia, since 2002. The Ambassador’s residence was relocated to more economical premises in March 2012. The number of diplomatic officers serving in the Embassy was reduced to one last June as part of a move to a lighter and more cost-effective model of State representation abroad in certain locations where such arrangements are considered viable with a view to optimising the use of scarce resources in the present budgetary situation.
88. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the gross and net additional expenditure savings that his Department is seeking to achieve in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49243/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Comprehensive Expenditure Report, published last year foresees a current budget allocation to my Department for 2013 of €733 million. This funding will support the achievement of my Department’s High Level Goals as outlined in its Statement of Strategy. On a “No Policy Change” basis, it is estimated that a total of €756m would be needed in order to maintain my Department’s activities and programmes for next year at the same level as the current year. On this basis, my Department would be need to seek savings of €23m on this amount. However, the final Estimates for 2013 are a matter of decision by Dail Éireann on the basis of proposals to be put forward by the Government.
89. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 154 of 26 June 2012, if he will provide the 2011 figures; and if these figures can be broken down into criminal and immigration related offences. [49297/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnited States of America: In respect of the United States, the following are the relevant statistics based on information made available by the US Department of Homeland Security:
|
Period |
Total |
Criminal |
Non-criminal |
|
Federal Year 2011 (October 2010 – September 2011) |
58 |
28 |
30 |
Source: Department of Homeland Security Yearbook of Immigration Statistics, 2011
Canada:
In respect of Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency has made available the 2011 information as follows:
|
Period |
Total |
Criminality |
Non-compliance |
|
2011 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
Source: Canada Border Services Agency
Australia:
The statistics for Australia are below, along with definitions of the various categories. Due to privacy concerns, the Australian authorities do not provide precise breakdown of categories where the numbers involved are below 5.
2011- Irish Returns or Removals
Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR)
|
Visa Overstayer |
10 |
|
N/A |
<5 |
Monitored Departure from Community
|
Other Unauthorised Arrival |
14 |
|
Visa Overstayer |
232 |
|
Visa Cancellation |
8 |
|
N/A |
<5 |
Involuntary Removal from Detention
|
Visa Overstayer |
<5 |
Voluntary Removal from Detention
|
Other Unauthorised Arrival |
58 |
|
Visa Overstayer |
17 |
|
N/A |
<5 |
|
Total |
347 |
Source: Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship
The definitions of the categories used by the Australian authorities are:
|
Assisted Voluntary Return |
Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) refers to clients who are returned with IOM assistance via the Community Assistance Support Program (CAS) or Community Status Resolution (CSR) and who depart Australia lawfully. |
|
Monitored Departure |
Monitored Departure refers to clients who depart from the community lawfully, usually holding a Bridging visa E. |
|
Involuntary Removal from Detention |
Involuntary Removal refers to clients located in Immigration Detention who have no ongoing matters before the department or the courts and who are refusing to depart Australia. |
|
Voluntary Removal from Detention |
Voluntary Removal refers to clients in Immigration Detention who request to be removed from Australia by signing a request for removal form and are cooperative with the department to make removal arrangements, including seeking a travel document. |
90. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in a tabular form the total list of quasi-Governmental organisations and agencies under his remit; if he will provide a list of quasi-Governmental organisations and agencies under his remit that have been abolished since March 2011 or are scheduled to be abolished and the date on which they are due to be abolished; the date on which the body was created; the name of the body; the 2012 Budget for the body; the number of employees of the body in 2012; the names of any outside consultants hired by the organisation since March 2011 and what future plans he has for the body. [49313/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no State agencies or similar bodies operating under the aegis of my Department.
