Written Answers Nos. 304-21
304. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7855/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.
305. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of childcare providers and places in County Meath; if she will provide details of same in tabular form; the number of vacancies therein and the level of State funding provided for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7929/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the information sought in this Parliamentary Question is not readily available, I am arranging for the data to be collated and provided directly to the Deputy.
306. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of social workers in County Meath for each of the years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; the number of vacancies currently unfilled; her plans to fill same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7932/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraInformation received from the HSE indicates that in County Meath the approved complement of whole-time equivalent social workers in the Children and Families care group in 2011, 2012 and 2013 was as follows:
|
March 2011 |
March 2012 |
January 2013 |
|
41.4 |
41.4 |
42.4 |
I have asked the HSE for the relevant information relating to the years 2009 and 2010, and I will arrange for this to be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is received.
HSE Children and Family Services will continue to apply discretion to the filling of social work vacancies in 2013, taking account of identified need and subject to services being delivered within available resources. The HSE has confirmed that the HSE National Recruitment Service is currently in the process of filling all current vacancies in Co Meath of which there are 7, including 3 'permanent' vacancies and 4 vacancies arising as a result of maternity leave.
307. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children from County Meath in the care of the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7944/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has sought the information requested by the Deputy from the HSE and I will provide the Deputy with the information as soon as it becomes available.
308. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total amount spent on outsourced security services in her Department; and if she will provide details of the companies providing these services. [8469/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total of €5,558 was spent in 2012 by my Department on outsourced security services, which included confidential shredding facilities and internal security systems. The companies involved were Cyclone Shredding and Noonan Services Group.
309. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total amount spent on outsourced cleaning services in her Department; and if she will provide details of the companies providing these services. [8483/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total of €99,953 was spent in 2012 by my Department on outsourced cleaning services, which included provision of cleaning service, essential hygiene materials and window cleaning service. The companies involved were Momentum Support and Embassy Cleaning Services.
310. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if he has requested the Competition Authority to examine private health insurance who are charging and including benefits in a policy that will never be claimed for example maternity benefit for men; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7790/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe inclusion of maternity benefit in all health insurance products is a statutory requirement, as part of a legal obligation on health insurers to provide a specific minimum level of benefit in all health insurance products sold.
Minimum benefit is one of the key principles on which the Irish private health insurance regulatory system is based. Minimum Benefit Regulations, made under the Health Insurance Acts, require insurers to offer a minimum benefit to every insured person. The key purpose of the Regulations is to ensure the continued availability of the type of broad hospital cover traditionally held as a minimum by the insured population and to ensure that individuals do not significantly under-insure. Minimum Benefit Regulations were introduced in 1996, under Section 10 of the Health Insurance Act, 1994 and cover in-patient, out-patient and day-patient services provided by publicly funded hospitals, private hospitals, registered nursing home and hospital consultants.
The Minimum Benefit Regulations ensure that all consumers obtain an appropriate minimum level of health insurance cover regardless of what plan they purchase and that every plan available is inclusive of a minimum suite of benefits/procedures, some of which are available to the market as a whole and some of which will be applicable specifically to either men or women. Importantly, under Community Rating everybody is charged the same premium for a particular health insurance plan which includes this minimum suite of benefits, irrespective of age, gender and the current or likely future state of their health. Thus, the broad base line of procedures provided by minimum benefit should not be looked at in gender specific terms, but rather as a cohort of procedures that are important to the community of the insured population and thus should be protected and provided as a minimum base to all.
In these circumstances, I do not consider that there is any role for the Competition Authority in the matter.
311. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an analysis of the per capita spend by his Department on a regional basis with regard to current and capital spends in the area of health . [7882/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraGiven the complexities regarding the delivery of services, particularly in relation to the provision of specialist acute hospital care, it is not possible based on currently available information to determine accurately a per capita level of revenue expenditure on a regional basis. In respect of capital expenditure many of the projects would serve the health care needs of the whole country, such as the new Children's Hospital, and therefore there would be no basis for breaking expenditure down on a per capita basis within regions. The most recent national per capita expenditure figures on a current and capital basis are €3,001 and €76 respectively.
In tandem with the proposed new HSE governance structures, new administrative structures are being put in place within the HSE to reflect the need for a greater operational management focus on the delivery of key services and greater transparency about funding, service delivery and accountability. Good progress is also being made on the development and implementation of a Money Follows The Patient system which will facilitate more transparent and detailed analysis of expenditure and health care delivery across a range of variables, including regional analysis.
312. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if in view of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee's recommendations of alcohol and cancer, when he will begin work on introducing minimum pricing; the structural separating of alcohol from other products, labelling and a national campaign to provide health warnings on the links between alcohol and cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7766/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that real and tangible proposals are currently being finalised on foot of the recommendations in the National Substance Misuse Strategy report. These proposals cover all of the areas mentioned in the report, including legislation on minimum unit pricing; labelling of alcohol products; and prevention and intervention activities on alcohol. My Department is also working closely with the Department of Justice and Equality, which is responsible for the issue of the structural separation of alcohol from other products in mixed trading outlets.
The Cabinet Committee on Social Policy has considered these proposals and I intend to bring forward specific proposals for consideration by Government as soon as possible. In the meantime, work on developing a framework for the necessary Department of Health legislation is continuing. For example, in conjunction with Northern Ireland, a health impact assessment is being commissioned as part of the process of developing a legislative basis for minimum unit pricing. The health impact assessment will study the impact of different minimum prices on a range of areas such as health, crime and likely economic impact.
313. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the amount of grant aid allocated to St. Michael's House over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7771/13]
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.
314. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if the Health Information and Quality Authority are reviewing the situation of waiting list times for persons requiring epilepsy monitoring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7780/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is an independent Authority established to drive continuous improvement in Ireland’s health and social care services. The Authority was established as part of the Government's overall Health Service Reform Programme.
The Authority's mandate extends across the quality and safety of the public, private (within its social care function) and voluntary sectors. Reporting directly to the Minister for Health and Children, HIQA has statutory responsibility for:
- Setting Standards for Health and Social Services,
- Social Services Inspectorate,
- Monitoring Healthcare Quality,
- Health Technology Assessment,
- Health Information.
Following enquiries made on foot of the Deputy's question I can confirm that HIQA is not currently reviewing the situation of waiting list times for people requiring epilepsy monitoring.
315. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the looming problems regarding a shortage of medical intern places (details supplied); the steps being taken to tackle this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7781/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra325. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health the number of intern places available to medical students here next year; if the number of places available will accommodate all medical students applying in view the importance of the intern year and the costs of medical school fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7851/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra327. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his plans to deal with the issue of a lack of an adequate number of places for medical school graduates to undertake internships in hospitals here in order that graduates will be in line with the legal requirement of Irish medical schools that graduates have practised here; and if he will be providing for an adequate number of intern places to be made available during 2013 [7854/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra328. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if, due to the increased number of medical school graduates this year, it is anticipated that in July 2013 that there will be a shortage of intern places for both EU and non EU graduates of Irish medical schools; the way he intends to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7856/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra335. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that due to the increased number of medical school graduates this year it is anticipated that in July 2013 there will be a shortage of intern places for both EU and non EU graduates of medical schools here; his views on whether the current deficit of intern places to medical graduates has come about as a result of State funding of additional medical school places without the corresponding increase in intern places and that this has serious implications for the person involved and that furthermore, the State's investment in undergraduate medical education will be squandered due to these graduates being unable to obtain an intern position, as completing the intern year is a legal requirement in order for graduates of medical schools here to practice here; his plans to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7878/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 315, 325, 327, 328 and 335 together.
The issue of an adequate number of intern places in the Irish medical system is a priority for my Department and for the HSE. The HSE established an Intern Implementation Group in 2009 to implement aspects of the Report of the NCMET on the Intern Year and I am aware that this Group has issued two Implementation Reports, most recently in April 2012 (Second Implementation Report). The intern year is an integral part of medical training, and a medical practitioner cannot be fully accredited without it. There were 572 posts available in Ireland for the July 2012 intern intake, an increase of almost 70 posts since 2007. To date, there have been sufficient posts for all EU graduates from Irish medical schools, and a number of available posts for some non-EU applicants.
My Department has been in regular contact with the HSE in relation to the issue of intern places, with the aim, in so far as is possible, to provide a sufficient number of intern places for Irish/EU graduates from Irish medical schools. In addition, under EU law, intern posts must be open to graduates from other EU countries.
The application process for internships closed in November last, but the HSE will not know the final number of eligible applicants for some time. The final numbers that will proceed to the first round match have not yet been determined, as the overseas candidates must pass the entrance test, pass the HSE English language requirements, provide a Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate, and pass their final year medical exams. Candidates applying from within Ireland must provide a BLS certificate and pass their final year medical exams.
This year the HSE will have approximately 80 additional posts available for interns commencing their training in July. In total, therefore, there will be in the region of 650 places available for 2013, and the HSE estimates that this will be sufficient to ensure that every EU graduate of the six Irish medical schools can access an internship.
316. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when an appointment for the urology clinic in Portlaoise Hospital will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7785/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Building on work already undertaken by the HSE, the NTPF has now taken over the reporting of outpatient waiting time data. For the first time, clear and comprehensive data is available on www.ptr.ie. The collation and analysis of outpatient waiting time data in a standardised format will reveal the distribution of long waiters across all hospitals. In the first instance, this will allow the SDU and NTPF to target their resources towards those patients who are waiting longest and ensure that they are seen and assessed. A maximum waiting time target has now been set of 12 months for a first time outpatient appointment by 30 November 2013.
In parallel with reducing the numbers of longest waiters, the SDU will also work with the HSE Clinical Programmes to reform the structure, organisation and delivery of outpatient services to ensure that the right patient is seen and assessed by the right health professional at the right time.
In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
317. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the arrangements now in place to provide full funding for an estate (details supplied) in Dublin 24; if he will appreciate the importance to the local communities of these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7786/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has allocated €50,000 to support community safety fora in the Tallaght Local Drugs Task Force area and a further €50,000 to community safety fora in the Clondalkin Local Drugs Task Force area this year.
This funding will help to secure the long term sustainability of community safety initiatives developed by the estate management groups in Killinarden and Fettercairn in Tallaght, and by community safety fora in North Clondalkin and South West Clondalkin.
South Dublin County Council, the channel of funding for the initiatives, is in the process of putting accountability arrangements in place at a local level in relation to governance of the expenditure.
318. 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. [7799/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to waiting list management in general, the National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, recently been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists, including minimising hospital initiated cancellations.
In relation to the particular patient cancellation query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
319. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the Coombe Hospital and children's ambulatory care unit, Dublin, will be moving to Tallaght Hospital, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7807/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraA comprehensive review of maternity and gynaecology services in the greater Dublin area was completed in 2008. The KPMG Independent Review of Maternity and Gynaecology Services in the Greater Dublin noted that Dublin’s model of stand alone maternity hospitals is not the norm internationally and recommended that the Dublin maternity hospitals should be co-located with adult acute services and that one of the three new Dublin maternity facilities should be built on the site of the new national paediatric hospital. Maternity and paediatric service co-location has advantages for infants with congenital malformations, for foetal medicine or complications which require neonatal surgery. Maternity and adult service co-location has advantages for mothers in providing on-campus rapid and ready access to non-obstetric specialist expertise, and to specialist surgery and intensive care in the case of major obstetric emergency.
The proposal in 2008 was that the National Maternity Hospital be relocated to St Vincent's, the Coombe to Tallaght and the Rotunda to the Mater, and the maternity hospitals have been working with the relevant adult sites to progress this. There will be early discussions with the maternity hospitals regarding their maternity /adult co-location plans in the context of the Government decision to build the new children’s hospital on the St James’s campus. Notwithstanding this, I am committed to the intent of the report - that the Dublin maternity hospitals be located alongside adult acute services - while also bearing in mind the need to plan for the provision of tri-located paediatric, adult and maternity services, as is the intention in relation to the new children’s hospital.
With regard to the children's ambulatory care unit, the report of the Review Group on the National Children’s Hospital (Dolphin report) concluded that the existing plan for the Ambulatory and Urgent Care Centre in Tallaght must be revisited, in light of a decision made about the location of the National Children’s Hospital. The number and location of urgent care centres in the Dublin area must be determined now that the decision has been made to locate the new children's hospital on the St James campus. It is envisaged that there will be an urgent care centre or urgent care centres based on consideration of the geographical distribution of attendances and acuity of the patient. The location and number of such centres will be given careful consideration and analysis is underway to inform this in order to reach a decision as soon possible.
321. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will detail funding levels for neurological rehabilitation services in this State for the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; if he will outline the principal facilities and services provided there; average waiting times for access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7845/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe aim of neuro-rehabilitation is to enable the person to achieve the highest possible level of independence. Desired outcomes range from a return to full independence in social and work situations to a person requiring long-term support and care but with a higher level of independence than in the absence of neuro-rehabilitation. Current services available include acute hospital services; the National Rehabilitation Hospital; multi-disciplinary community services; long-term assisted living supports; and rehabilitative training services. These services are provided directly by the HSE and several non-statutory organisations.
The Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) have developed and published the "National Policy and Strategy for the provision of Neuro-Rehabilitation Services in Ireland 2011 - 2015". The report recognises that given the current economic climate, the focus in the short to medium term has to be on reconfiguration of services, structures and resources and the enhancement of the skills and competencies required to meet the changing context.
In addition, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Health announced a significant capital development at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, replacing the existing 120 bed complement and therapy accommodation.
I have referred the specific questions regarding funding levels and waiting times to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
