Written Answers Nos. 248-256
248. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the progress being made to formulate a replacement for mobility allowance and motorised transport grant; if he will provide a timeframe for the publication of same; if he will provide a guarantee that a replacement scheme will be in place prior top the cessation of payments under the current scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23110/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Project Group, which is independently chaired by a former Civil Servant, has been established to seek an alternative method to provide for the priority transport needs of people in a manner that does not run counter to the Equal Status Acts. The work of the Project Group is being supported by the National Disability Authority and includes representatives from key disability sector organisations such as the Irish Wheelchair Association, the Disability Federation of Ireland, the Centre for Independent Living, along with an independent service user and advocate for people with disabilities and a former County Council Manager with relevant experience.
Both Minister Reilly and myself have instructed the Project Group to seek solutions across the whole of Government, so that alongside representatives from the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE), membership also includes representatives from Pobal and from the Departments of Transport, Tourism & Sport, Environment, Community and Local Government, Social Protection and Finance and the Revenue Commissioners. The Group, who will report to Government by the end of this month, has met six times, with the next meeting scheduled for 22nd May. The results of the review will be presented to the Government before any final decisions are made on future arrangements. At this stage, I am not in a position to pre-empt the outcome of the review or the decision of Government.
249. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the volume and cost of transport fuel petrol and diesel purchased by the Health Service Executive for use in HSE vehicles in the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, broken down by each HSE region; HSE Dublin Mid Leinster, HSE Dublin North East, HSE South and HSE West [23070/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
250. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when the updated medical card national assessment guidelines will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23071/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the Health Service Executive for a report on the issue raised by the Deputy. I will revert to the Deputy on the matter as soon as possible.
251. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the way the cystic fibrosis unit at Cork University Hospital is funded; the role played by Build4Life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23074/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department, through the National Lottery Discretionary Fund awarded Build4Life €150,000 in 2011 and €150,000 in 2012. The funding of the cystic fibrosis unit is an operational matter for the HSE and I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the deputy on this matter.
252. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, will be fitted with hearing aids; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23089/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive Community Audiology service administers and monitors hearing tests for adults who are at risk for hearing loss and prescribes hearing aids as required. Appointments for the audiology service are sent in a strict chronology according to clinical priorities and date of receipt of referral. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy and to reply to him as soon as possible.
253. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the analysis used by the National Centre for Pharmaeconomics in their decision not to make Pirfendione available for patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis on economic grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23124/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra258. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the availability of a medical drug in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23174/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 258 together.
The HSE has received an application for the inclusion of pirfenidone in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application is being considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed last year by the Department of Health and the HSE with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) for the assessment of new medicines. In accordance with these procedures, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) conducted a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of pirfenidone and concluded that, at the submitted price, pirfenidone is not cost-effective for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The report is available on the NCPE's website (www.ncpe.ie).
The NCPE report is an important input to assist decision making and informs further discussions between the HSE and the manufacturer of the drug. The HSE is currently in negotiations with the manufacturers of pirfenidone and therefore it would not be appropriate to comment further while these negotiations are ongoing. The HSE assessment process is intended to arrive at a decision on the funding of pirfenidone that is clinically appropriate, fair, consistent and sustainable. The HSE understands that patients and clinicians are very anxious that a decision be made as soon as possible.
254. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will outline his policy in relation to personal assistant services; the guidelines currently in place for personal assistant service providers in relation to hours and levels of service on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23143/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra255. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reasons personal assistant service guidelines are not standardised across the country instead varying from county to county; if he will consider establishing a standardised set of guidelines nationwide to ensure clarity and equal treatment within the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23144/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 255 together.
The role of a personal assistant is to provide personal assistance to an individual with a disability to enable her or him to live independently. The Health Service Executive provides a range of assisted living services including personal assistant services to support individuals to maximise their capacity to live full and independent lives. In 2013, the Health Service Executive is seeking to maximise the provision of services within available resources and to maintaining a consistent level to that provided in 2012, by continuing to provide 1.68 million hours of Personal Assistant / Home Support Hours. The administration and operation of personal assistant services to people with a disability is a matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly the Department has asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
256. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health with regard to the Heidelberg study into survivors of thalidomide, if he has proposals to bring in a scheme similar to that operated by the German Government, where thalidomide survivors can draw down or borrow money to purchase items like car adaptions, kitchens, housing and so on at a rate of 1.6% [23170/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no proposals to introduce a loan scheme for Irish survivors of thalidomide as outlined by the Deputy.
