Written Answers Nos. 617-636
617. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23742/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has recently reissued to Oireachtas members.
618. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will consider including Addison's disease to the list under the terms of the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23743/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Long Term Illness Scheme. Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.
In addition, people who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the Health Service Executive can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. Those who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of GP consultations.
619. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card was withdrawn in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23744/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has recently reissued to Oireachtas members.
620. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23756/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has recently reissued to Oireachtas members.
621. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health in view of the decision taken by the Shannon Airport Authority to allow farming organisations to cut grass on property owned by it to help alleviate fodder shortages in the local area, if he will ask those agencies, companies, authorities, boards and so on who come within his remit to consider similar initiatives on suitable public lands owned by them in conjunction with representatives of local farming organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23770/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraDirectly funded agencies under the aegis of my Department are accommodated in offices in urban areas. As the HSE manages the health property estate your question has been referred to the Executive for direct reply.
622. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the cuts to chiropody treatments offered by HSE north west Dublin: his view on whether three visits to a chiropodist per medical card holder is insufficient; if he will intervene to change the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23775/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity chiropody is a discretionary service, which the Health Service Executive endeavours to provide on a prioritised basis within the context of available resources and competing needs for such resources. The HSE has been asked to examine the query raised by the Deputy concerning services in North West Dublin and to reply to him as soon as possible.
623. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health if his Department has carried out any recent studies on vitamin D deficiency in children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23776/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health has not carried out any recent studies of vitamin D status of children. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland informs me that recent national dietary surveys involving children have identified low and, in some cases, deficient intakes of vitamin D. Low intakes of vitamin D is a problem for all age groups living in Ireland because, apart from oily fish there are not many good natural sources of this vitamin.
A national policy of vitamin D supplementation of all infants in Ireland has been implemented. The targeted needs of other sub-groups in the population such as pregnant women are currently being examined.
624. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [23778/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Building on work already undertaken by the HSE, the National Treatment Purchase Fund has now taken over the reporting of outpatient waiting time data. For the first time data is available on www.ntpf.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 resources to be targeted towards those patients who are waiting longest and ensure that they are seen and assessed. For 2013, a maximum waiting time target has now been set of 12 months for a first time outpatient appointment. 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.
625. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health when the national allocation to fund disability services for school leavers will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23788/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAlthough the 2013 allocation for disability services has been reduced by 1.2%, the Health Service Executive (HSE) National Service Plan includes an additional €4m to provide training places and day services for school-leavers and Rehabilitative/Lifeskills Training (RT) graduates in 2013. This funding will be allocated to each HSE Region based on its percentage of population. Both the voluntary sector and the HSE are committed to the best use of the funding in a creative and flexible manner so as to secure as many places as possible for this cohort.
The HSE expects that approximately 700 young people who have finished their education or life-skills training will require services in 2013. Providing the level of services required for everyone, within the additional funding, will continue to be a challenge. Work in this area will be progressed largely in line with the HSE guidance document developed in 2012, which led to the successful placement of 99% of RT exits and 96% of school leavers last year.
The National Disability Unit in the HSE is liaising with the Regional Leads for Disability Services on a cohesive and collaborative approach, in conjunction with the non-statutory service providers, to meeting the needs of school leavers within the resources available. It is envisaged that plans will be completed for each region by the end of May and submitted to Area Managers, Regional Specialists and Regional Director of Operations for agreement. Arising from completed and approved plans, a communication process will be agreed with service providers to inform families of the services that will be available from September 2013. This process will be implemented before the end of the school year.
626. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6 will be awarded funding for rehabilitation training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23789/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAlthough the 2013 allocation for disability services has been reduced by 1.2%, the Health Service Executive (HSE) National Service Plan includes an additional €4m to provide training places and day services for school-leavers and Rehabilitative / Lifeskills Training (RT) graduates in 2013. This funding will be allocated to each HSE Region based on its percentage of population.
Both the voluntary sector and the HSE are committed to the best use of this funding in a creative and flexible manner so as to secure as many places as possible for this cohort. The HSE expects that approximately 700 young people who have finished their education or life-skills training will require services in 2013. Providing the level of services required for everyone, within this additional funding, will continue to be a challenge.
Currently the National Disability Unit in the HSE is liaising with the Regional Leads for Disability Services in terms of a cohesive and collaborative approach, in conjunction with the non-statutory service providers, to meeting the needs of school leavers within the resources available. Work in this area will be progressed largely in line with the HSE guidance document developed in 2012, which led to the successful placement of 99% of RT exits and 96% of school leavers.
It is envisaged that plans will be completed for each region by the end of May and submitted to Area Managers, Regional Specialists and Regional Directors of Operations for agreement. Arising from completed and approved plans, a communication process will be agreed with service providers to inform families of the services that will be available from September 2013. This process will be implemented before the end of the school year.
In relation to training for the individual referred to by the Deputy, as the question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
627. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health his plans to rename the Mid Western Regional Hospital, County Limerick, as the Limerick University Hospital to reflect the teaching and education role being fulfilled by the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23804/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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.
628. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if he will outline in tabular form, the amount of travel and subsistence, both foreign and domestic, claimed individually by each Minister and Minister of State and Secretary General in his Department, for each year in the period 2005 to March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23818/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra629. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if he will outline in tabular form, the number of staff appointed by each Minister and Minister of State in his Department or constituency office and their relevant costs including travel and subsistence, in each year for the period 2005 to March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23834/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 628 and 629 together.
The information in respect of travel and subsistence, both foreign and domestic, claimed by each Minister, Minister of State and Secretary General in my Department is set out below.
|
Travel & Subsistence claimed |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 to March |
|
Ministers: |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
Mary Harney |
3,458 |
4,843 |
2,723 |
2,734 |
2,062 |
2,920 |
0 |
|
Mary Coughlan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ministers of State: |
|||||||
|
Sean Power |
36,605 |
42,667 |
58,724 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Brian Lenihan |
20,000 |
24,926 |
24,926 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Tim O'Malley |
49,002 |
15,429 |
50,664 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Jimmy Devins |
0 |
0 |
11,022 |
26,098 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Brendan Smith |
0 |
0 |
0 |
986 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Maire Hoctor |
0 |
0 |
0 |
46,623 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Pat the Cope Gallagher |
0 |
0 |
24,806 |
37,402 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Barry Andrews |
0 |
0 |
0 |
412 |
1,399 |
664 |
0 |
|
John Moloney |
0 |
0 |
0 |
17,615 |
24,979 |
26,045 |
7,190 |
|
Trevor Sargent |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mary Wallace |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
43,746 |
0 |
0 |
|
Aine Brady |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
11,102 |
17,722 |
0 |
|
Secretary General: |
|||||||
|
Michael Kelly |
540 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Michael Scanlan |
1499 |
80 |
3,012 |
2,213 |
507 |
939 |
0 |
The information in respect of the number of staff appointed by each Minister and Minister of State for the period 2005 to March 2011 is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
630. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if additional home-help hours will be provided to a person (details provided) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23855/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
631. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the rational behind the recent decision to increase the cost of death certificates; the projected net gain of this increase; and if allowances or exemptions are made for those who simply cannot afford to pay this fee. [23862/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Civil Registration Service is operated by the HSE on behalf of the General Registrar's Office under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection. The cost of this service is met from within the HSE's budget, with some income generated through the issuing of certificates for life events. However, this income does not meet the economic cost of running this service.
Given the serious nature of the HSE's finances it is not sustainable for the HSE to continue to run a service which is below its economic cost. Therefore, as part of a range of budgetary measures across the health services for 2013, a number of fee increases were introduced in the Civil Registration Service in January. Fees for registration of births and deaths had not been increased since 2005.
A sum of €5m was built into the National Service Plan as additional income accruing from this measure.
632. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that arrangement are made to supply a more suitable wheelchair to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 [23863/13]
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 a direct reply to the Deputy.
633. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding respite care for children in a facility (details supplied) in Dublin 7; if he will respond to concerns raised that this care may be dramatically reduced in order to cater for additional children; if he will provide assurances that measures will be taken to ensure that continuity of care that these children receive will not be altered in any way. [23866/13]
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.
634. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that funding is allocated to the LauraLynn Foundation this year and next year to ensure that the hospice may continue their exceptional work on a day to day basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23872/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
635. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the findings of the Health Service Executive’s evaluation of the impact of the introduction of the new model of service delivery of pre-hospital emergency care services in County Cork and County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23873/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraA significant reform programme has been underway in recent years in pre-hospital care services, to ensure a clinically driven, nationally co-ordinated system, supported by improved technology. The programme involves a number of measures, including the Performance Improvement Action Plan, development of the intermediate care service, the trial emergency aeromedical service (EAS), and the NAS Control Centre Reconfiguration Project. In particular, the National Ambulance Service (NAS) is developing staff clinical skills in line with the development of paramedic professional qualifications by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council.
The NAS is a forward-looking service. It deploys its emergency resources in a dynamic manner and on an area and national, rather than a local, basis. It has been, and still is, undergoing major transformation, including in terms of clinical skills and work practices, application of technology and modernisation of management and infrastructure. Many of these initiatives are still in train and I am confident that they will result in improvements in the treatment available in pre-hospital care to seriously ill and injured patients.
In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
636. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the reason there was no availability of a patient transfer ambulance on 7 May 2013 for a person (details supplied) in County Clare, to take the person to surgical clinic appointment in the Mid Western hospital [23881/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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.
