Written Answers Nos. 1353-71
1353. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding medical cards in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37463/13]
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 issued to Oireachtas members.
1354. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in the crisis facing the 21 students studying audiology in Athlone Institute of Technology whose course has been cancelled; the steps he or the Health Service Executive have taken to date in relation this issue; the date on which he first became aware of problems with accreditation and placements; the steps he has taken to resolve the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37469/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE’s National Audiology Review Group (NARG) 2011 recommended that a domestic programme for audiology be established as a matter of priority. Following the subsequent completion of a workforce planning exercise and engagement with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) it was agreed that the most appropriate route for initial training should be via an accelerated two-year MSc programme for students with suitable honours degrees.
In this context the HSE and the HEA requested the Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) not to commence the BSc programme in Audiology in 2012 as a formal process to select a higher education institute to commence a programme in audiology had not been completed and the workforce planning exercise referred to above indicated that the student numbers required to maintain such a small workforce would not be sufficient to sustain a BSc programme. It was the intention of the HSE and the HEA to commence this selection process in early 2013. AIT commenced its BSc programme in 2012. It was not accredited with a suitable professional body as is a standard prerequisite for any health professional education and training course. The non-accreditation of the course posed obvious patient safety problems for the HSE in terms of facilitating placements. Out of concern for the students the HSE, in November 2012, agreed to support placements for the students on the basis that AIT achieved suitable accreditation from the British Academy of Audiology (BAA) by an agreed deadline of May 2013. This accreditation was subsequently not achieved within the timeframe.
Following a judicial review initiated by two students against AIT, the HEA and the HSE in August last an agreement was reached, subject to certain conditions, that the AIT would recommence the course, the HEA would fund it and the HSE would provide placements. The agreement relates to the current cohort of audiology students only.
1355. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health the total cost of all media advertising to his Department for each of the past five years; the efforts his Department is making to ensure that local media, both print and radio, are being supported as well as national media by his Department's budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37480/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information relating to these costs is not readily available. The information is being collated and I will get back to the Deputy as soon as possible regarding this matter.
1356. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of all bodies, boards or committees under the remit of his Department to which ministerial appointments are made; the statutory provision providing for the making of such appointments in each case; the annual allowances or other payments made to the chairperson; the annual allowance or other payment made to an ordinary member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37495/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table sets out the bodies, boards under the remit of my Department to which I make appointments and the statutory provisions providing for the making of such appointments.
|
Bodies |
Statutory Provision |
|
Advisory Committee for Human Medicines (IMB) |
Irish Medicines Board Act 1995, as amended |
|
Advisory Committee for Veterinary Medicines (IMB) |
Irish Medicines Board Act 1995, as amended |
|
Advisory Committee for Medical Devices (IMB) |
Irish Medicines Board Act 1995, as amended |
|
Beaumont Hospital Board |
Beaumont Hospital (Establishment) Order (S.I. 255/1977) as amended |
|
Opticians Board |
Opticians Act 1956 and 2003 |
|
Consultative Council on Hepatitis C |
The Consultative Council on Hepatitis C (Establishment) Order 1996 (Amendment) Order 2013 |
|
Dental Council |
Dentists Act, 1995 |
|
Dietitians Registration Board |
Health and Social Care Professionals Act, 2005 |
|
Dublin Dental Hospital Board |
Dublin Dental Hospital Board (Establishment) Order 1963, as amended |
|
Food Safety Authority of Ireland |
Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act, 1998 |
|
Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU) |
Health and Social Care Professionals Act, 2005 |
|
Health Information and Quality Authority |
Health Act, 2007 |
|
Health Insurance Authority |
Health Insurance Acts 1994-2009 |
|
Health Research Board |
Health Research Board (Establishment) Order 1986, as amended |
|
Health Service Executive |
Health Act, 2004 |
|
Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal |
Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act, 1997 |
|
Irish Blood Transfusion Service |
The Blood Transfusion Service Board (Establishment) Order 1965 (Amendment) Order, 2000 (S.I No.22 of 2000) |
|
Irish Medicines Board |
Irish Medicines Board Act 1995, as amended |
|
Leopardstown Park Hospital Board |
Leopardstown Park Hospital Board (Establishment) Order, 1979 |
|
Medical Council |
Medical Practitioners Act, 2007 |
|
Mental Health Commission |
Mental Health Act, 2001 |
|
National Cancer Registry Board |
National Cancer Registry Board (Establishment) Order, 1991 |
|
National Haemophilia Council |
National Haemophilia Council (Establishment) Order, 2004 |
|
National Paediatric Hospital Development Board |
National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (Establishment) Order, 2007 |
|
National Treatment Purchase Fund |
National Treatment Purchase Fund (Establishment) Order, 2007 |
|
Occupational Therapists Registration Board |
Health and Social Care Professionals Act, 2005 |
|
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland |
Pharmacy Act, 2007 |
|
Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council |
Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (Establishment) Order, 2007 |
|
Radiographers Registration Board |
Health and Social Care Professionals Act, 2005 |
|
Scientific Committee of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland |
Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act, 1998 |
|
Social Workers Registration Board |
Health and Social Care Professionals Act, 2005 |
|
Speech and Language Therapists Registration Board |
Health and Social Care Professionals Act, 2005 |
|
St James's Hospital Board |
St James's Hospital Board (Establishment) Order, 1971 |
|
Tallaght Hospital Board |
Tallaght Hospital Board (Establishment) Order, 1980 (Revocation) Order, 2006 |
|
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland |
Nurses and Midwives Act, 2011 |
|
Voluntary Health Insurance Board |
Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Act, 1996 |
With regard to board fees, there are four categories payable to chairpersons and directors of Non-Commercial State Agencies. The "one person one salary" principle provides that public servants acting as chairpersons or directors of state-sponsored bodies do not receive additional remuneration for undertaking such duties. Members of Boards are entitled to claim travel and subsistence as governed by the Travel and Subsistence Circulars issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Instead of the fees mentioned above, members of the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal are paid a briefing fee of €10,000 when they take up their appointment and a daily rate of €845.00.
The approved annual rates in respect of those Boards to which I have made appointments and where board fees are payable are:
|
Category |
Chair |
Director |
|
1 |
€29,888 |
€14,963 |
|
2 |
€20,520 |
€11,970 |
|
3 |
€11,970 |
€7,695 |
|
4 |
€8,978 |
€5,985 |
The boards for which fees are currently paid to members are as follows:
Category 1 Boards
N/A
Category 2 Boards
HIQA, VHI
Category 3 Boards
Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Irish Blood Transfusion Service Board, Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, National Treatment Purchase Fund, Health Research Board, Medical Council, Mental Health Commission.
Category 4 Boards
Health & Social Care Professionals Council (Chair only), Health Insurance Authority.
It should also be noted that existing board members, and members appointed in the future are given the option to waive the related board fee on a discretionary basis.
1357. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of the boards, bodies or committees under the remit of his Department where there is currently a vacancy to be filled by ministerial appointment; if so, if the vacancy relates to the chairperson or an ordinary member or members, specifying the number of vacancies in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37510/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current number of vacancies on boards under the remit of my Department are as follows:
|
Board |
Number of Vacancies |
Positions |
|
Dental Council |
1 |
ordinary member |
|
Dietitians Registration Board |
1 |
ordinary member |
|
Food Safety Authority of Ireland |
1 |
ordinary member |
|
Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU) |
1 |
ordinary member |
|
Health Research Board |
2 |
ordinary members |
|
Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal |
7 |
ordinary members |
|
Irish Blood Transfusion Service |
1 |
ordinary member |
|
Leopardstown Park Hospital Board |
2 |
ordinary members |
|
National Cancer Registry Board |
2 |
ordinary members |
|
National Treatment Purchase Fund |
2 |
ordinary members |
|
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland |
3 |
ordinary members |
|
Social Workers Registration Board |
2 |
ordinary members |
|
Voluntary Health Insurance Board |
1 |
ordinary members |
1358. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of the bodies, boards or committees under the remit of his Department where there is anticipated to be a vacancy within the next six months to be filled by ministerial appointment; if so, if the anticipated vacancy relates to the chairperson or an ordinary member or members, specifying the number of anticipated vacancies in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37525/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following is a list of boards under the remit of my Department showing vacancies arising in the next 6 months.
|
Board |
Number of Vacancies |
Position |
|
Beaumont Hospital Board |
8 |
1 Chairperson, 7 ordinary members |
|
Food Safety Authority of Ireland |
3 |
ordinary members |
|
Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU) |
3 |
ordinary members |
|
Irish Blood Transfusion Service |
2 |
ordinary members |
|
Irish Medicines Board |
4 |
ordinary members |
|
Leopardstown Park Hospital Board |
1 |
ordinary member |
|
National Haemophilia Council |
1 |
ordinary member |
|
National Treatment Purchase Fund |
6 |
ordinary members |
|
Radiographers Registration Board |
7 |
1 Chairperson, 6 ordinary members |
|
Voluntary Health Insurance Board |
1 |
ordinary member |
1361. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a proposed primary care centre (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if this project will go ahead as planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37542/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraDelivery of health infrastructure is a service delivery issue. Therefore your question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1362. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the proposed €35 million allocation on mental health. [37554/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra1371. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he has considered the pre-budget petition received from the Mental Health Reform group; if he will consider protecting this area from cuts in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37601/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra1391. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that his Department's plans for the health budget in 2014 includes investment in community mental health teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37672/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra1439. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the promise to invest €35 million annually in community mental health services here is honoured in Budget 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37840/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1362, 1371, 1391 and 1439 together.
This Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health service in line with A Vision for Change and is committed in particular to the delivery of more and better quality care in the community. Additional funding totalling €70 million and some 900 new posts have been provided as part of the last two Budgets primarily to strengthen Community Mental Health Teams for both adults and children and to enhance specialist community mental health services for older people with a mental illness, those with an intellectual disability and mental illness and forensic mental health services in line with A Vision for Change.
Of the 414 posts approved in 2012, as at the 26th August 2013, 397 have been filled or are awaiting clearance. Of the 477 posts approved in 2013, as at 26th August 2013, 220 have been accepted with a further 24 posts offered to candidates. Of the 233 remaining posts, 162 are at various stages in the recruitment process. The HSE's National Recruitment Service is working to ensure that the remaining posts will be filled as soon as possible, from existing panels or through competition in the absence of panels, at the earliest opportunity. You will appreciate, however, that on occasion it is difficult to fill some posts for various reasons including availability of qualified candidates and geographical location.
The question of funding for mental health next year is being considered as part of the Estimates Process 2014, which is currently underway, and Mental Health Reform's submission has been noted in this context.
1363. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding nursing home support scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [37557/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1364. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an urgent hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37561/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Collaborating with individual hospitals, the SDU, together with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the HSE, has developed the outpatient waiting list minimum dataset. This allows data to be submitted to the NTPF from hospitals on a weekly basis and, for the first time, outpatient data is available on www.ntpf.ie. For 2013, a maximum waiting time target has been set of 12 months for a first time consultant-led outpatient appointment and this is reflected in the HSE service plan. The SDU and the NTPF will work closely with hospitals towards achievement of the maximum waiting time.
Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. In relation to the specific hospital appointment query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1365. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card was cancelled in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37571/13]
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 issued to Oireachtas members.
1366. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that more funding is provided to the Health Service Executive to enable surgeons to carry out more surgeries for scoliosis patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37578/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra1381. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the waiting times here and particularly in Cork for pre-adolescents suffering from scoliosis; if he will endeavour to improve these waiting times as the condition can deteriorate quickly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37635/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1366 and 1381 together.
The funding pressures now being experienced in the health services mean that the acute sector must reduce its costs in order to deliver the agreed level of activity within the resources available to it. This means that we must concentrate on maximising efficiency and getting the best possible services for patients from the budgets available to us.
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, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to this particular queries raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in these matters.
1367. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37595/13]
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 issued to Oireachtas members.
1368. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37596/13]
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 issued to Oireachtas members.
1369. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the measures he will take to protect funding for the services for the mentally and physically disadvantaged for the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37598/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe level of funding available for the health budget and the extent of the savings required in the health sector are being considered as part of the estimates and budgetary process for 2014 which is currently underway. Pending completion of the national estimates, budgetary and service planning process for 2014 it is not possible to predict the service levels to be provided next year for the disability sector.
1370. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the situation for patients in psychiatric hospitals and smoking areas (details supplied). [37599/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) is committed to introducing a tobacco-free campus policy in all its sites by 31 December 2015. Considerable progress has been made in this regard. The Deputy may be interested to note that there are specific guidelines in relation to mental health settings entitled 'Best Practice Guidelines for Tobacco Management in the Mental Health Setting' February 2008. As this is a HSE policy matter I have referred this PQ to the HSE for attention and direct reply.
