Written Answers Nos. 210 - 215
210. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when an appointment with a local optomologist can be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12303/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the HSE is responsible for providing optical screening services for school age children, the HSE has been asked to examine this matter and respond directly to the Deputy.
211. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health when an assessment under the Disability Act 2005 will be carried out in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if he is satisfied that the complaints officer's recommendations will all be adhered to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12304/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
212. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the details by year and monetary amount of what his Department has supported in respect of health-related campaigns by organisations involved in health advocacy or health initiatives; the names of such organisations; and the safeguards he has in place to ensure value for taxpayers' money in view of the failure of the myGP.ie website, which was operated by the Irish Medical Organisation and which received grants from his Department totalling €2,031,000 from 2001 to 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12305/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers a National Lottery Discretionary Fund, from which once-off grants are awarded to community and voluntary organisations, providing health related services. Organisations which are awarded a grant must certify their expenditure on completion of the project. Details are available on my Department’s website.
With the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) in Northern Ireland, my Department sponsors Safefood, the Food Safety Promotion Board (FSPB). Safefood is a North-South body set up to protect and improve public health by fostering and maintaining confidence in the food supply on the island of Ireland. Sponsorship details are set out in the table that follows the reply.
In 2012, to ensure value for money, my Department and the DHSSPS carried out reviews of the role and responsibilities of the FSPB and its interaction with other organisations working in the food safety, diet and nutrition areas in their respective jurisdictions. These provided the basis for enhanced communications structures between the organisations, helped clarify the role of the FSPB and informed their Business Planning process.
The FSPB adopts a value-for-money approach to all its activities and best practice corporate governance is applied. Their annual Business Plan is examined by both sponsor Departments and the respective Finance Departments, and then approved by the North-South Ministerial Council. Between 2011 and 2013, savings of 9% have been achieved and measures designed to achieve annual efficiency savings of 4% from 2014 to 2016 are in place.
|
Year |
Organisation Name |
Name of Campaign |
Safeguards put in place by the Minister re VFM |
Cost (€) |
|
2013 |
Safefood |
Childhood Obesity Campaign |
The campaign is being run in partnership between the Department, Safefood and the HSE and officials from both the Department and the HSE are on the working group delivering and overseeing the campaign |
The total cost of the current phase of the campaign is €1.2m |
|
2013 |
Safefood |
Operation Transformation |
Business Planning/Corporate Planning Process and Review by both DoH and Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) |
1,466,240 |
|
2013 |
Safefood |
Operation Transformation |
Business Planning/Corporate Planning Process and Review by both DoH and DHSSPS |
274,259 |
|
2013 |
Safefood |
Food Waste |
Business Planning/Corporate Planning Process and Review by both DoH and DHSSPS |
835,498 |
|
2012 |
Safefood |
Stop the Spread |
Business Planning/Corporate Planning Process and Review by both DoH and DHSSPS |
614,670 |
|
2012 |
Safefood |
Food Hygiene |
Business Planning/Corporate Planning Process and Review by both DoH and DHSSPS |
898,029 |
|
2012 |
Safefood |
Food Waste |
Business Planning/Corporate Planning Process and Review by both DoH and DHSSPS |
540,714 |
|
2012 |
Safefood |
Operation Transformation |
Business Planning/Corporate Planning Process and Review by both DoH and DHSSPS |
186,346 |
|
2011 |
Safefood |
Weigh2Live |
Business Planning/Corporate Planning Process and Review by both DoH and DHSSPS |
245,222 |
|
2011 |
Safefood |
Food Hygiene |
Business Planning/Corporate Planning Process and Review by both DoH and DHSSPS |
609,913 |
|
2011 |
Safefood |
Operation Transformation |
Business Planning/Corporate Planning Process and Review by both DoH and DHSSPS |
211,740 |
213. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive specialised footwear; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12310/14]
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.
214. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health to set out 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. [12313/14]
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.
