Thursday, 29 May 2014

Garda Misconduct Allegations

Ceisteanna (102)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

102. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on correspondence regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23574/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I refer the Deputy to the following reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 657 and 700 for written answer on 27 May 2014:

I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family concerned for the tragic loss of life in the case referred to by the Deputy. The Deputy will appreciate that I do not have a role in the investigation of criminal cases or the conduct of inquests. However, the Deputy may be aware that the Garda investigation into the death of the person he has referred to is the subject of a complaint which has been received by my Department. I am currently considering my response and I will contact the Deputy again in relation to it.

Garda Misconduct Allegations

Ceisteanna (103)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

103. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will respond to correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23575/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I understand that the incident referred to in the correspondence in question, which is addressed to the Garda authorities, is the subject of a complaint and has been referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. The Deputy will appreciate that in these circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the matter.

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Ceisteanna (104, 105)

Ciara Conway

Ceist:

104. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that motor neurone disease is not included in the long-term illness scheme; the reason this is the case; his plans to add it to the scheme and when this will happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23540/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Ciara Conway

Ceist:

105. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health when the list of conditions covered under the long-term illness scheme will be reviewed and updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23541/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 105 together.

The Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme. The conditions covered by the LTI Scheme are as follows: Acute Leukaemia; Mental handicap; Cerebral Palsy; Mental Illness (in a person under 16); Cystic Fibrosis; Multiple Sclerosis; Diabetes Insipidus; Muscular Dystrophies; Diabetes Mellitus; Parkinsonism; Epilepsy; Phenylketonuria; Haemophilia; Spina Bifida; Hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.

Motor neurone disease is not covered by the LTI Scheme. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme.

Speech and Language Therapy Provision

Ceisteanna (106, 117)

Sean Fleming

Ceist:

106. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the total staff complement required for a centre (details supplied) in County Laois; the number of staff in each grade in this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23543/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Sean Fleming

Ceist:

117. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for an assessment and treatment at a location ( details supplied) in County Laois both for speech and language therapy and for occupational therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23569/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 117 together.

The particular issues raised by the Deputy are service matters for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (107)

Ciaran Lynch

Ceist:

107. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be given a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23548/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (108)

Ciaran Lynch

Ceist:

108. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be given an ophthalmology appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23554/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (109)

Jack Wall

Ceist:

109. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a needs assessment will be carried out in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23555/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As 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.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (110)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

110. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be receive a date for surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23556/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.

In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him on this matter.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (111)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

111. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be receive a date for surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23557/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.

In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him on this matter.

Obesity Strategy

Ceisteanna (112)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

112. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason there is a lack of funding and support for obesity, with only limited resources being put into weight management clinics in Galway and Loughlinstown, County Dublin; the reason the clinic in Loughlinstown is only funded and staffed to the 2005 standard even though the number of persons with a BMI over 50 has doubled since then; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23558/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have established the Special Action Group on Obesity (SAGO) comprising representatives from relevant Government Departments, the HSE, the Food Safety Authority, members of academia, service professionals and safefood to examine and progress a number of issues to address the problem of overweight and obesity in Ireland. Furthermore, Healthy Ireland supports a whole-of-Government approach to address the determinants and predictors of health and well-being, many of which fall outside the health sector, e.g. housing, transportation, education, workplaces and environment along with an individual's socioeconomic status. Comprehensive, multilevel approaches are required to address the obesity epidemic and the work of SAGO and Healthy Ireland is on-going in this regard.

Progress has been made on the Healthy Eating guidelines, Calories on Menus initiative and the Report on Recommendations to reduce consumption of high fat, salt and sugar foods and drinks from the Top Shelf of the Food Pyramid. As one of the measures specifically designed to combat Childhood Obesity, I launched the safefood/HI/HSE three year Childhood Obesity Campaign – Childhood Obesity: Let's take it on – one small step at a time - which is designed to create greater awareness among parents about the threat of childhood overweight and obesity and provide practical tips to help address the problem with the ultimate aim of effecting behaviour change. The Deputy might also wish to note that my Department is developing a new obesity policy this year which will have a significant impact on the obesity agenda, provide a framework for action based on a number of informants and help lead inter-sectoral work in addressing overweight and obesity in Ireland.

In relation to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to him directly.

HSE Expenditure

Ceisteanna (113)

Seamus Kirk

Ceist:

113. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health if it is the intention of the Health Service Executive to outsource laundry services in the north east and, in the process, terminate the existing arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23560/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (114)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

114. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the position regarding health care in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23561/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

Medical Card Reviews

Finasteride is known to be associated with a number of adverse reactions, which are detailed in the product information for healthcare professionals and patients. Effects on male sexual function are known and clearly indicated in its product information, the most commonly occurring reactions being impotence and decreased libido. The IMB considers that the benefits of treatment with finasteride outweigh its risks, when used in accordance with the approved product information and under the supervision of the prescribing specialist.

Ambulance Service Provision

Ceisteanna (121)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

121. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 242 of 15 May 2014, if he has received a response from the National Ambulance Service; if so, the steps he will take to address the situation; if he has not received a reply to date, the reason for same in view of the fact that the National Ambulance Service has had such reports for up to six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23588/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have forwarded the report referred to by the Deputy to the National Ambulance Service for investigation and I am awaiting a response.

Maternity Services Provision

Ceisteanna (122)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

122. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to his comments on the status of maternity services at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe during his visit to County Roscommon, if he will confirm that the isolated regional review of maternity services has now been abandoned and that the determining factor in the future of the service will be dependent on the separate national review; if the hospital group review of the West-North West Hospital Group will form part of the national review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23589/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Reports suggesting that some hospitals in the West are to lose their maternity services are purely speculative. The position is that in the context of the implementation of the recommendations of the HIQA Report into the death of Savita Halappanavar at University Hospital Galway, and the Report on the establishment of Hospital Groups, the West/North West Hospital Group undertook a review of maternity services within the Group. The review included the maternity units at Portiuncula Hospital Ballinasloe, Mayo General Hospital, University Hospital Galway, Sligo Regional Hospital and Letterkenny General Hospital. While the review presents various options for service reconfiguration, I understand that the review does not recommend any particular option, nor indeed the closure of any maternity unit.

My Department is currently developing a new National Strategy for Maternity Services which will determine the optimal configuration of maternity services to ensure that women in Ireland have access to safe, high quality maternity care in a setting most appropriate to their needs. As part of the development of the Strategy, all maternity services in the country will be reviewed and evaluated. Any decision on maternity service reconfiguration will be considered in the context of the National Strategy, and therefore on a national rather than on a local basis. In these circumstances I can assure the Deputy that while the report on maternity services in the West/North West Hospital Group may help inform the new National Strategy, no decisions on service reconfiguration will be implemented without my agreement or in advance of the publication of the Strategy. It is intended to publish the Strategy later this year.