Written Answers Nos. 446-460
446. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health his policy regarding the recycling and re-use of aids and equipment such as specialised beds, crutches, walking aids, stair lifts and so on; the recovery for 2011, 2012 and 2013, of such equipment for which use is no longer required by the patient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27825/14]
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.
447. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason there has been no progress on the development of a new blood transfusion centre in Cork, despite the fact that the then Government made an allocation of €17 million in December 2008; to date the money earmarked has remained unused and endless discussions between the parties concerned appear inconclusive; the reason delivery on this project has not occurred; the reason for the delay; if he will provide a current status report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27826/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Blood Transfusion Service are finalising their plans for a new centre in Cork in the light of current needs. This includes discussions with the South/South West Hospital Group (the centre is likely to be located at Cork University Hospital) and with University College Cork on some aspects of the proposals. It is expected that the details of the development, which will include a donor clinic for whole blood, apheresis platelets and haemochromatosis, will be finalised in the coming months.
448. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the fair deal application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if same be put in place as soon as possible. [27833/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
449. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health the number of respite beds here; if he will provide a breakdown by county of the different type of respite-bed and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27835/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
450. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when persons here who suffer from spasticity symptoms associated with MS will be able to access cannabis-based medicinal products to improve their quality of life; when will the draft misuse of drugs (amendment) regulations to amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988 be approved by Government; and when will the draft regulations be notified to the European Commission, if required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27836/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977, the manufacture, production, preparation, sale, supply, distribution and possession of cannabis or cannabis-based medicinal products are unlawful except under licence for the purposes of research.
My Department has been informed by the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) that it has received an application for marketing authorisation approval for a cannabis-based medicinal product, known as Sativex. It is indicated for the relief of symptoms of spasticity for people with multiple sclerosis where other conservative treatments have failed to provide adequate benefit.
Draft Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations to enable authorised cannabis-based medicinal products such as Sativex to be legally prescribed by medical practitioners and used by patients are currently being finalised. These do not require notification under the Technical Standards Directive and it is anticipated that the draft Regulations will be introduced shortly.
451. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the long delay in publishing draft misuse of drugs (amendment) regulations, which will amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988, is due to legal action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27837/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra452. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if perceived cost implications have delayed the finalisation and publication of draft misuse of drugs (amendment) regulations, which will amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27838/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra453. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason he intends to notify the European Commission of the draft misuse of drugs (amendment) regulations when other EU members enacted similar amending regulations without notifying the EC, as it believed such regulations were exempt under the technical standards directive and-or the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961, as amended by 1972 protocol; if he will stipulate the provisions of the technical standards directive and-or the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961 that requires Ireland to submit the draft misuse of drugs (amendment) regulations to the EC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27839/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra454. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the written submissions that his Department received in response to his Department’s consultation on draft misuse of drugs (amendment) regulations, amending the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988, which was announced in August 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27840/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 451 to 454, inclusive, together.
The Misuse of Drugs Regulations, made under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, are the primary legislative instrument regulating the import, export, manufacture, production, prescribing, supply, possession and administration of controlled drugs.
Draft amendment Regulations were prepared following extensive consultation with key stakeholders and were placed on the Department’s website inviting further comment by early September 2013. The proposed draft Regulations constitute a major amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations. Over 90 submissions were received from a wide range of organisations and individuals. While my Department has no plans to publish these, they are available if requested. Work is ongoing on the drafting of these regulations. This process is taking longer than anticipated because it is a complex and technical body of work. The regulations will be finalised as soon as possible.
The purpose of the Technical Standards Directive is to eliminate or reduce the barriers to the free movement of goods which can arise from the adoption of different national technical regulations. Under the Directive any regulations providing for such restrictions are required to be notified to the European Commission. Accordingly, in view of the additional controls it is proposed to introduce in relation to certain substances, the Department is required to notify these under this Directive.
455. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a family (details supplied) in County Galway may expect to receive a decision on a medical card application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27854/14]
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.
456. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health regarding the ophthalmic referral system in County Cork, where public health nurses refer school children in need of glasses, which has a waiting list, the measures being taken to reduce the delays in referrals and the resources being allocated to ensure that children receive the necessary eye care that they require; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27877/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Optometric Services are provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE has therefore been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
457. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if, in the interest of fairness, persons on long-term dialysis, some of whom are experiencing extreme financial difficulty, will be added to the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27885/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra470. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health his views on adding Crohn's disease to the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27951/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 457 and 470 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. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered under the LTI 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 HSE 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.
458. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reasons the Down's syndrome clinic in Letterkenny General Hospital has been cancelled since 1 May 2014; if there are plans to reinstate this service and the timeframe for doing so; the number of patients who were registered at this clinic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27886/14]
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.
459. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reasons a child (details supplied) in County Donegal is still awaiting an appointment since being referred in August 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27887/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra460. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reasons a child (details supplied) in County Donegal has not received an appointment with an occupational therapist since spring 2013; if he will confirm that the occupational therapist assigned to the child is currently on long-term sick leave; if so, the arrangements in place to cover the appointments; if patients were notified of the absence of the occupational therapist; the arrangements put in place to deal with this absence; the time the occupational therapist has been absent; the number of patients registered to the occupational therapist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27888/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 459 and 460 together.
As the particular issues raised by the Deputy relate to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the Deputy's questions to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
