Written Answers Nos. 151-163
151. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of persons who are on public or Civil Service pensions who have been recruited for work on any basis, either permanent or temporary, under the remit of his Department in 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39544/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe detailed information sought by the Deputy covering the years 2012 to 2014 is not readily available within my Department. The information is being compiled at present and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
I have asked the agencies under the auspices of my Department to supply the requested information, in so far as it applies to those bodies, directly to the Deputy.
152. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if it is his Department or the Health Service Executive who will carry forward planned proposals to reduce, through mergers, the number of disability service providers; and if he will report on the progress. [38849/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) provides annual funding of approximately €1.2 billion to over 230 voluntary agencies in the disability sector. Given the scale of funding provided to this sector, it is critical that the HSE ensures that it delivers measurable value for this funding.
Recommendations on the restructuring of service delivery and the implementation of a more effective method of assessing need, allocating resources and monitoring resource use are set out in the Value for Money (VFM) and Policy Review of Disability Services in Ireland. Responsibility for the implementation of these recommendations lies with the HSE in the first instance.
The VFM Review noted that it was difficult to make any conclusive recommendations on mergers and that savings may vary on a case by case basis. The Review did however identify significant opportunities to achieve savings in agencies' unit cost base and to reduce average costs across the sector. Savings in management/administration costs would be a component in this overall cost reduction.
A Steering Group has been established to oversee the process of implementing the Review's recommendations and a number of Working Groups are also in place to support VFM implementation, one of which is focusing on Governance and Service Arrangements. This group's terms of reference include:
- Streamline governance arrangements and maximise optimum efficiency by implementing a reconfigured governance and accountability framework for the disability service programme including revised Service Arrangements / Grant Agreements; and
- Put in place the necessary systems and protocols to ensure full accountability and transparency for all funding allocated from the health vote to the disability services programme.
These new arrangements are helping to shape and drive the disability services programme and will ultimately lead to achieving optimal efficiency in the delivery of the programme.
153. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a support service in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38873/14]
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.
154. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the increase in annual fees nurses are required to pay to An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais to remain registered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38878/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra160. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Irish Nursing Board plans to increase its annual retention fee by 50% to €150 from January 2015; if this decision will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38928/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra165. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health if he will consider reducing the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland registration fees for nurses and midwives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38964/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 154, 160 and 165 together.
A new Nurses and Midwives Act was passed into legislation in 2011. The Act provides, inter alia, for the protection of the public in its dealings with nurses and midwives and the enhancement of their high standards of professional education and competencies. The Department of Health is responsible for oversight of the governance of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). The Department has no role in setting or approving registration fees.
The Board is an independent body, answerable to the Oireachtas, with the responsibility to ensure that it has the financial capacity to undertake all its legal obligations. The cost of enacting the additional requirements under the Nurses and Midwives Act 2014 was set out in the Regulatory Impact Analysis that was carried out prior to the enactment of the legislation. These costs include an enhanced regulatory process with supporting systems for continued professional development and certain education and training requirements for the professions.
It was also made clear at the time of the legislation that the Board would continue to be self-funding and needed to plan and cost how it would fulfil its legal obligations. Following detailed negotiations with the Executive and Board members in 2013 it was agreed in October 2013 that an initial once-off sum of €1.6 m would be granted by the Department to the Board to cover 2013/2014 costs, but that the Board would have to increase its income in 2015 to undertake its commitments in the legislation. The Board of the NMBI made the decision to increase the annual registration fee at its meeting on 17th September, 2014. A helpline, email address and website information page have been made available by the NMBI to provide clarification for registrants who may have queries on this matter.
155. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health his views on the recommendations of the new Royal College of Physicians of Ireland policy statement on obesity here; the measures he will implement on the matter of obesity (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38879/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to thank the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland for their policy statement and for the important contribution they have made in tackling the obesity challenge.
Tackling overweight and obesity remains a public health priority for my Department. It is recognised that alone no single initiative will reverse the growing obesity trend, but a combination of measures should make a difference. The Special Action Group on Obesity (SAGO) is concentrating on a range of measures such as calorie posting in restaurants, a choice of healthy foods and drinks in vending machines in post-primary schools; food labelling options; Treatment Algorithms for adults and children and opportunistic screening and monitoring for earlier detection of overweight and obesity in children. The Department of Health has worked with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, with regard to the marketing of food and drink to children for the revised Children's Code to restrict marketing of high fat, high salt and high sugar foods and drinks. The current Food Pyramid guidelines on carbohydrates and fat are being reviewed by the Health Research Board and results will be presented to the Special Action Group on Obesity later this month for comment and modification, if necessary.
An EU-wide Joint Action to facilitate implementation of The EU Action Plan on Childhood Obesity will commence in March 2015 and end in early 2017. Ireland will lead on a Work Package which focuses on 'The cost of Childhood Obesity in Europe and forecasting the increase in the burden of disease arising from childhood obesity in the EU by 2020'. A Report and Recommendations of the Special Action Group on Obesity Working Group to reduce consumption of high fat, salt and sugar foods and drinks from the Top Shelf of the Food Pyramid has been prepared and is being considered under the Healthy Ireland framework. Work is now ongoing on progressing the Recommendations.
A new Obesity Policy in now under development and will be finalised in 2015.
156. 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. [38882/14]
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.
157. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if paediatric inflammatory bowel disease might be recognised by the Health Service Executive as a long-term illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38883/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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, which 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 by 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.
Under the provisions of the Health Acts, medical cards are provided to persons who are, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive (HSE), unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family.
158. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when a reply will issue to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38898/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Health Research Board (the health research agency of my Department) that it funded a project on Vertigo (related to vestibular rehabilitation) in the Royal College of Surgeons in 2010. I am also advised that it has not received any other applications for funding on this topic since the establishment of its database in 2000.
Health research projects in Ireland, including those related to vertigo, can take place in many settings including universities, hospitals, etc. and be funded from many sources. Information on these research projects, other than those supported by the HRB, are not available in my Department.
159. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be provided with a required procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38925/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular patient query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
161. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will address an issue raised in correspondence in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [38933/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decisions made on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer, are not political or ministerial decisions. These are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the Health Service Executive (HSE) on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The HSE received an application for the inclusion of Fampridine (Fampyra®) in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application was considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed by the Department of Health and the HSE with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association for the assessment of new medicines. In accordance with these procedures, the NCPE conducted a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of Fampridine and concluded that, as the manufacturer was unable to demonstrate sufficient effectiveness and a fair price for Fampridine in the Irish healthcare setting, it was unable to recommend the reimbursement of the product. The report is available on the NCPE's website (www.ncpe.ie).
On foot of this, the HSE decided that it was not in a position to add the drug to the List of Reimbursable Items supplied under the GMS and other community drug schemes.
It is open to the supplier, at any time, to submit a new application to the HSE for the inclusion of Fampridine on the community drugs schemes incorporating new evidence which demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of the drug, by offering a reduced price or both.
A revised application was received by the HSE on 25th July 2014 and is currently being considered in line with the agreed procedures and timescales. No further comment is possible at this time as the HSE decision making process is ongoing.
162. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health if the wig allowance administered by the Health Service Executive is a different amount in each HSE region; if this is the case, the reason for the varying rates and if he will provide the rates in each region. [38937/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not routinely available in the Department, therefore I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply directly to the Deputy.
163. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to deal with the massive waiting lists for approval under the fair deal scheme and his views regarding the reversal of cuts in this area.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38940/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE operates a national placement list for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme to enable it to operate within budget. All applicants who are approved for funding are put on the placement list in chronological order by the date of determination of their application, and funding issues to applicants in this chronological order to ensure equity nationally. Funding is released by the HSE on a weekly basis to balance the position across the full year. On the 9th October 2014 (latest figures available), there were 2,114 people on the national placement list for funding, with average waiting times of approximately 15 weeks.
The Deputy will appreciate that significant funding pressures exist in the health services generally, and that the Nursing Homes Support Scheme must operate within the funding available to it and must manage this in the most effective possible way. The position for 2015 will be considered in the context of the Estimates Process for that year, which is currently under way.
