Written Answers Nos. 810-829
811. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that the hospitals in the Health Service Executive West region operated as a pilot for the new hospital group system, if consideration will be given to piloting the new planned programme for hospital waiting lists in the Saolta hospital group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42205/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
812. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a hospital appointment. [42215/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. 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. As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
813. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his plans to review medical care criteria (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42217/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that applications for medical cards for persons aged 70 years and older can be assessed both on the basis of the standard national assessment guidelines and on the basis of the guidelines for persons aged 70 years or over. The HSE endeavours to ensure that all persons aged 70 and over, who are entitled to a medical card or a GP visit card, are facilitated to avail of their entitlement.
Under the arrangements effected by the Health Act 2008, a much simplified system of assessment for eligibility was introduced for persons aged 70 or over, based on the significantly higher gross income limits rather than the standard net income thresholds. The gross income limits of €500 per week for a single person and €900 per week for a couple from 1 January 2014 are set at more than twice the amount of the State Pension. This arrangement for persons aged over 70 years has facilitated a much greater share of this cohort qualifying for a medical card compared to the general population as a whole.
In the main, persons in the over-70s age cohort do not have the same outlays and expenses as those under 70 years of age who are assessed on a means basis. Under the standard means tested medical card scheme, allowance may be made for rent/mortgage, travel to work and child care costs. Generally, for the over 70s, mortgages have been cleared, children have been catered for and they would not have travel to work related costs.
Persons aged 70 or older who are assessed as ineligible under the gross income thresholds may also have their eligibility assessed under the means tested medical card scheme in the event that they face particularly high expenses, e.g., nursing home or medication costs. This assessment is based on net income and assessable outgoing expenses and, as outlined, the qualifying income thresholds under this scheme are lower than over 70's gross income thresholds.
Furthermore, persons aged over 70 years may still be eligible for a medical card on a discretionary basis where they face undue hardship in arranging medical services as a result of medical or social circumstances.
There are no current plans to alter the income limits for the over 70's medical card scheme.
The Government is committed to the introduction of a universal GP service for the entire population in line with the Programme for Government. As part of the roll out of universal primary care the legislative basis is being advanced in phases. The Government has decided that those persons aged 70 and over will be the second phase in the roll-out of universal GP care. The drafting of the Bill, to implement this phase, is at an advanced stage of preparation and the aim is to have the second phase of the roll-out of universal GP care for all over-70s implemented this year or early next year, subject to the conclusion of discussions between the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO.
815. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners contracted to the Health Service Executive at the end of 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014. [42239/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table shows the number of General Practitioners (GPs) who held a General Medical Services (GMS) contract with the HSE over the period 2010 to date:
|
Date |
GMS Contract Holders |
|
31st December 2010 |
2,258 |
|
31st December 2011 |
2,277 |
|
31st December 2012 |
2,353 |
|
31st December 2013 |
2,413 |
|
30th September 2014 |
2,412 |
GPs may also hold contracts with the HSE under other schemes, such as the Primary Childhood Immunisation Scheme; the Health (Amendment) Act 1996; Heartwatch; the Methadone Treatment Scheme; the National Cancer Screening Programme; and the Maternity & Infant Care Scheme, but may not be contracted under the GMS Scheme. The HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the number of GPs who held contracts under these schemes since 2010. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
816. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a health lottery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42248/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe establishment of a health lottery as outlined by the Deputy is not within my remit as Minister for Health. However, as the Deputy will be aware, National Lottery funds, administered by my Department, are available annually to provide once-off grants to organisations providing a range of health related services to specific clients groups e.g. disability, elderly, mental health. Further details of this National Lottery Discretionary Fund are available on my Department's website www.health.gov.ie.
817. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if a medical procedure will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [42249/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
818. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for a colonoscopy and the measures, being undertaken to cut these waiting times. [42250/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe target for urgent colonoscopy is 4 weeks. Since 2011 there has only 1 patient has been in breach of this target, in August 2014. This patient was prioritised and dealt with in September 2014. With regard to general waiting lists, it is a key part of HSE Waiting List policy to treat patients in chronological order, unless clinical need dictates otherwise. The HSE is currently undertaking an analysis of growth rates in waiting list breaches to assess additional elective service capacity requirements.
819. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his plans to make health insurance more affordable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42258/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is a need for much greater cost control in the private health insurance industry so that premiums are affordable for as many people as possible. My Department and the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) monitor the factors that contribute to costs on an ongoing basis. The cost of private health insurance is influenced by issues such as the number of persons and the age profile of those holding private health insurance, ongoing medical innovations which can have an impact on the cost of care and the cost of claims.
I am determined to address the issues contributing to increased costs in the sector. Health insurers also have an important role to play in keeping health insurance affordable. I welcome the 2% reduction in claims costs across the market for 2013 reported by the HIA and urge the sector to further build on this positive achievement. As part of the Consultative Forum on Health Insurance, Mr. Pat McLoughlin was appointed as Independent Chair to work with insurance companies, my Department and the HIA to identify effective cost management strategies for the industry. Mr. McLoughlin's final report will be published shortly and I will consider how the recommendations can best be implemented.
I am also keen to create the best possible environment within which more people, particularly young people, will want to obtain and retain private health insurance. Under Lifetime Community Rating, from 1 May 2015 loadings will be incurred by anyone aged 35 or over taking out private health insurance for the first time. Loadings can be avoided by taking out health insurance before this date. I am also going to address the sharp price increase that younger people currently experience when they can no longer avail of student discounts. This has led to a substantial reduction in penetration rates in the 20-25 age group, which I will address by making legislative provision for the introduction of Young Adult rates in 2015.
These measures are designed to encourage more people to join the market at younger ages, and to retain cover, which is critical to the sustainability of our system of community-rated health insurance.
820. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that within the Primary Care Reimbursement Service any medical evidence submitted by an applicant must be dated within three months of an application being submitted; his views that this evidence is received from consultants and specialists and can take some time for an applicant to gather; his further views that this practise causes undue difficulty for an applicant with serious medical conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42268/14]
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. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
821. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42270/14]
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. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
823. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health the number of quangos set up since 2011 in his Department; the number of members of same; the cost and expense incurred to date including details of the briefs that they cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42516/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo new statutory bodies have been established under the aegis of my Department since 2011.
824. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to a proposal (details supplied) from an experienced senior academic regarding the contribution which third level scholarships could make to the rebuilding of Gaza and, in particular, to young adults impacted by the destruction of education infrastructure; if he will support each institution making just one place available under this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41877/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recent conflict in Gaza has had devastating humanitarian consequences. The large scale internal displacement and damage caused to infrastructure has compounded already difficult living conditions.
In response to the conflict, Ireland has pledged a total of €3 million towards urgent immediate needs as well as long term recovery efforts. This support is in addition to our broader programme of assistance to the Palestinian people which currently amounts to over €10 million annually.
Ireland’s funding to the Palestinian people has traditionally had a strong focus on the education sector which is crucial to Palestine’s long-term economic viability. Along with a number of other donors, Ireland is providing support to the Palestinian Authority’s Education Development Strategic Plan through a Joint Financing Arrangement. €1.5 million will be provided this year, bringing Ireland’s total contribution since the establishment of the Joint Financing Arrangement to €7.5 million.
Our response to the most recent conflict in Gaza has focussed on meeting the immediate humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza. As we consider our contribution to the longer term reconstruction and development efforts our focus within the education sector will remain on ensuring the provision of primary and secondary level education to Palestinian children.Through the Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme, Ireland provides higher education opportunities to increase the specialist knowledge of staff working in our partner organisations. Successful fellows from the occupied Palestinian territory have studied a variety of different courses including human rights law and global health at third level institutes in Ireland. The proposal referred to, relating to scholarships from Gaza, offers some interesting ideas which we are considering. In the meantime, we will continue to work with our partners in the occupied Palestinian territory and with third level institutes in Ireland to ensure educational opportunities for Palestinians, including those involved in the reconstruction and development of Gaza.
825. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the procedure to be followed by Romanian born twins (details supplied) in County Kildare who were adopted and moved here with their Irish parents in March 1991, and who now wish to obtain Irish passports having never before had such documents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42033/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the parents can apply for Irish passports for their children once the parents are Irish citizens and the adoption has been registered with the Adoption Authority of Ireland. The parents should complete passport applications for the children as normal and enclose the certificates of entry in the Adoption Authority of Ireland’s Register of Foreign Adoptions plus full documentary evidence that establishes the Irish citizenship of an adoptive parent at the time of adoption.
826. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the volunteer initiative as announced in October 2013; the allocation that was given to this initiative from his Department for 2013, 2014 and 2015; the number of Irish volunteers that were supported in those years and the agencies through which they were supported; his plans to expand the initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41035/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s policy on overseas development, One World, One Future, which was launched in May 2013, underlines the important contribution that Irish volunteers make to international development. It included a commitment to establish a new Irish Aid Volunteering Initiative.
The Initiative, launched in October 2013, aims to strengthen support for volunteering, from the information stage to the volunteer’s return, and to promote participation in high quality volunteer programmes that contribute to clear sustainable development goals.
The Volunteering Initiative has a number of strands, including funding of strategic partnerships with Comhlámh, the Irish Association of Volunteers and Development Workers and VSO Ireland. It also includes funding for innovative volunteering projects through civil society organizations, and continued support to international volunteering initiatives, including the UN Volunteers programme.
Since the launch of the Initiative, Irish Aid has also held two highly successful Volunteering Fairs, aimed at raising awareness of and interest in overseas volunteering. Some 300 people attended each of these events.
Since 2013, Irish Aid has provided €2,200,000 to support the volunteering strategic partnerships with Comhlámh and VSO. This support has enabled further rollout and implementation of the Code of Good Practice on Volunteering and the development of an online information portal (#VolOps) to enable volunteers to access information about responsible volunteering and volunteer placements. The pilot programme with VSO Ireland is enabling the deployment of specialist volunteers, particularly in the medical and education fields, to Ethiopia, Uganda and Zambia. To date, 15 volunteers have deployed under this programme with a further 14 to deploy in the coming year .
Ireland has also been a long-standing partner of the United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV). With funding from Irish Aid, UNV manages an online volunteering database, and also deploys Youth Volunteers and specialists to UN offices in developing countries. Irish Aid’s financial contribution to the UNV Programme amounted to €1,000,000 over the past two years.
Through its funding of civil society organisations more generally, Irish Aid continues to provide support to development programmes that contain a significant volunteering element. A recent survey on International Volunteering from Ireland, undertaken by Comhlámh, indicates that an estimated 2, 000 Irish people volunteered overseas in 2013.
As part of the Volunteering Initiative, the Department will continue to explore opportunities, and work with relevant agencies, to support innovative volunteering opportunities that reflect local needs in development countries and build on the principles of partnership, skill sharing and mutual learning.
827. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent independence referendum in Scotland and its implications for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39844/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra828. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the recent independence referendum in Scotland and its implications for the North of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37617/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 827 and 828 together.
Following its referendum on 18 September, there is now a roadmap for further devolution in Scotland. I welcome the fact that the process will allow for the many different groups in Scottish society to express their views. Through that process, I hope that all parts of Scottish society can come together in a constructive and inclusive way in shaping Scotland’s future within the UK. Contacts continue with the Scottish Government, with its Cabinet Secretary for External Relations visiting Dublin last week.
This Government is in close contact with London, Edinburgh and other devolved administrations as discussions proceed on enhanced devolution for Scotland and, indeed, on the political changes across the UK outlined by Prime Minister Cameron on 18 September. Devolution of further powers in Northern Ireland will be an issue for discussion between the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government taking account of the framework of the Good Friday Agreement.
The Good Friday Agreement set as a key objective the promotion of the harmonious and mutually beneficial development of the totality of relationships among the peoples of these islands. The commitment in that Agreement to partnership, equality and mutual respect as the basis of relationships within Northern Ireland, between North and South and between these islands is as important today as it ever was.
The further devolution of powers to Scotland and the political changes outlined by Prime Minster Cameron do of course have political and policy implications for Ireland, North and South. It will take time to tease out these implications with all stakeholders, on these islands and within the European Union.
The Smith Commission is now fully established and the Scottish parties have nominated their delegates to the Commission and made their initial submissions on proposals for further devolution. The Commission had its first full meeting on 22 October in Edinburgh. In addition, Lord Smith has received submissions and comments from a wide range of civil society organisations and individual members of the public. The Government will remain in close contact with London, Edinburgh and other devolved administrations as the Commission carries forward its important work.
829. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the recent announcement that the Irish and British Governments are to initiate all-party talks to resolve outstanding issues facing the political process in the North of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37618/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraPolitical talks began on 16 October. The British and Irish Governments convened the current talks in order to address a number of key issues that have badly impacted on the reconciliation agenda and on economic renewal in Northern Ireland, including budgetary and financial issues, legacy issues (parades, flags and identity, dealing with the past), the working of the political institutions and outstanding commitments from the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements. Discussions have now taken place on each of these streams.
Since the 16 October, the Government has met with all of the Northern Ireland Executive Parties and with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, as well as with representatives of civil society. On 30 October, Minister of State Sherlock and I met with Senator Hart, who travelled to Belfast in his capacity as Secretary of State Kerry’s Personal Representative.
Progress is being made in the talks. The Irish Government is committed to doing everything possible to ensure that a comprehensive deal is reached that will deliver a positive outcome for people in Northern Ireland and throughout this island.
