Written Answers Nos. 429-442
429. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his views regarding the decline in the number of persons attending consultations with dentists and in those receiving basic dental treatment, particularly since drastic cuts were applied to the dental treatment benefit scheme and the dental treatment services scheme in 2010. [44253/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme is a matter for my colleague Ms Joan Burton TD, Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection.
Funding for the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) was capped in 2010 at the 2008 level of €63 million. However, total spending on the DTSS amounted to €79 million in 2010 reflecting legacy issues. Spending in subsequent years was as follows: €53 million in 2011; €63 million in 2012 and €70 million in 2013. The budget for 2014 was increased to €75 million to take account of the increase in the uptake of services. Percentage uptake of those eligible was 26.66% in 2011, 27.84% in 2012 and 30.49% in 2013 and 29.86% to November 2014.
The HSE prioritises for treatment patients with special needs, high risk patients and those who have greater clinical needs and will continue to monitor the operation of the DTSS to ensure the most beneficial, effective and efficient use of available resources.
The HSE introduced Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for patients eligible for DTSS in November 2011. This is linked with prior approval of claims for treatment such as endodontics. This has enabled increased uptake of such treatments.
430. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his position on bringing a new oral health strategy swiftly forward to update his Department’s policy on oral health. [44254/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra431. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health his plans for the production and implementation of a national oral health strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44258/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 431 together.
The Department of Health is currently developing a new oral health policy. This is a three year project which commenced in 2014 and is led by the Chief Dental Officer.
The project will have three key parts. The first is a needs assessment, which will inform how new services should be provided. The second part will be a review of resources. Thirdly, there will be consultation with stakeholders, including professional groups and the public, on new ways of delivering oral health services.
The emphasis on prevention rather than intervention is a cornerstone of this policy development. The project is prioritising older adults in the first instance.
432. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the reason measures were not put in place to secure a replacement general practitioner for residents of an area (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44263/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. 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.
433. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital transfer in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44264/14]
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 my officials will follow the matter up.
434. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the consideration being provided to changing to an opt-out system of organ donation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44271/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently developing the Heads of a Human Tissue Bill which will, among other things, establish a legal framework in relation to the donation of organs for transplantation, including consent arrangements.
435. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will allocate a grant to the Killarney Immigrant Support Centre from the national lottery to enable the group progress its project which facilitates interaction between and among new communities and locals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44277/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has received an application for funding from the 2014 National Lottery allocation from the organisation in question. This is one of a large number of applications currently being assessed by my Department. The organisation will be informed of the outcome of the application as soon as a decision has been made.
436. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Health the number of respite beds available in counties Sligo and Leitrim. [44282/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe vision for the Health Service Executive's Disability Services Programme is to contribute to the realisation of a society where people with disabilities are supported, as far as possible, to participate to their full potential in economic and social life, and have access to a range of quality personal social supports and services including respite care to enhance their quality of life.
In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with the HSE.
437. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of maintenance contracts in Counties Cork and Kerry over the past five years; their value and details of the contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44286/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraManagement of maintenance contracts is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up on the matter.
438. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the ambulance base at Kerry General Hospital, County Kerry, will be replaced by a fit for purpose new base; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44289/14]
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 my officials will follow the matter up.
439. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the funding reduction to a health services provider (details supplied) in County Galway; the way this reduction will impact on front-line services; if certainty may be given regarding the 2015 allocation which it has been indicated will be further reduced, arising from the concern and anxiety that this is causing to families of persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44297/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is fully committed to ensuring the on-going delivery of vital services and supports to people with disabilities within available resources.
In budget 2015, additional funding has been provided to the HSE to address identified priority needs within disability services, including: €12m for the emerging needs of young people with a disability leaving school and those leaving Rehabilitation Training (RT) who will require a day place; and €6m to deliver the required increase in services for children with disabilities, including autism, and to reduce waiting lists under the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18s) Programme.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is currently in the process of preparing its 2015 National Service Plan including its disability services programme for children and adults with disabilities. It is not expected that the HSE will be in a position to comment on the funding of individual disability organisations until this process has been completed.
In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy on Ability West, as this is a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with the HSE.
440. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health his views on the use of the anti-depressant selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor; and if his attention has been drawn to studies that link it to increased cases of suicide and violence. [44306/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSelective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors or SSRIs are anti-depressants available on prescription only. They are authorised for use in Ireland and across the EU for the treatment of depressive disorders and some anxiety related conditions.
Depression may be associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, self-harm and suicide. This risk may persist, particularly in the early stages of treatment with anti-depressants such as the SSRIs when a patient starts treatment and until significant remission of their depression occurs. Healthcare professionals and patients are advised of this risk through the product information for the individual medicines which specifically highlight the need for monitoring of the patient following initiation of treatment. The approved product information accompanying these products advises that patients and their care-givers should be alerted to the need to monitor for any clinical worsening, suicidal behaviour or thoughts, or unusual changes in behaviour and to seek medical advice immediately if these symptoms appear.
The risk of suicide was reviewed at EU level on a number of occasions, most recently in 2008. During this safety review the existing warnings contained in the SSRI product information were further strengthened throughout Europe and manufacturers of SSRIs were obliged to update the product information on all SSRIs. The updated warnings were communicated by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (formerly known as the Irish Medicines Board) to doctors and pharmacists.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), in conjunction with medicines authorities in other member states continuously monitors the safety of medicines in a collaborative way and takes actions, as necessary, to ensure that medicines continue to have a favourable benefit-risk profile for patients. As part of the system of monitoring medicines safety, there is a spontaneous reporting system whereby healthcare professionals and patients can report suspected adverse reactions to medicines. The HPRA also reviews, approves and continuously updates the product information and package leaflet of medicines to reflect the current state of knowledge of each medicine and the risks associated with its use. New and emerging safety data is assessed in conjunction with EU medicines authorities.
441. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his views on concerns being expressed by staff at the National Centre for Medical Genetics regarding the centre’s future, specifically a proposal that it no longer be a national centre but a department of genetics at Our Lady’s Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12 and that such a move could lead to fragmented genetic testing nationally and further that such a change would run counter to the national rare disease plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44319/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Genetics Department at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin provides services for patients and families in Ireland affected by or at risk of a genetic disorder, and comprises three integrated units, a clinical genetics service, a cytogenetics laboratory and a molecular genetics laboratory. The service is under the governance of Crumlin, staff are employees of Crumlin, and the service has always been accountable to the CEO and under the governance of the hospital’s Board in the same manner as other clinical departments. A decision has been made by OLCHC to discontinue the separate identification of the service as the National Centre for Medical Genetics, in the interest of clarity on governance arrangements.
There have been rapid and progressive developments in the area of genetics and genomic medicine over the past five years, and this rapid development is expected to continue. Accordingly, a national genetic and genomic medicine network is required that reflects this growth and expected future changes. The HSE has advised that, on 17 November, a meeting was held with the leadership team of the Genetics Department at Crumlin to address their concerns, and to outline plans to map out this national and regional network governance structure with the involvement of staff in the service.
442. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support a matter regarding a nursing home admission in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44323/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 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.
