Thursday, 18 Dec 2014

Written Answers Nos. 400-423

Health Services Funding

Ceisteanna (401)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

401. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the payment received to date for 2014 under the agreement Ireland has operated in relation to the bilateral health care reimbursement agreement with the United Kingdom in respect of health services provided under EU regulations; the payment received in 2013 and the reason the amount received in 2014 is different in view of the fact that payments are meant to be based on the most recent sample survey which was conducted in 2008 and that both Administrations have agreed in principle to work towards a form of pensioner registration and while this has not yet been completed the reason there has been a change in the level of payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49078/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Ireland operates a bilateral healthcare reimbursement agreement with the United Kingdom in respect of health services provided under EU Regulations. This agreement covers such persons as temporary visitors between the two countries, pensioners of one country and their dependants residing in the other country, and dependant families of persons employed in the other country.

The United Kingdom made payments totalling €220 million in 2013 and €171.98 million in 2014. These amounts represent the actual payments made in cash in these years and do not correspond to the full liability for that particular year. The amount payable in respect of any one year is based on an estimate of the number of persons falling within categories eligible for reimbursement and for whom each country is liable and an estimate of the average cost of providing healthcare treatment. Payments are made in advance with final settlements made once all necessary information is complete. The final settlement of accounts is normally some years in arrears to facilitate collation of relevant statistics and for the approval of the average cost prepared by each country for the year concerned at EU level. Total payments in any one year can as a consequence relate to both final settlements in respect of previous years' liabilities and advance payments in respect of the current and/or previous years.

The payment of €220 million in 2013 comprised a sum of €16 million in advance payment for 2012 and a sum of €204 million in advance payment for 2013. The payment of €171.98 million in 2014 comprised a final settlement payment of €71.98 million in respect of years 2007 and 2008 and a sum of €100 million in advance payment for 2014. A further advance payment for 2014 of €94.5 million is to be made in the first quarter 2015. The data used in the advance payment calculations in recent years reflects both the yearly reduction in pensioner liability as agreed between the two administrations as well as a reducing estimated average cost of providing healthcare treatment. Discussions between both administrations on introducing a system of pensioner registration are ongoing.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration

Ceisteanna (402)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

402. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a person who was approved for fair deal funding and who was admitted to a nursing home while waiting for funding to come through in view of the fact this person has no assets or property of their own; if the Health Service Executive will backdate the fair deal payment in situations like this, as there is an outstanding nursing home bill that cannot be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49085/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Ceisteanna (403)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

403. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if the western region drugs task force received funding in 2014; the purpose of the funding; the achievements of the WRDATF to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49086/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force (WRDATF) was set up in 2003. The Task Force supports the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy in the context of local needs through delivering on the objectives of its current regional strategy 'The Way Forward'.

A total of €136,994 has been allocated from the Drugs Initiative Fund of my Department to community drugs initiatives in the WRADTF area this year. The reduced allocation in 2014 reflects the fact that funding of €524,155 for treatment and rehabilitation projects in the Western RDATF area was transferred to the HSE by my Department on 1 January 2014.

Since the Task Force was established, it has delivered a range of initiatives to tackle the problem of drug and alcohol misuse. These include the development and roll out of an education training support manual, a multi-agency Parents Drug Education Initiative, annual "Junior Cert Night" initiatives and regional drug and alcohol awareness weeks. Recently, the WRDATF has been involved in the development and roll out of the Galway Alcohol Strategy and the Ballinasloe Alcohol Strategy.

HSE Properties

Ceisteanna (404)

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

404. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene with the Health Service Executive to ensure that the registration office in Thurles, County Tipperary, is reopened as a matter of priority; if his attention has been drawn to those in the Thurles and surrounding areas who now have to travel a considerable distance to either Nenagh or Roscrea to meet their legal requirements with regard to registering life events; if his attention has been further drawn to the disruption, cost and inconvenience this is causing to families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49092/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Medical Card Data

Ceisteanna (405)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

405. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards as of 1 December 2014; the number of general practitioner cards on the same date; the number for each type of card issued on a discretionary basis on that date; and the number for each type of card assigned to over 70s on that date. [49098/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The following table provides the medical card and GP visit cards figures at 1 December 2014, as requested by the Deputy.

Medical Cards	Of which Discretionary	GP Visit Cards	Of which Discretionary	Over 70s Medical Cards	Of which Discretionary	Over 70's GP Visit Cards	Of which Discretionary
1,771,368	74,674	157,913	33,672	327,409	5,972	29,456	1,119

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration

Ceisteanna (406)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

406. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the options available in respect of a person who has been approved for the fair deal scheme but requires assistance in covering a shortfall in funding provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49099/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The HSE controls the rate at which funding is released in order to operate within the budget for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. All applicants approved for the Scheme are put on a Placement List in order of their approval date to ensure equity nationally.

Individuals who are awaiting funding approval can contact their local HSE Area Manager's Office to discuss their circumstances and the options that may be available in the interim. The provision of services is, however, subject to the level of resources available.

Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (407)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

407. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the assistance his Department and the Health Service Executive are providing in respect of a child (details supplied) in Dublin 15 with a global developmental delay; when it is expected this child will be assessed by the early intervention team; and if assistance will be provided in the interim. [49100/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of 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. 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.

Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (408)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

408. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Dublin will receive an appointment at a clinic in Dublin; the reason this person's previous appointment was cancelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49102/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE 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.

Medical Card Applications

Ceisteanna (409)

Jerry Buttimer

Ceist:

409. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health when the revised application procedure and new application form for medical cards will come into use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49110/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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.

Medical Card Eligibility

Ceisteanna (410)

Jerry Buttimer

Ceist:

410. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the assets that are not taken into account when a person is applying for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49111/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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.

Medical Card Eligibility

Ceisteanna (411)

Jerry Buttimer

Ceist:

411. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the additional flexibility that will be facilitated when determining a person's means and taking into account the burden of an illness under his proposed changes to the medical card application procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49112/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Deputy will be aware of the recent publication of the reports of the Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility and the external review of the Medical Card Process.

In the light of the conclusions of the two reports, a range of actions are being, or will be, put into effect immediately or in the short-term by the HSE. One such action is the HSE's putting arrangements in place for a more sensible processing of medical card applications involving significant medical conditions. These ensure greater interaction between the central office regarding the assessment of a person’s eligibility and the local health office regarding the person’s medical condition and the services that they may require. Another action to be progressed in the short term is the development of a single, integrated process for people to apply for a medical card, a GP visit card, the Long-Term Illness scheme and the Drugs Payment Scheme. In addition, a clinical advisory group will shortly be established by the HSE to develop guidance on assessing applications involving significant medical conditions so as to take account of the burden involved and the needs arising from the condition and to ensure that appropriate services are provided to people who need them. This guidance will be drawn up by this group over the coming months.

Departmental Staff Career Breaks

Ceisteanna (412)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

412. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of staff in his Department currently on a sabbatical-career break broken down by zero to six months, six to 12 months, one to two years, two to three years, four to five years and more than five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49128/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The information requested by the Deputy is detailed as follows.

Length of time on Career Break	Number of people
0-6 months	1
6-12 months	0
1-2 years	2
2-3 years	0
4-5 years	1
5+ years	0

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (413)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

413. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the total photography costs for his Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; the occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49143/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

It is the policy of my Department to keep costs in relation to the use of photographers to a minimum. Photographers are normally booked through the Department's Press Office. The total of such expenditure since my appointment as Minister for Health is €308 in respect of the Department's Stakeholder Consultation in September. The photographer used was Mr. Conor McCabe.

From time to time individual units may incur other photography costs. I will advise the Deputy separately if any such payments were made.

No photography costs are met from my Ministerial Allowance.

Public Relations Contracts Data

Ceisteanna (414, 433)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

414. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department since coming to office; the list of uses of the external public relations firm; the internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49158/14]

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

433. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the total external public relations costs incurred by his Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and estimated in 2014. [49383/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 433 together.

Between March 2011 and July 2014, the Department did not spend any money on PR or communications consultants. The Department does not generally use their services. The Press and Communications Office in the Department liaises with the media on my behalf, the Minister of State and the Department. I will revert to the Deputy with details should there be any expenditure since July 2014.

The Department's policy on engaging external consultants is to only so do where it is felt to be appropriate and cost effective, taking into account Government policy and Government decisions.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (415, 416)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

415. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the total amount spent on external IT consultants by his Department in 2010 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49173/14]

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

416. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if his Department has renegotiated external IT consultancy contracts and costs since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49188/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 416 together.

My Department operates a shared ICT service which, in addition to supporting the business of the Department of Health also provides IT support for the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Adoption Authority of Ireland and the Ombudsman for Children. While my Department does engage external contractors for specific services, such as software development and network support, it does not engage external consultants in relation to IT and, consequently, the issue of renegotiating does not arise. Contracts for operational ICT work are re-tendered on a regular basis.

Appointments to State Boards

Ceisteanna (417)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

417. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the number of appointments to State boards under his Department's remit made since March 2011 to date; the number of vacancies on State boards under his Department's remit since March 2011 to date; the number of vacancies on State boards under his Department's remit publicly advertised since March 2011 to date; and the number of appointments to State boards under his remit drawn directly from the public advertisement process. [49203/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The nomination and appointment process for boards of bodies under the aegis of the Department of Health is set out in legislation. In line with the most recent Government Decision S180/20/10/1617 of 2014, relating to the advertising for expressions of interest in vacancies on State Boards, my Department in conjunction with the new Public Appointments Service website portal, Stateboards.ie, currently advertises for board vacancies as they arise, where I, as Minister for Health, have nominating rights under relevant legislation. I also appoint members on the nomination of various bodies, again in accordance with the relevant legislation.

There have been 504 appointments to Boards under the aegis of the Department of Health since March 2011 to date. Of these, 163 appointments have been made on the nomination of bodies specified in legislation. The Minister for Health has no function in these nominations other than the actual appointments.

341 appointments have been made where the Minister for Health has nominating rights, and 118 of these have been appointed following public advertising campaigns.

Since March 2011, there have been 277 positions advertised. It should be noted that there were no advertising campaigns in 2011, but 34 appointments were made where the Minister had nominating rights. It should also be noted that there are still several campaigns ongoing with appointments pending.

Home Help Service Provision

Ceisteanna (418)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

418. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, by county or local health area the number of home help hours provided to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49210/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

Ambulance Service Response Times

Ceisteanna (419)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

419. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, for each ambulance station in each month in 2014 to September 2014 the percentage of clinical status 1 ECHO incidents responded to by first responder in seven minutes and 59 seconds or less; the percentage of clinical status 1 DELTA incidents responded to by a patient-carrying vehicle in seven minutes and 59 seconds or less. [49211/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 my officials will follow the matter up.

Ambulance Service Provision

Ceisteanna (420)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

420. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular format the number of ambulance attendances at each emergency department nationwide in September 2014; the number of such ambulances that waited longer than 20 minutes to hand over patients, get their trolleys back and return to responding to calls; the number that waited longer than 40 minutes for same; the number that waited longer than 60 minutes for same; the number that waited longer than 90 minutes for same; the number that waited more than 120 minutes for same; and the number that waited more than 180 minutes for same. [49212/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 my officials will follow the matter up with them.

Medical Card Data

Ceisteanna (421)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

421. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form for December 2013 and December 2014 for each local health area the number of medical cards in circulation; the number of which issued on the basis of the exercise of discretion; and the number of which were allocated to over 70s. [49216/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The figures as requested by the Deputy for 1 December 2013 and 1 December 2014, are provided as follows.

-	-			Numbers  at 1 Dec 2013				Numbers  at 1 Dec 2014
Local Health Office	Medical Cards	Of which Discretionary	Over 70s Medical Cards	Of which Discretionary	Medical Cards	Of which Discretionary	Over 70s Medical Cards	Of which Discretionary
Carlow/ Kilkenny	61,167	1,454	10,517	127	58,818	2,294	10,085	173
Cavan/ Monaghan	59,933	1,044	10,412	55	57,050	1,779	10,014	91
Clare	49,589	1,908	9,425	319	46,027	2,537	8,908	327
Cork - North Lee	81,536	3,676	13,717	302	78,411	5,018	13,213	386
Cork - South Lee	62,988	2,214	14,639	230	60,318	3,144	13,404	300
Donegal	90,695	1,807	14,320	97	86,403	2,901	14,153	207
Dublin North Central	54,191	981	11,897	105	54,079	1,558	10,675	179
Dublin South City	38,466	617	8,861	59	36,487	974	7,570	117
Dublin South East	24,695	504	8,988	59	22,936	778	7,339	128
Dublin South West	68,261	1,591	11,911	108	65,623	2,239	11,111	171
Dublin West	62,063	1,146	7,648	41	59,862	1,804	7,218	84
Dún Laoghaire	24,774	540	10,274	79	21,847	754	7,918	131
Galway	103,817	2,412	19,018	81	98,081	3,816	18,027	171
Kerry	61,154	2,100	13,186	187	59,010	2,935	12,553	236
Kildare/ West Wicklow	76,734	2,487	11,783	165	73,494	3,545	11,211	250
Laois/ Offaly	70,170	2,561	11,381	208	68,055	3,650	10,927	261
Limerick	80,626	2,661	15,339	462	77,341	3,649	14,417	477
Longford/ Westmeath	57,362	1,340	9,670	94	55,778	2,106	9,169	142
Louth	62,091	744	9,788	43	59,548	1,404	9,310	84
Mayo	66,854	1,408	13,125	41	62,712	2,239	12,643	88
Meath	68,611	967	10,590	34	65,348	1,774	10,225	75
North Cork	36,068	2,029	7,617	103	33,777	2,676	7,203	149
North Dublin	81,391	2,417	17,427	303	76,007	3,540	15,872	422
North Tipp./ East Limerick	30,834	1,619	6,457	196	29,343	2,007	6,136	220
North West Dublin	69,930	1,239	11,124	89	64,994	1,952	10,101	155
Roscommon	30,474	930	6,400	62	28,698	1,298	6,152	88
Sligo/ Leitrim	43,123	1,516	9,067	77	41,128	2,166	8,614	136
South Tipperary	42,355	1,515	8,214	184	40,869	2,178	7,880	191
Waterford	57,916	1,872	10,527	197	54,889	2,705	10,064	195
West Cork	21,933	914	5,729	68	20,774	1,300	5,414	100
Wexford	71,834	1,427	12,310	56	68,952	2,288	11,900	132
Wicklow	46,744	1,145	8,573	67	44,709	1,666	7,983	106
Total	1,858,379	50,785	349,934	4,298	1,771,368	74,674	327,409	5,972

Ambulance Service Provision

Ceisteanna (422)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

422. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form, indicating the HSE region and subdivided by every 80,000 km, the distances that have been travelled by emergency ambulances currently in service; the distances that have been travelled by intermediate care ambulances currently in service; the distances that have been travelled by rapid response vehicles currently in service in such a capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49217/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 my officials will follow the matter up.

Mental Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (423)

Colm Keaveney

Ceist:

423. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the number of Health Service Executive staff in the mental health sector, whole time equivalent, in each HSE local area in the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and the projections for 2014; if he will indicate within that the additional staff recruited by the €35 million allocations for 2012 and 2013 and the projected number from the 2014 allocation; the number currently on the payroll as distinct from having had their recruitment process completed; if he will provide a breakdown of numbers in acute psychiatric hospitals and in community based services; the numbers in each of the years stated allocated to child and adolescent mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49218/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE 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.