Written Answers Nos. 161-169
161. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters will include investigation into citizens of the Twenty-six Counties who were forcibly relocated to the north of Ireland during the time period examined. [1947/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra162. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the terms of reference for the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters will ensure that the commission investigates the experiences of children and mothers who were transferred from the Republic of Ireland to homes in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1995/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together.
I announced the proposed Terms of Reference for the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters last week. Relevant details are available on my Department’s website. In developing the Terms of Reference due regard has been given to the emphasis on “Mother and Baby Homes” in the motion approved by Dáil Eireann on the 11th June 2014 and the investigation will examine a wide agenda of matters in relation to these homes. The investigation will thoroughly examine the experience of the many mothers and children who were resident in a Mother and Baby Home over the period 1922-1998. These institutions have not been the central focus of previous statutory investigations.
The Commission is tasked with investigating the nature of the relationships between Mother and Baby Homes and other key institutions – these include children’s homes; orphanages; and adoption societies. As identified during the scoping work, some of these pathways may have led to mothers and children travelling into the State from other jurisdictions, or leaving the State as part of the exit pathway from these homes for example to Northern Ireland, Britain and the United States, etc and Article (1)(VII) of the Terms of Reference provides for the Commission to investigate these matters. While the statutory powers of the Commission do not extend beyond the Republic of Ireland it is expected that the Commission will explore how best to it might follow such pathways through cooperation with other relevant authorities.
163. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if his Department has made an estimate of the administrative costs associated with the implementation of universal health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1950/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health is undertaking a major costing exercise to estimate the cost of Universal Health Insurance (UHI) for individuals/households and the Exchequer, and is working closely with the ESRI and the Health Insurance Authority on this. The exercise will also take account of administrative costs associated with the model of UHI as set out in the White Paper.
The Minister expects to have the initial costings in April. These results will assist Government in deciding on the next steps towards achieving a single tier health service providing universal healthcare.
164. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason a registered charity (details supplied) failed to qualify for his Department's recent lottery grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1882/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications for National Lottery grants far exceed resources and as the funds available for 2014 have been disbursed it is not possible, unfortunately, to assist in this particular case. However, if funding for this project is required in 2015, the organisation may wish to apply for a grant from the 2015 National Lottery allocation. Details of which will be put on the Department's website www.health.gov.ie.
165. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason behind the decision to make the income level for a couple applying for the over 70s' medical card €900 and not €1000; and if he will review this matter in the future. [1886/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe gross income limit for an over 70s medical card was set in law at €500 per week for a single person and at €900 per week for a couple from 1 January 2014. The gross income limits up to that date were €600 per week for a single person and at €1,200 per week for a couple.
The over 70s gross income limit for a single person was reduced proportionately less than the gross income limit for a couple under the Budgetary change as the Government recognises that the living costs of an individual living alone are more than half the living costs of a couple living together and that expenditure does not necessarily diminish relative to the number of people in the household. This is recognised, inter alia, through the provision of the Living Alone Increase and differential income limits for medical cards for persons aged under 70 years between individuals and couples. There are no proposals to change these gross income limits.
The Deputy will be aware that 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 the qualifying income thresholds under this scheme are lower than over 70s 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.
The Government has, in addition, approved the drafting of a Bill to provide a GP service without fees for all persons aged 70 years and over. Drafting of the Bill is at an advanced stage and the expectation is that the Bill will be published shortly.
166. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a date for an appointment with an ear specialist will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1893/15]
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. In relation to the particular query raised, 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.
167. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will review a referral for an operation procedure at Kerry General Hospital in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1896/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, 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.
168. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with the representatives of a support group (details supplied) in County Dublin in order to appreciate the work that they are involved with and in view of being overlooked for his Department's lottery grants; and the way they can be assisted in addressing their urgent financial needs in order to secure a premises to conduct the vital support work that they are engaged in. [1898/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra173. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a meeting in respect of a support group (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1948/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 173 together.
My Office has recently received a meeting request from this organisation and it is currently being considered.
169. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the number of persons waiting more than 12 months for an outpatient appointment to see a neurologist which has increased to 1,695 at the end of last year, up 746 from 949 earlier in the year; and his plans to reduce the waiting lists. [1910/15]
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.
