Written Answers Nos. 407-424
407. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for the fair deal scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if it will be expedited due to extenuating circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4382/15]
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.
408. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the differences there are between the HAA card and the medical support in the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014. [4386/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra428. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that Mr. Justice Quirke's first recommendation on the Magdalen women was that they should receive a card entitling them to the free range of services currently received by holders of the Health (Amendment) Act 1996 card, the reason the Government is refusing this card to those women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4520/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 428 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014, which was published by the Minister for Justice, completed Second Stage in the Dáil last week. The Committee Stage of the debate is scheduled to commence on 4 February 2015.
It is anticipated that the Bill, which provides, inter alia, for health services to be made available without charge to participants in the redress scheme, will continue its passage through both Houses over the coming weeks. The final provisions of the Bill will be determined in the course of the Oireachtas debate.
409. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken by his Department since his rise to the position of Minister to ensure that data protection issues are eradicated from the PCRS; his views on serious flaws within the medical card system which need to be immediately addressed; how an official review form forwarded to a medical card holder, which was apparently automatically generated from details held on file, could contain the personal details of a complete stranger as a spouse and three completely unrelated dependent children (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4396/15]
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.
410. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be provided home help hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4404/15]
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.
411. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans in making funding available for the construction of a much-needed day centre in Youghal, County Cork, which currently has full valid planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4412/15]
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.
412. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a reassessment of a medical card application in respect of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 10; and when a decision on their case will issue. [4419/15]
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.
413. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10; and when a decision on their case will issue. [4420/15]
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.
414. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if he or his Department has received representations from members of the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association; the actions that have been taken as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4425/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra416. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if he has received requests to meet the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association; if she will agree to its request for a meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4427/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 416 together.
The Minister for Health receives representations and requests for meetings on or behalf of people with a disability on a regular basis.
I received a request to meet a parent of a child with Prader-Willi Syndrome which is under consideration, but as it appears to be a service issue, it is more appropriate to be dealt with by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
It is suggested that the lady contact the local HSE Disability Manager, to arrange an appointment to discuss her concerns.
Under the Health Act 2004, the HSE is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal services, including disability services.
415. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if there is a specific financial allocation by the Health Service Executive to patients who suffer from Prader-Willi syndrome or if it is part of the mental health care budget in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4426/15]
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.
The Health Service Executive's (HSE's) 2015 National Service Plan, including its disability services programme for children and adults with disabilities is detailed in the HSE's 2015 Operational Plan.
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.
417. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he or his Department is currently examining alternatives models of health care funding to that proposed in the White Paper on Universal Health Insurance published in April 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4428/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have established a three-year Research Programme in Healthcare Reform with the ESRI. The research programme uses economic analysis to explore issues in relation to health services and health spending as well as population health.
The immediate priority of the ESRI research programme is to examine the cost implications of a change to a multi-payer, universal health insurance model, as proposed in the White Paper on Universal Health Insurance. This analysis will include, among other things, a review of evidence of the effects on healthcare spending of alternative systems of financing and of changes in financing methods and entitlements.
This work is a key component of the major UHI costing exercise which is currently under way in my Department in conjunction with the ESRI, the Health Insurance Authority and others. I expect to have the initial results in April. These results will assist the Government in developing a road map on the next steps to UHI.
418. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if his Department will provide funding to a cardiac first-responder group (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4433/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would encourage the Deputy, if he has not already done so, to direct the particular Group to the National First Responder Network www.cfr.ie who may be able to assist with relevant information regarding equipment.
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.
419. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be reached on a medical card review in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that this review has been ongoing since July 2014. [4447/15]
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.
420. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland 2014-2018; and the number of times the oversight implementation group has met since the plan's publication in July 2014. [4454/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOne of the principal recommendations in the National Rare Disease Plan was the establishment of a National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases. This programme will be responsible for, among others:
Mapping, developing and implementing care pathways for rare diseases;
Facilitating timely access to centres of expertise - nationally and internationally;
Developing treatment guidelines for many rare disorders; and
Developing care pathways with European Reference Centres for those ultra-rare disorders where there may not be sufficient expertise in Ireland.
In line with this recommendation, a National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases has been established in the HSE. A Clinical Lead for this programme has also been appointed. This clinical programme will ultimately be a channel for advancing and implementing other recommendations in the plan, such as those on National Centres of Expertise for rare diseases.
The establishment of a National Rare Disease Office featured prominently in the recommendations of the Rare Disease plan. The HSE is in the process of establishing such a national office. It will, among other functions, provide up-to-date information regarding new treatment and management options, including clinical trials.
Meanwhile, the HSE and the EU Commission plan to fund jointly a rare disease post of Information Scientist in the HSE with a number of recommendations in mind. These refer to rare disease registries and the utility of data currently captured in health information systems.
The Health Identifiers Bill - the publication of which was recommended in the plan - has now been enacted. A similar recommendation on the Health Information Bill is being advanced.
My officials have convened a number of informal meetings with some members of the National Steering Group on Rare Diseases. I expect that a formal Oversight Implementation Group will be established in the near future.
421. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a full medical card will be approved as a matter of urgency in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny based on the medical evidence provided by them. [4456/15]
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.
422. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided to deliver the appropriate health care plan in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow as a matter of urgency; if he will seek a report on the meetings between the Health Service Executive and the family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4459/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
423. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the number of elective surgeries that were performed at University Hospital Waterford in January 2015; the number of those scheduled surgeries that were cancelled; the reason for the cancellations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4467/15]
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.
424. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce free cancer screening programmes for men; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4482/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraInternational evidence recommends population based screening programmes for bowel, breast and cervical cancer.
The HSE provides cancer screening programmes for these three cancers. BowelScreen, the National Bowel Screening Programme, commenced offering free bowel screening nationwide to men and women aged 60 to 69 years in late 2012. In 2014 BowelScreen issued 266,000 invitations. The preliminary participation rate for 2014 is between 42-45% up from 42% in 2013. It is hoped to achieve the 50% uptake target by the end of the initial screening round in 2015.
There is currently insufficient evidence to recommend the introduction of a prostate screening programme. However, the Department of Health and the National Screening Service are keeping emerging international evidence under review.
Any man who may have concerns about prostate cancer should seek the advice of their GP who will, if appropriate, refer them to a rapid access clinic for prostate cancer in a designated cancer centre.
