Written Answers Nos. 180-188
180. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No.182 of 18 February 2015, if he will acknowledge there is no pay grade for assistant psychologists, as there is within the National Health Service in the United Kingdom; and if he will eliminate the practice of using these professionals in a voluntary capacity, and instead, replace it with a proper pay grade. [8548/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has been advised by the HSE that representations have been made by the IMPACT Trade Union for the establishment of the grade of Assistant Psychologist. I understand that the HSE is examining this proposal.
181. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8569/15]
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.
182. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health following the decision of An Bord Pleanála to reject an application for permission to build a primary care centre at the Mellows Road site in Finglas, Dublin 11, the total amount spent, to date, on the Finglas primary care centre; if he will confirm that the Finglas community remains a priority for the provision of such a service, and if he will commit to fund such a facility, as soon as a new site is identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8574/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraBoth Minister Varadkar and I are extremely disappointed by the decision of An Bord Pleanála not to grant planning permission for the Finglas primary care centre which was to be located at Mellowes Road and serve the local communities of Finglas south and west. Zoning was appropriate for the proposed development and use. The decision was unexpected since Dublin City Council (DCC) had issued a notification of its decision to grant planning permission. An Bord Pleanála's inspector also recommended a grant of planning permission, upholding the DCC decision. The single reason given for the refusal by An Bord Pleanála was the loss of informal open space. This decision will significantly delay the provision of a primary care centre for Finglas south and west. This project has been approved for funding and the HSE will review the situation to determine what can be done.
However, as with all capital programmes, the primary care infrastructure programme which includes this project, must be considered within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. There is limited funding available for new projects, over the next multi-annual period 2015-2019, given the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place. Therefore the reason capital funding is not ring-fenced / committed by project is to ensure that the HSE has flexibility to manage within its voted capital allocation in the event that one or more of the hundreds of construction projects underway at any time do not progress as scheduled. Indenting rather than ring-fencing enables the HSE, to leverage its capital allocation efficiently, so that it delivers the maximum number of priority projects for the funding available. Nevertheless Finglas south and west remains a priority as it is one of the communities most in need of access to primary care services.
While the Mellowes Road site was purchased subject to planning, certain costs including professional fees will have been incurred. The HSE has been asked to respond to your query in relation to the total amount spent to date on this project. 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.
183. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his views on the National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland 2014-2018; the progress which has been made regarding the key recommendations in the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8575/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland, which is a generic policy framework for rare diseases, was published in July 2014. One of the principal recommendations in the 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 under the National Clinical Strategy and Programmes Division of the HSE. The programme is a joint initiative between the HSE and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and was established with a view to improve and standardise the quality of care for patients with rare diseases in Ireland by increasing detection and prevention, facilitating early timely diagnosis, intervention and coordination of care, and increasing awareness, information and support.
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. 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 post will be located in the National Rare Disease Office.
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.
184. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of all the recognised medical conditions, illnesses and syndromes, which a term (details supplied) encapsulates, regarding the long-term illness scheme. [8587/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes, including the Long Term Illness Scheme, therefore the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to you.
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.
185. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason for recent disruptions to services at a training and support centre (details supplied) for persons with disabilities in County Donegal; the number of persons who have been requested not to attend the unit over the past 12 months; if he will provide details in tabular form of the dates, together with the reason, persons were requested not to attend during this period; if he will provide details as to who authorised the decision to suspend services on these dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8588/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. 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 the matter up with the HSE.
186. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an early date for assessment for a hip operation will be arranged in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will expedite the matter. [8627/15]
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 specific case 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.
187. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding public hospital waiting lists (details supplied). [8629/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra188. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding public hospital waiting lists for surgery (details supplied). [8630/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together.
As these are service matters, 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.
