Wednesday, 4 Mar 2015

Written Answers Nos. 179-185

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (179)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

179. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently on an outpatient waiting list to see a consultant, for each of the hospitals in counties Carlow and Kilkenny, broken down by specialty or discipline, for example, cardiac, renal, paediatrics and so on; the number of those patients that have been waiting less than three months; between three and six months; between six and 12 months; between 12 and 24 months; between 24 and 36 months; more than 36 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9584/15]

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.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Ceisteanna (180)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

180. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in counties Carlow and Kilkenny awaiting approval under the nursing home support scheme; the number of persons in Carlow and Kilkenny approved but currently awaiting funding under the scheme; the expected waiting time for a person in counties Carlow and Kilkenny from the date an application is submitted to the expected approval date for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9585/15]

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.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (181)

Jerry Buttimer

Ceist:

181. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on plans to introduce a vaccine for meningitis B onto the national immunisation scheme; the contact that has been made between his Department, the Health Service Executive and the National Immunisation Advisory Council on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9594/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising of experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health. The committee's recommendations are informed by public health advice, international best practice, and a cost effective analysis conducted by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics.

My Department has recently received a letter from the Chairman of NIAC regarding the introduction of the Meningitis B vaccine into the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule. In this letter the committee recommends the inclusion of Meningococcal B vaccine in the primary immunisation programme, if the vaccine can be made available at a cost-effective price. It should be noted that Meningococcal B vaccine has not been included in any population based immunisation programme by any other country.

NIAC has issued guidance in relation to the use of the Meningococcal B vaccine in the control of clusters or outbreaks of the disease. The vaccine has been used in accordance with the NIAC guidance, along with other measures, to control outbreaks of the disease.

The recommendation from NIAC is being considered by my Department.

Hospital Consultant Contracts

Ceisteanna (182)

Jerry Buttimer

Ceist:

182. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the policy with regard to hospital consultants seeing private patients at public clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9598/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Consultant Contract 2008 provides that a common waiting list operated by the public hospital will apply to both public and private patients undergoing diagnostic investigations, tests and procedures (including radiology and laboratory procedures) on an out-patient basis in public hospitals (including referrals from General Practitioners).

Appointments to State Boards

Ceisteanna (183)

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

183. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of senior civil servants who retired since 2011 in his Department who have been appointed to a State board under his aegis following their retirement; if he will provide in tabular form the names of these persons, the boards to which they were appointed and the appointment process followed in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9951/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to retired civil servants serving on boards is not readily available, but I will forward a detailed reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Special Educational Needs Data

Ceisteanna (184)

Eric J. Byrne

Ceist:

184. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding Down syndrome; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9471/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that under the existing allocation system, all pupils with Down syndrome, including pupils with mild general learning difficulties, are entitled to receive additional teaching support. Support is provided from a school's General Allocation Model (GAM) hours, or from an allocation of additional resource teacher hours allocated to schools by the NCSE. In the current school year my Department has allocated approximately 4950 learning support/resource teachers through general allocation, while the NCSE has allocated over 6200 resource teachers. I am aware that some parents, and Down syndrome representative organisations, have concerns that the existing system does not give them certainty as to the support that their children will receive under the GAM, as these hours are distributed locally by schools. I recently met with Down Syndrome Ireland, and some parents of children with Down syndrome to discuss their concerns in this regard. I will be meeting with more parents this week. I will consider and review the issues which have been raised and will keep the House informed of my developing views on this matter.

Redundancy Payments

Ceisteanna (185)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

185. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for delay in issuing a redundancy payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if she will confirm the up to date status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9579/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Letters outlining details of the redundancy position for the personnel referred to by the Deputy are currently being prepared by my Department. It is expected that the letters will be issued to the individuals within the next week.