Written Answers Nos. 676 - 691
676. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form for the years 2010 to 2014 and for 2015 to date, the whole-time equivalent number of obstetricians employed in each of the 19 maternity units (details supplied); and the same details for locum appointments. [20301/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the matter. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
677. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason the child of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is being discharged from the child and adolescent mental health services in view of the fact that the child has been under its care for the past two years and was diagnosed as being on the autisim disorder spectrum by the services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20316/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
678. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health his views that the fair deal scheme unfairly prejudices those who have sold their family home and have a small cash reserve, as opposed to those who still have property, as outlined in attached correspondence (details supplied); if consideration is being given to a review of the deductions from cash assets where no property exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20320/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme is a key component of our health service. Its introduction in 2009 relieved families of potentially very onerous expense and ensured equity of treatment based upon means, regardless of the type of nursing home care provided. The Scheme involves very significant financial commitment on the part of the State with €993m allocated to the Scheme in 2015. This represents an increase of €54m on the 2014 figures.
There are several important safeguards built into the scheme which ensure that both the person entering long-term nursing home care and their spouse/partner are adequately provided for:
- Nobody will pay more than the actual cost of care.
- The first €36,000 for a person's assets, or €72,000 for a couple, is not taken into account during the financial assessment.
- The principal residence (and farms/businesses in certain circumstances) is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of a person's time in care.
- Individuals keep a personal allowance of 20% of their income, or 20% of the maximum rate of the State Pension (Non-Contributory), whichever is the greater.
- If there is a spouse/partner remaining at home, he/she will retain 50% of the couple’s income, or the maximum rate of the State Pension (Non-Contributory), whichever is the greater.
- The scheme also provides for certain items of expenditure, 'allowable deductions', to be taken into account during the financial assessment. These include health expenses, levies required by law, rent payments and borrowings in respect of a person's principal residence.
When the Nursing Homes Support Scheme commenced, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. This review is being carried out by my Department in collaboration with the HSE, with analysis and recommendations provided by Deloitte & Touche Consultants on specific issues which required specialised expertise. The review is considering the long term sustainability of the Scheme including funding arrangements. No decisions have been taken nor plans in place regarding changes to the way the Scheme currently operates.
The Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, as well as considering how the Scheme has operated to date, is expected to identify some of the broader issues that will need to be considered and tested more fully into the future, including the future financing of the full range of supports for older people, how community and residential supports and services should be balanced, and whether new care approaches can contribute positively. A continuum of more efficient care might serve to reduce the number of people requiring nursing home care and limit the projected increase in the cost of the Scheme.
679. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if a child may be deemed eligible for a medical card where the parent who receives the child benefit payment does not qualify under the medical card scheme but the other parent who lives separately holds a full medical card, in view of the fact that the child may incur medical costs when staying with the parent who currently holds a medical card and that parent may not be in a position to pay for the necessary medical care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20322/15]
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.
680. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a progress update on the national carers strategy; if he is satisfied with the progress of the strategy to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20354/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra699. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the up-to-date progress report regarding the national carers strategy by his Department, and the impact the initiative has had on family carers' lives since the strategy was launched in July 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20451/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra705. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will implement the national carers strategy as a matter of urgency. [20501/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 680, 699 and 705 together.
The National Carers’ Strategy was published in July 2012 and sets the strategic direction for future policies, services and supports provided by Government Departments and agencies for carers.
It sets out a vision to work towards and an ambitious set of National Goals and Objectives to guide policy development and service delivery to ensure that carers feel valued and supported to manage their caring responsibilities with confidence and are empowered to have a life of their own outside of caring.
The Strategy also contains a Roadmap for Implementation with a suite of actions and associated timelines, and identifies the Government Department responsible for their implementation. It is important to note that the actions in the Roadmap for Implementation are those that can be achieved on a cost neutral basis.
The National Carers' Strategy committed to the production of an Annual Report on progress which would be published on the websites of relevant Departments. The first Annual Report on implementation of the Strategy was published in November 2013 and the second in January 2015, both of which are available on my Department's website. These Annual Reports will provide the Deputies with a list of actions that were identified in the Strategy and what progress has been made on each one since the Strategy’s publication.
While The Carers Association's recently published Family Carers Scorecard raises concerns over the pace of implementation, much work has been done and the report acknowledges achievements such as:
- The development of a single assessment tool for older people containing a detailed Carers Needs Assessment;
- The imminent release of one million euro funding from Dormant accounts for training and information provision for family carers;
- The hosting of an Annual Carers Forum by the Department of Social Protection and in particular the positive engagement around the structure of this forum to meet the needs of family carers.
At my Department's request, the HSE has set up a multi-disciplinary working group to bring forward implementation of the health aspects of the Strategy.
I am determined that this Strategy will be applied in a way that makes a real and positive difference to the lives of carers, their families, and those that they care for.
681. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) who has been awaiting a response from the Health Service Executive for over two years will receive an appointment with a speech therapist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20355/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the HSE to look into the particular matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
682. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of speech therapists working in County Wexford; the number of these who are currently on career breaks or on maternity leave; the ratio of speech therapists to children with speech therapy needs in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20356/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the matter. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
683. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently on the waiting list in County Wexford for a speech therapist; the number of these waiting over a year; over two years; the number awaiting assessment for speech therapy needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20357/15]
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 for direct reply to the Deputy. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
684. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his plans to lift the embargo on recruitment of speech therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20358/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the downturn in the economy there was a requirement to reduce staff numbers and maximise savings in the public service. The HSE introduced an embargo on recruitment in 2007, and this was followed by the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public sector in 2008. However, the HSE has had the capacity to recruit where it is necessary to deliver front-line services.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced in Budget 2015 that he intends to delegate greater autonomy to Departments and Agencies to manage their own staffing levels. The change from the application of a rigid employment control framework, with its particular focus on a moratorium on recruitment and compliance with employment ceilings and targets, to one operating strictly within allocated pay frameworks will allow for recruitment where it is determined that this can achieve more economical service delivery.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) has advised that the HSE and Department of Health are required to submit a 2015 Pay and Numbers Strategy, outlining planned pay expenditure and staff numbers. Following approval of the strategy by DPER, a letter of delegated sanction will be issued. As this process is still ongoing, the existing moratorium and Employment Control Framework arrangements will continue to apply. However the number of staff employed has already increased by over 900 since January, the majority of whom are frontline staff, including speech therapists. This increase partly reflects the initiative being undertaken by the HSE to reduce reliance on agency and to offer contracts of employment where agency can be replaced by full time posts. This increase also reflects the continuing capacity of the HSE to recruit where it is necessary to deliver front line services.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the aspect of the question that relates to speech therapists. 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.
686. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on transport provided to cancer patients in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20365/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to her. If she has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days she should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
687. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if a funding stream can be found to sustain the vital community transport service provided by Purple House Cancer Support which provided 409 community-based transport trips to cancer patients on low and limited incomes in the Leinster area in 2014, yet receives no funding through the national cancer control programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20366/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to her. If she has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days she should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
688. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to tackle drug misuse, particularly among young persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20374/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment's response to the problem of drug misuse in our society is set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. The Strategy is a cross cutting area of public policy and service delivery which requires a co-ordinated approach across many Government Departments and Agencies, in conjunction with the Community and Voluntary sectors to tackling the drugs problem.
Prevention and awareness programmes constitute a significant part of the Government's response to the drug problem particularly among young persons. The Social Personal Health Education (SPHE) Programme is the foundation for developing awareness of drug and alcohol issues in schools. The Department of Health's Drugs Initiative provides almost €4m in funding to 61 education and prevention-specific community drugs projects. Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces operate a range of education and prevention programmes locally which aim to promote healthier lifestyle choices among young people and other vulnerable groups at risk of problem drug use.
In addition, young people at risk of drug misuse can access diversionary programmes, facilities and services and family support. Significant investment is being made in the Garda Youth Diversion Programme, which seeks to divert at risk young people from becoming involved in criminal behaviour including drug-related crime and in preventing their succumbing to drug misuse.
The provision of appropriate and timely treatment services is a key goal of the Strategy. At the end of December 2014, 100% of those under 18 received treatment within one week of assessment and 97% of clients over the age of 18 accessed treatment within one calendar month of assessment. An additional €2.1 million has been provided in the HSE budget this year for measures targeting vulnerable problem drug users, including the provision of more residential detoxification and rehabilitation places.
The Department of Health is beginning work on the development of a new Strategy for the period after 2016. The process will include a comprehensive consultation with key stakeholders and the public on the current national drugs policy and future priorities. It will also take account of evidence-based research, information and data sources on the extent and nature of problem drug use in Ireland. As Minister with lead responsibility for drugs policy, I will play an active role in the development of the new strategy and I look forward to engaging with all interested parties in this work.
689. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health his views on the number of general practitioners who have signed the contract for universal care for children under six years; the discussions he has had with representatives of general practitioners in recent weeks regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20381/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe contract for the under-6 service was issued to GPs by the HSE at the end of April, following the conclusion of contractual discussions and the approval of fees rates by Ministers. A substantial number of general practitioners have signed this contract to date. I am confident that there will be sufficient numbers of GPs participating to introduce the new service as planned.
The HSE plans to begin patient registration for the under-6 service on schedule in early June so that the under-6 GP service can commence in early July. In order for a doctor's details to be included in the HSE's on-line database when patient registration begins, signed contracts must be returned by 5 June at the latest. The HSE will continue to accept signed contracts after that date and will add the details of the doctors concerned to its database on an ongoing basis.
On 9 May I attended the Irish College of General Practitioners' annual general meeting, at which I participated in a Question-and-Answer session on a range of issues, including the introduction of the under-6 GP service. Officials from the Department and the HSE recently assisted the Irish Medical Organisation in clarifying a number of issues which had been raised by general practitioners in relation to the under-6 GP contract.
690. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the infant mortality rates in the various hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20382/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
691. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the occupational therapist cover for the mid-Kildare region; the number of occupational therapists working in the area; the waiting list for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20385/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand the HSE issued a written response to the Deputy on 20 May 2015 about a previous Parliamentary Question (15304/15 from 21 April 2015), which also addresses the issues raised on this occasion.
