Written Answers Nos. 278-290
278. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the support services available from his Department for home support services for autistic children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37031/15]
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.
279. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health his plans to have narcolepsy included in the long-term illness scheme. [37032/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme.
There are no plans at present to amend these regulations to include narcolepsy.
280. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the date on which the Health Products Regulatory Authority was first informed by a company (details supplied) that Lariam was being withdrawn. [37033/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the 13 July 2015 the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) was informed of the potential discontinuation.
The official letter of withdrawal was received by HPRA on 5 August 2015.
281. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an appointment for emergency orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37056/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister has no role in the setting of appointments by Dublin Dental Hospital. I understand that the individual concerned has been placed on a general waiting list for non-urgent dental work and will be contacted as soon as an appointment is available.
282. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health for details of the speech and language occupational therapy services that are available, through the Health Service Executive, to a child (details supplied) in County Carlow who suffers from dyslexia; the associated costs of same; how many speech and language occupational therapy sessions were scheduled for the child; how many the child received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37061/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. 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.
284. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to retain newly qualified nurses in the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37069/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraDifficulties in recruiting nurses is not solely an Irish issue. There is an international nursing shortage. This is being experienced by other English speaking countries including the UK, Australia, and Canada. Our nursing training programmes are internationally recognised, making our nursing graduates very attractive to other countries.
Our health service has been through a particularly difficult period. We have had three years of spending cuts under the last Government and a three year spending freeze under this one. However, we have now moved from a time of retrenchment with the moratorium on public sector recruitment to a time of recovery and building for the future. With a recovering economy, the Health Service Executive is now in a position to offer a wide range of career opportunities for nurses and midwives.
There are many initiatives currently underway to improve nursing staff levels throughout the country. There were over 500 more nurses employed by the public health services in September 2015 than in September 2014. The entire graduating class of nurses in 2015 will be offered a full time contract. At the same time, nurses previously employed by the HSE on an agency basis are being offered full time contracts. The HSE is also actively pursuing recruitment in the UK and elsewhere.
285. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that urgent treatments and operations for patients are being postponed to ensure the facilitation of similar procedures for those with private medical insurance; the guarantees public patients have of availing of their procedure at the scheduled time; the factors that typically govern the setting of such appointment times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37076/15]
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.
286. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate why the appointments at Beaumont Hospital for an Irish citizen and a medical card holder (details supplied) in County Kildare have been cancelled on a number of occasions, given that the person is in urgent need of medical attention and treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37105/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific query raised by the Deputy, 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.
287. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when specific dental treatment will be offered to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 who urgently requires this treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37106/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. 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.
288. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he can ensure the availability of the maximum number of extra step-down beds in both public and private hospitals and nursing homes in order to ensure early availability and to alleviate overcrowding in accident and emergency units in general hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37108/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra289. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the total number of step-down beds available in both the private and public sectors; the extent to which these beds are now available to meet requirements throughout the winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37109/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra290. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason efforts are not being made to reopen the currently decommissioned wards at St. Brigid's hospital in Crooksling in County Dublin given the acute scarcity of step-down beds and that the buildings in question are in good basic structural condition, and while costs are being incurred to reduce the capacity of the wards currently in use; if immediate steps can be taken to inspect the property with a view to bringing the disused wards back into service, given the high quality and standard of care available because of the dedication of the staff and local support groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37110/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 288 to 290, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
