Written Answers Nos. 159-180
159. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if general practitioners can charge for a blood test from a patient who is a holder of a medical card; to expedite the reimbursement of the blood test receipts submitted from a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10805/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraPersons covered by the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme should not be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP, or the Practice Nurse on behalf of the GP, which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition.
Consultation fees charged by GPs outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and the patients. While I have no role in relation to such fees, I would expect clinicians to have regard to the overall economic situation in setting their fees.
The Department of Health and the HSE are cognisant of the need for a new contract with GPs that will help modernise our health service and develop a strengthened primary care sector and negotiations are underway with the Irish Medical Organisation in this regard. The development of appropriate contractual arrangements in relation to the management of chronic conditions and issues such as phlebotomy services are amongst the significant issues to be considered during the contractual talks.
In relation to the reimbursement of receipts for the individual concerned, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this issue. 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.
160. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health the plans of the Health Service Executive for the provision of a primary health centre in Greystones, in County Wicklow; the timescale for when this will be delivered; if it will be provided within the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10807/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has responsibility for the provision and operation of Primary Care Centres. Therefore, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this issue. 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.
161. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if he can confirm the sanctioning of two positions to support the implementation of the type 2 diabetes cycle of care initiative for a senior dietician and a senior podiatrist under the 2016 Health Service Executive service plan have been advertised and filled for County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10808/16]
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 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.
162. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if there is a panel for positions of podiatrist and senior dietician for County Wicklow; if so, the number of persons on this panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10809/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up on the matter with them.
163. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if the north of Wicklow networks 1 and 2 have a full-time senior speech therapist to service adults with acquired communication and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome difficulties in network 1 and 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10810/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra164. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the current waiting list for adults to see the senior speech therapist in Wicklow south; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10811/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra165. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health the number of active clients the senior speech therapist in County Wicklow currently has, who services adults with acquired communications and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10812/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra166. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health his plans to recruit a senior speech therapist for adults for network 1 and 2 in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10813/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra167. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if there is currently approval for eight full-time senior speech and language therapists and four staff grade speech and language therapists in County Wicklow; the number of speech and language therapists and staff grade therapists currently employed in County Wicklow; if there is a plan to reach the full approved quota; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10814/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra168. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if there is a panel for speech and language therapists in County Wicklow; the number of persons on this panel; the length of time they have been on this panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10815/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra169. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health the number of children who applied for the speech and language class in a school (details supplied) in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10816/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra171. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has plans to open further speech and language units in County Wicklow in the foreseeable future to meet the demand for additional speech and language therapy units in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10818/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 163 to169, inclusive and No.171 together.
As these are service issues, these questions have 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 the Executive.
170. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health the number of places available for speech and language classes in September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10817/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question 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.
172. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if an early intervention project for preschools in designated areas of disadvantage will be funded and set up in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10819/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Early Children care and Education (ECCE) Programme, is the responsibility of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has brought forward a new model of supports to facilitate the full participation of children with a disability in the ECCE Programme. The new model will provide supports including enhanced continuing professional development for early years practioners; grants for equipment, appliances and minor alterations; and access to therapeutic intervention. Funding of €15m has been provided to phase these supports in during 2016. Full year costs for these supports are estimated to be €33m from 2017 onwards. This model of supports was launched on 18th November last by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs with the full support of both Department of Health and the Department of Education and Skills.
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people and disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
It should be noted that while the Health Services executive has no statutory obligation to provide assistant supports for children with special needs wishing to avail of the ECCE scheme, it has, to date, worked at local level and in partnership with the relevant disability services to address individual needs as they arise. This has been done for example, by funding special pre-schools that cater specifically for children with disabilities. In some limited and specific cases at local level, disability services have in the past also facilitated children with a disability to attend mainstream pre-schools by providing additional supports where possible and where resources are available. The provision of such additional supports should not be confused with Special Needs Assistants, who are funded by the Department of Education and Skills to support children with special educational needs in primary and post primary school settings.
Within this context, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the issue he raised. 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.
173. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the speech and language services available in County Mayo; the breakdown of that service per clinic area within County Mayo; the waiting times for initial assessment; the waiting times from initial assessment to commencement of treatment; why maternity leave is not being covered in a clinic (details supplied); why a planned training course for parents has not taken place; the steps that he will take to ensure a proper service is made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10823/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question 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.
174. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health if an assessment for speech and language will be made available for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10827/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question 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.
175. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that there will be no further delay in having a health specialist position filled (details supplied) in the Cavan and Monaghan area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10852/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be 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.
176. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who participated on the trial Fampyra scheme for multiple sclerosis who are no longer having their costs covered on the grounds of not showing a sufficient improvement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10853/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, 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.
177. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will continue on the Fampyra subsidised programme due to the high cost involved, with the drug unaffordable for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10854/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the particular issue raised relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for 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.
178. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when he will publish the national capacity review of the Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10865/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has now published the Capacity Review. While the overall funding requirement remains to be quantified, it is clear that a very significant programme of investment in our ambulance services is required. In that context, a phased investment in a multi annual programme involving manpower, vehicles and technology is required. The Deputy may wish to note that the Programme for Government commits to additional annual investment in terms of ambulance personnel and vehicles.
179. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the volume and category of calls received by the Ambulance Service in respect of each division in County Donegal in each of the years since 2010, including Letterkenny, Carndonagh, Killybegs, Dungloe, the Finn Valley, Ballyshannon, and Donegal town, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10866/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra180. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 357 of 22 March 2016, if he is aware that the information provided is ambiguous and somewhat deceptive; if he will provide the accurate schedule of the times of when ambulances are on duty in respect of each of the base stations serving all divisions in County Donegal including, Letterkenny, Carndonagh, Killybegs, Dungloe, the Finn Valley, Ballyshannon, and Donegal town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10868/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together.
With regard to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, 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.
