Written Answers Nos. 635-650
635. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the procedure in place to expedite the process of medical cards for cancer patients; if he expects to improve the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21355/16]
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 recently 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.
636. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the way in which he proposes to meet the long-term residential needs of children and young adults whose parents may not be available and who require residential care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21356/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with 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.
As 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.
637. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which staff levels in all posts have fluctuated over each of the past eight years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21357/16]
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 the matter with them.
638. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he evaluated the full extent and costs of a comprehensive health service in the future; his views on the matter with regard to demographics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21358/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has embarked upon a major multi-annual programme of health reform, the aim of which is to deliver universal healthcare, where all people can access the health services they need, of sufficient quality to be effective, while ensuring that the use of these services does not expose them to financial hardship.
In April 2014, the White Paper on Universal Health Insurance was published. Following its publication, the Department of Health initiated a major costing project, involving the ESRI, the Health Insurance Authority and others, to examine the cost implications of a change to the particular UHI model proposed in the White Paper.
The reports detailing the estimated cost of this UHI model were published on 18 November 2015. Having considered the findings, it was concluded that the high costs associated with the White Paper model of UHI are not acceptable and that further research and cost modelling in relation to the best means to achieve universal healthcare were needed.
The current programme of work for the ESRI Research Programme focuses on the development of a medium-term projection model for healthcare demand and expenditure, which includes analysis of utilisation and unmet need, with a particular focus on demographic trends. Separately, my Department is part of the SWITCH Research Programme which enables the Department to estimate the impact of changes to health policy on the population. While these various projects each have value in their own right they are also relevant to work on universal health care.
The results of this research will be published by the ESRI in the normal way. The Deputy will also be aware that the Dáil has recently established an Oireachtas Committee to develop cross-party consensus on a single unifying vision for healthcare, which will be considering how our health services can develop in the face of emerging demographic trends.
639. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to set out his vision for the future of the public health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21359/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government makes clear its commitment to universal healthcare. In particular, the Programme states that efforts to increase access to safe, timely care as close to patients’ homes as possible is a priority for Government.
I fully support the goal of universal healthcare. I have already said that universal healthcare cannot be achieved overnight. Rather, it must be viewed as a direction of travel involving a step-by-step approach to implementing key initiatives that pave the way to universal healthcare.
Among the key building blocks for universal healthcare are:
- the strengthening of primary care and improved management of chronic diseases;
- the introduction of more efficient payment systems such as activity-based funding;
- the creation of Hospital Groups and Community Healthcare Organisations;
- implementing Healthy Ireland;
- the introduction of a wide-ranging package of patient safety reforms;
- strengthening ICT, and
- the maintenance of a vibrant and sustainable health insurance market.
Work is progressing on these various initiatives, including the introduction of GP care without fees for children under the age of 6 years and all people aged 70 years and over. As well as representing major building blocks for universal healthcare, they comprise important initiatives in their own right with the potential to drive performance improvement and deliver significant benefits in terms of timely access to high quality care.
I was particularly pleased with the recent establishment of the All Party Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare, as set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government to develop a single long-term vision for healthcare over a 10 year period with cross party agreement. My Department will assist and advise the Committee, as appropriate.
640. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if his Department's website is accessible to persons with a disability; if the accessibility of this website is regularly reviewed to take account of new and emerging technologies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21682/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health’s website www.health.gov.ie has an accessibility page with details of facilities for people with disabilities, including features for individuals with reading difficulties.
The Department has an Access Officer appointed under the Disability Act 2005. Questions related to the obligations of the Department of Health under the Disability Act 2005 may be sent to the Department’s Disability Access Officer at webmaster@health.gov.ie.
A new website for the Department is planned and will include examination of adaptive technologies to assist people with a disability
641. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20459/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is an applicant under the TAMS II Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme. The application is currently being processed. Once it has been determined that all the terms and conditions of the Scheme have been complied with a letter of approval to carry out the works will issue.
642. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by persons (details supplied) under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20481/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is an applicant under the TAMS II Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme. The application is currently being processed. Once it has been determined that all the terms and conditions of the scheme have been complied with a letter of approval to carry out the works will issue.
643. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the traditional farm buildings grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20482/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under tranche 2 of GLAS was received in my Department on 8 December 2015 and the person named was approved into the GLAS 2 with effect from 1 January, 2016. The first payment due to the person named is in respect of the 2016 scheme year and this will be processed in the final quarter of the year. An application was received from the person named under the GLAS Traditional Farm Building Scheme, which supports the conservation of traditional farm buildings on GLAS-approved farms. This scheme is jointly funded by my Department and the European Union, and is administered by the Heritage Council on behalf of my Department.
All applications are initially screened to establish that the required information as outlined on the application form and the terms and conditions has been submitted. Following this initial processing, successfully screened applications are assessed by an expert panel. I understand that the application in question did not pass the initial screening stage due to the omission of certain documents. The person concerned has been advised accordingly by the Heritage Council.
644. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20483/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for Tranche 2 of the GLAS Scheme was received in this case on the dedicated GLAS online system on 29 November 2015. The pre-approval validation checks on the application of the person named, found that the Low Input Permanent Pasture (part parcel) and Traditional Hay Meadow (part parcel) actions were not in accordance with scheme specifications and were therefore not approved as part of the application.
The application was ranked as a Tier 3 application, scoring 7.50 which was below the minimum required pass mark of 16.50 and it was therefore unsuccessful for admission to the scheme. A letter issued to the person named on 10 March 2016 notifying them of this decision and giving an option of appeal to the GLAS Section.
An appeal has been received from the Agricultural Adviser of the person named and is currently being processed by my Department. The person named will be notified in writing of the outcome of this appeal once a decision has been made.
645. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20484/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Agriculture Appeals Office has confirmed that an appeal was received from the person name and has been assigned to an Appeals Officer. An oral hearing has been arranged for Friday 22nd July 2016 as requested by the appellant. Following the oral hearing the case will be fully considered by the Appeals Officer and a comprehensive decision letter will issue in writing, to the person named.
646. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for grant assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20485/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is an applicant under the TAMS II Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme. The application is currently being processed. Once it has been determined that all the terms and conditions of the Scheme have been complied with a letter of approval to carry out the works will issue.
647. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20486/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is an applicant under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme II Dairy Equipment and Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Schemes. Approval letters have issued in respect of the applications under the Dairy Equipment Scheme. The application under the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme is currently being processed and once it has been determined that all the terms and conditions of the Scheme have been complied with a letter of approval to carry out the works will issue.
648. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the national reserve for 2015. [20487/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an application for the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme which was received in the Department on 27 May 2015. The application was processed with payments issuing to the nominated bank account of the person named in December 2015 and February 2016. To complete the full processing of this application, the person named was requested to submit commonage evidence for a particular land parcel. The person named submitted a lease agreement to substantiate their claim. However, on examination of the documentation submitted, some issues were identified.
An official from my Department will be in direct contact with the person named to clarify the outstanding matters. Should these matters be resolved, the application will be further processed. Consideration for an allocation from the National Reserve will be considered as part of this process.
649. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the green-low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20488/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under Tranche 1 of GLAS was received in my Department on the 21 May 2015 and the person named was approved into the GLAS 1 with effect from 1 October 2015. There are a number of applications, including that of the person named, remaining which have not passed all of the Department’s pre-payment validation checks for the 2015 part-year payment. The Department is continuing to investigate these issues including the correction of any IT or data issues with a view to all these remaining cases meeting the payment validation checks so that they will be paid the full amount of their 2015 part-year payment at the same time as the 2015 GLAS balancing payment. which is expected to issue shortly.
650. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment to a person (details supplied) under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20489/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no record of receiving an AEOS application for the person named. An application under Tranche 1 of GLAS was received in my Department on 20 May 2015 and the person named was approved into GLAS 1 with effect from 1 October 2015. There are a number of applications, including that of the person named, remaining which have not passed all of the Department’s pre-payment validation checks for the 2015 part-year payment. The Department is continuing to investigate these issues including the correction of any IT or data issues with a view to all these remaining cases meeting the payment validation checks, so that they will be paid the full amount of their 2015 part-year payment at the same time as the 2015 GLAS balancing payment, which is expected to issue shortly.
