Written Answers Nos. 212-222
212. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the changes that have been made to the provision of transport services for adults attending adult disability services commencing in 2016; if additional transport has been provided in respect of new adults commencing in the services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27892/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra213. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the assessment of need which is conducted in the analysis of the provision of transport services for adults attending adult disability services commencing in 2016; if any changes to the assessment of care needs have been implemented nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27893/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra214. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the individual criteria used for inclusion on the school transportation provision services for adults attending adult disability services nationally; if any anomalies in the assessment occur nationally; the way this is controlled, streamlined and audited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27894/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 212 to 214, inclusive, together.
Transport of school-going children, including those with a disability, is the responsibility of the Department of Education and Skills. The provision of transport to adults with a disability attending HSE-funded day services is not a core health service, and the HSE endeavours to ensure that all service users access public transport, including rural transport services, if possible. In recognition of the challenges which some service users experience in relation to accessible transport, some transport is provided by disability service providers on a case by case basis as resources allow. Service providers are continuously reviewing their transport arrangements to ensure that they are used as effectively and equitably as possible within available resources, and will continue to keep the matter under review.
215. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the efforts he is making to reach an agreement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the recognition of the 36-week incremental credit for all nursing graduates, in line with the December 2015 agreement made with the nursing unions by his Department and the HSE; his views on whether this has created a significant anomaly where 2016 graduates are earning more than those who graduated in the previous five years; his further views that this anomaly is contributing to recruitment and retention difficulties with nurses and a resultant high agency nurse bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27896/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI met with the nursing unions on Tuesday concerning recognition of the 36 week clinical placement undertaken by all nursing and midwifery graduates for the purposes of incremental credit. Following on from the meeting I have written to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform concerning restoration of the credit to those who graduated between 2011 and 2015.
Incremental Credit for the 36 week clinical placement was abolished by the then Government in December 2010. Having considered a submission made on behalf of the Nursing representative bodies, the INMO, the PNA and SIPTU Nursing and the Department of Health and the HSE, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform sanctioned recognition of the 36 week placement as qualifying for incremental credit for students on a placement in 2016 and into the future on 19 February 2016.
It is recognised that recruitment and retention of nurses and midwives is a significant issue at present. This is due to a range of factors including intense competition globally and from private providers for nurses due to a world wide shortage and the international standing of public nurses trained in Ireland, working conditions and lifestyle choices. I am committed to making terms and conditions for all nurses and midwives working in the Irish public health system as attractive as possible.
216. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the strategy and funding in place to ensure that scoliosis patients have their required operations within the international norm of three to six months; the number of scoliosis patients waiting for two years and over for operations; his strategy relative to this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27902/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraScoliosis affects approximately 1% of children and adolescents in Ireland. The management of scoliosis is complex and is determined by the severity of the curvature and skeletal maturity.
Long waiting times for scoliosis surgery are not acceptable, and my Department has been working closely with the HSE to address services pressures, particularly in Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin (OLCHC), which is the largest provider of scoliosis surgery for children and young people. Additional funding of €1.042m was allocated under the 2015 Service Plan to increase capacity at OLCHC, and an additional orthopaedic surgeon, anaesthetist, and support staff, are now in place with recruitment of a further additional orthopaedic surgeon underway. Capital funding was also provided for a new theatre on site to expand theatre capacity further, and this is currently being commissioned. The Children's Hospital Group is proactively working on nurse recruitment to support the opening of the new theatre.
The HSE Winter Initiative 2016-2017, published on 9 September, also includes €2m provided specifically for scoliosis patients to treat 39 adolescent patients on the Tallaght waiting list and an additional 15-20 paediatric patients from the Crumlin waiting list by year end.
I recently met with a number of scoliosis advocacy groups to discuss their concerns and my Department will continue to work with the HSE and the relevant hospitals to ensure improvements in access to spinal surgery. In relation to the specific query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
217. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of drug and alcohol addiction counsellors employed by the HSE in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; if all of those positions are filled; if there is a waiting list for the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27903/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
218. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if Mullingar Regional Hospital is at its full complement of nursing staff; and when the new accident and emergency department will open to full capacity. [27911/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
219. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason an organisation (details supplied) has yet to receive a 2016 funding allocation and if this will be paid without delay. [27912/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department earlier this year received an application from the organisation in question for Lottery funding. All Lottery applications are currently being processed. Each organisation will be notified once a decision has been made.
With regard to any HSE funding, I am referring your question to the HSE for direct reply as this is a service issue.
220. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the progress which has been made concerning the drafting of legislation to establish a new transport support scheme which it is anticipated will replace the now closed motorised transport grant scheme; when it is expected that this process will be formally completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27917/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraConscious of the reports of the Ombudsman in 2013 regarding the legal status of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant Schemes in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes.
However the Government also decided that monthly payments will continue to be made by the Health Service Executive to 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance at the time the scheme closed, on the basis that this would prevent hardship and, on an interim basis, alleviate stress, anxiety and uncertainty among a vulnerable group in society.
The Government decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new Transport Support Scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health. The Department is seeking a solution which would best meet the aim of supporting people with severe disabilities who require additional income to contribute towards the cost of their mobility needs, while remaining within the available budget and satisfying all legal and equality concerns.
Work is at an advanced stage on the policy proposals to be brought to Government for the drafting of primary legislation for a new scheme. The proposals seek to ensure that there is a firm statutory basis to the Scheme's operation; there is transparency and equity in the eligibility criteria attaching to the Scheme; tesources are targeted at those with the greatest needs; and the Scheme is capable of being costed and it is affordable on its introduction and on an ongoing basis.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Programme for Partnership Government acknowledges the ongoing drafting of primary legislation for a new Transport Support Scheme. I anticipate that the Heads of Bill will be brought to Government shortly.
221. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the current vacancies at Letterkenny University Hospital, as well as all positions for which a vacancy remained at some point in 2016; if, in each case, the post remains vacant or has been successfully filled; the date on which recruitment was completed; the date on which the HSE became formally aware that a vacancy existed, or would exist, concerning each post; if approval to recruit to fill these posts has or has not been granted with respect to each; the level at which such approval has been formally granted, that is, local, regional, national and so on; the date on which this approval was given with respect to each; the measures which have been taken in an effort to fill each of these vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27925/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
222. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the most recent progress which has been made to reinstate the outreach rheumatology clinic at Letterkenny University Hospital; if he is aware of the major inconvenience which current service provision and arrangements are causing to persons who must travel outside the county in order to access these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27926/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
