Written Answers Nos. 119-124
119. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 362 of 20 July 2016, if he will publish the reply provided to the Deputy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32162/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has advised that the answer to parliamentary question number 362 of 20 July 2016 has now been published on the HSE website.
120. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department will take to provide the resources to the HSE to meet the demand for residential care for adults with intellectual disabilities [32171/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2011 – 2016 was published by the now Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government in October 2011 and the associated National Implementation Framework was published in July 2012. The NHSPWD has been affirmed in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness and has been extended to 2020 to deliver on its aims and will continue to guide and progress policy.
At national level, my Department, DHPCLG, the HSE, the Housing Agency and the disability sector work together on an ongoing basis, in a structured framework, supported by the Housing Agency chaired Subgroup and Task Groups reporting to it.
Under the NHSPWD, policy on decongregation of institutions is a matter for the Department of Health. The HSE's report “Time to Move on from Congregated Settings – A Strategy for Community Inclusion”,(2011) proposes a new model of support in the community by moving people from institutional settings to the community. The plan is being rolled out at a regional and local level and involves full consultation with stakeholders.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to continue to move people with disabilities out of congregated settings, to enable them to live independently and to be included in the community. Currently, 2725 people live in congregated settings and our objective is to reduce this figure by one-third by 2021 and ultimately, to eliminate all congregated settings.
The HSE's 2016 National Service Plan has set a target of 165 people to move from institutions in 2016 into suitable accommodation. Earlier this year, I announced that we are providing €100 million in capital funding from now until 2021 in respect of acquiring and renovating properties in priority institutions identified by the HSE. This will ensure that people are able to move out of congregated settings, and into their own homes in the community. I want to emphasise that the appropriate supports and resources are being put in place to ensure that people are supported as they move out of residential centres.
Further to this capital funding, the HSE's Service Reform Fund 2016-2019 will provide funding of €45 million to support the phased transition to person-centred model of supports and services over the coming years. This transitional funding of €45 million represents a combined investment by the Department of Health (€30 million) and Atlantic Philanthropies (€15 million), with the support of the HSE and Genio. The fund will focus on the reconfiguration of residential services and will assist in meeting the costs of migration to a person-centred model of services and supports
In addition, I am pleased to note that the Department of the Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government is providing €10 million under the Capital Assistance Scheme to provide suitable accommodation for people transitioning from institutions in 2016. The HSE estimate that a further 100 people could benefit from this initiative. €1 million in ring-fenced leasing funding is also being made available by the Department of the Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government in 2016 to support people moving from institutions into suitable social housing in the community. This demonstrates the joined up commitment of both Departments to support the de-congregation programme.
As the HSE is responsible for leading out on the recommendations on "Time to Move on from Congregated Settings - A Strategy for Community Inclusion", I have arranged for the Deputy's question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
121. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with a group (details supplied) in County Donegal in order to discuss the issue of cancer services in the north west and other matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32172/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraA meeting in regard to Breast Cancer Services at Letterkenny University Hospital, involving the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme, the Acute Hospitals Division of the HSE, representatives of Saolta University Health Care Group (from Galway and Letterkenny) and my Department, was held recently. Proposals arising from this meeting are under consideration.
Officials from my Department would be available to meet with the group if they so wish.
122. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if there are proposed plans (details supplied) at Cavan General Hospital; if he will address specific concerns about this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32173/16]
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.
123. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his views regarding the delivery of home help packages and the persons available for delivery of service; his further views on the ongoing issue of unanswered phones in Galway home help offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32174/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
124. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason a product (details supplied) has been removed from the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32175/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has advised that Macushield products have never been made available to all persons with medical card eligibility; however, Macushield and similar products were historically available to medical card holders in many areas under Discretionary Hardship Arrangements.
In developing a national framework for the administration of Discretionary Hardship Arrangements, the HSE's Medicines Management Programme (MMP) was asked to review the available therapeutic evidence for supporting reimbursement of Macushield and similar products. The MMP report supported the view of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics that the evidence for dietary carotenoids for the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is inconclusive, and the MMP therefore does not recommend that products containing these preparations be reimbursed under any community drug scheme.
In light of the MMP's published report, the HSE decided to cease reimbursement support for these products. The MMP report is available at: http://www.hse.ie/eng/about/Who/clinical/natclinprog/medicinemanagementprogramme/yourmedicines/Evaluation_Reports/.
