Written Answers Nos. 276-289
277. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason a particular medicine (details supplied) is not included in the general medical services scheme or the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34371/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
278. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an operation will be arranged immediately in respect of a person (details supplied). [34377/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
279. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently availing of private health insurance in age groups (details supplied). [34381/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table provides for the most recent data available from the Health Insurance Authority and shows the number of insured persons by age group on 1 July 2016. This information is compiled in respect of the commercial health insurers and excludes people serving waiting periods and members of Restricted Membership Undertakings (which provide insurance to people who are members of a particular group, normally a vocational group or employees of a particular organisation).
Table: Insured persons by age group for the Market
(Open Enrolment Insurers), 1 July 2016
|
Age Group |
Market |
|
0-17 |
477,351 |
|
18-29 |
212,652 |
|
30-39 |
295,054 |
|
40-49 |
324,180 |
|
50-59 |
282,516 |
|
60-69 |
229,219 |
|
70-79 |
136,556 |
|
80+ |
57,189 |
|
Total |
2,014,717 |
280. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the scaling back of services by a medical centre (details supplied) in County Clare; the action that will be taken to ensure that persons in the area will have access to care when it is needed and that access to care will not be compromised; his plans to replace these services that are being scaled back; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34382/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraGeneral Practitioners contracted under the General Medical Services Scheme must make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum/deputy, for emergencies outside normal practice hours. While there is no obligation on GPs to participate in GP out-of-hours cooperatives as a means of meeting the contractual requirement, such services have been developed and expanded over time and are now an essential part of our primary care services helping to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, urgent care needs are met in the primary care setting. Where GPs decide not to become members of out-of-hours co-ops they must still discharge their contractual obligation in terms of out-of-hours provision in accordance with their GP contract.
In the Mid West region, the out-of-hours arrangements for participating GPs are discharged through Shannondoc, a not-for-profit GP cooperative, which is funded by the HSE. Shannondoc has recently indicated that due to a difficulty in attracting GPs, and in particular locum cover, it is no longer able to maintain its existing service across all its centres.
Following discussions with Shannondoc, the HSE, in order to ensure the sustainability of the service, accepted a proposal from the cooperative to changes in the provision of the service. The most significant changes relate to parts of East and West Clare, essentially affecting Ennistymon, Kilrush, and Killaloe with minor changes in terms of operating hours in two locations in North Tipperary,
The recent changes to the Shannondoc out-of-hours services will be subject to a three-monthly review and their impact will be closely monitored and evaluated by the HSE.
281. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a comprehensive assessment is carried out on a person (details supplied). [34393/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Information and Quality Authority is the independent authority established under the Health Act 2007 to drive continuous improvement and to monitor safety and quality in Ireland’s health and personal social care services. Since 2009 all nursing homes - public, voluntary and private have been registered and inspected by HIQA.
The functions of the Minister for Health in relation to HIQA, and the Chief Inspector of Social Services are prescribed in the Act, and in this respect the Chief Inspector is independent in the exercise of these functions.
However, the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013, as amended, include provisions governing individual assessment and care plan for residents. The regulations also include provisions governing the contract for provision of services, including a requirement that a discharge shall be discussed, planned for and agreed with a resident and, where appropriate, with their family or carer, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.
Registered providers of nursing home care are obliged to provide an accessible and effective complaints procedure. Concerns should in the first instance be taken up with the nursing home provider. The Office of the Ombudsman can examine complaints about the actions of a range of public bodies and, from 24 August 2015, complaints relating to the administrative actions of private nursing homes. The Office of the Ombudsman normally only deals with a complaint once the individual has already gone through the complaints procedure of the private nursing home concerned.
The provision of homecare is a service matter and that aspect has accordingly been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
282. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his plans to revise the recruitment policy for nurses; if he will consider devolving the human resource responsibility to each hospital which would speed up the process from the current centralised process; if he will consider reviewing the Garda clearance procedure in terms of the need for new clearance if moving from a voluntary hospital to a HSE hospital; the length of time this takes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34398/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government aims to recruit and retain talent within the public health service by implementing new procedures to ensure more efficient and timely recruitment of nurses. This Government has secured a total budget of €14.6 billion for the health service in 2017, the highest ever health budget. This funding will allow for the filling of a significant number of nursing and other key service delivery posts.
There are many initiatives currently underway to improve staffing levels throughout the country. The HSE is offering permanent posts to 2016 degree programme graduates, and full time permanent contracts to those in temporary posts. The HSE is also focused on converting agency staffing to permanent posts. The HSE's National Recruitment Service is actively operating rolling nursing recruitment campaigns. The campaigns encompass General, Mental Health, Intellectual Disability and Registered Children's Nurses, and also Midwives. In addition, a relocation package of up to €1,500 is available to nurses who return from overseas.
The HSE People Strategy is supported by detailed Work Plans to deliver the outcomes required under the direction of the HR Leadership Team. The work plans intend to specifically address the responsiveness of the recruitment process to add pace to the timeline between approval and appointment including the establishment of ‘transfer’ panels and to restructure recruitment to achieve optimum delivery of workforce plans. The HSE are also in the process of developing a HR Delivery Model and a consultation document has been circulated, this is expected to be finalised by the end of the year.
HSE Health Business Services (HBS) provide a range of services across five functional areas, one of which is the National Recruitment Service (NRS). The NRS will continue to implement the Recruitment Strategy with Corporate HR HSE and other stakeholders.
As part of the pre-appointment screening process the NRS verify all information provided to them in order to complete assessment of the candidate with regard to their suitability and competence for the particular post. This is for the protection and interest of all patients, service users and staff. The information disclosed on the Garda Vetting Form is the property of the organisation in the first instance and therefore under Data Protection it should not be passed from organisation to organisation.
283. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of in-patients at Letterkenny University Hospital for the years 2004 to date in 2016. [34399/16]
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.
284. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of beds at each hospital for each of the years 2004 to 2016 to date. [34401/16]
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.
285. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to immediately review Food Wise 2025 with respect to forecasts outlined within, for example exports, employment and added value in each sector, considering the document was published in July 2015 in advance of the Brexit referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34322/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFood Wise 2025, the new ten year strategy for the agri-food sector, was published in July last year. It identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy that will allow the sector to grow and prosper. Food Wise includes more than 400 specific recommendations, spread across the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, human capital, market development and competitiveness; as well as specific sectoral recommendations.
The implementation process for any strategy is vital for its success. I chair the Food Wise High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC), with high level representatives from all the relevant Departments and State agencies. The committee reviews progress on detailed actions on a quarterly basis, in order to identify and solve problems quickly. Stakeholders regularly present to the committee meetings on their priorities for particular sectors or themes and by the end of this year, the HLIC will have reviewed in detail progress on the five cross-cutting themes and the twelve individual sectors outlined in Food Wise 2025.
In July this year, I launched the first annual progress report of Food Wise 2025: Steps to Success 2016. Food Wise Steps to Success showed that, of the 330 detailed actions which were due to commence in 2015 or 2016, 28% have been achieved or substantial action has been undertaken; and a further 67% have commenced and are progressing well. I believe that this is a good start and I will press on to get as many actions as possible completed within the next year.
In the light of the UK vote to leave the EU I convened a special meeting of the High Level Implementation Committee to consider the immediate impact of the UK decision. I intend to include this issue as a standard item on the agenda of each future meeting of the HLIC. It is clear that ensuring action is taken on the Food Wise recommendations, particularly those related to market development, competitiveness and innovation, assumes even greater importance in the light of the UK decision. However, I see no compelling reason at this point to review the strategy.
286. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the low cost loan scheme for farmers as outlined in budget 2017; the opening date for applications; the type of loans provided; and the purpose these loans will serve. [34137/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that the sustained period of lower commodity prices has led to cash flow difficulties for farmers in several sectors. One of my priorities is to support the provision of lower-cost flexible finance so I was pleased to announce plans for a €150 million fund for 'Agri Cash Flow Support' as part of the recent Budget.
The provision of €11.1 million in EU funding for milk and other livestock farmers under the exceptional adjustment aid package, will be supplemented by €14 million in national funding from my Department. The €25 million total will enable the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) to leverage a fund of €150 million, thereby maximising the support for farmers from the available public funding. The extra national funding will enable loans to be made available to non-livestock sectors, including tillage and horticulture, under “de minimis” State Aid provisions.
This fund will support highly flexible loans for up to six years, for amounts up to €150,000, at an interest rate of 2.95%, which will represent a significant saving to farmers when compared with other forms of finance currently available. The loan fund is part of a “three pillar strategy” in response to income volatility that I announced in the recent Budget, along with additional tax measures and farm payments.
Further details of the loan fund will be provided shortly but it is expected that it will be operational as soon as possible. The SBCI will make an open call for lending institutions to participate and I have spoken to the main banks to encourage them to make this facility available to their customers. Normal lending assessment criteria will apply although the loans will be ‘unsecured’ in nature, thereby facilitating a more straightforward application process.
287. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area payment and annual payment will be paid to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34141/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme was received from the person named on 21 April 2016.
Processing of the application is ongoing with a view to completion and payment issuing to the nominated bank account of the person named at the earliest possible date.
288. Deputy Michael D'Arcy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will release 70% of the 2015 disadvantaged payment funds due to a person (details supplied) who has been selected for a remote sensing eligibility inspection and if there is any penalty, that it will be paid out of the 30% remaining; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34201/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2016 Basic Payment Scheme / Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 5 May 2016. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases remote sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a remote sensing eligibility inspection and this inspection has been completed and the results finalised. The full advance payment due under the Basic Payment Scheme has now issued to the nominated bank account of the person named. Payment due under the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme is currently being finalised and will issue shortly.
289. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a basic payment scheme application in respect of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34228/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe persons named submitted a 2016 Transfer of Entitlements application to my Department seeking the transfer of entitlements by Change of Registration Details of Herd Number. As the herd number shown had changed after the submission of the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme application, it was necessary for the persons named to submit a Basic Payment Scheme Declaration of Undertaking form to my Department in order to allow the transfer application to be processed. This form was submitted and the application has been fully processed. Payment under the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme will be issued to the persons named in the coming days.
