Written Answers Nos. 132-140
132. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans for buildings on Moore Street, Dublin 1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14641/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWorks to fully conserve the national monument buildings at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street, which were acquired on behalf of the State in July 2015, and to open the buildings as a 1916 Commemorative Centre, have been suspended since early last year on foot of proceedings in the High Court. A limited scheme of works approved by the Court to preserve and protect the buildings until a permanent solution is found is due for completion next month.
In the meantime, I am awaiting the report of the Moore Consultative Group which I established after the High Court case to consider the best way forward for Moore St itself, how best to retain its historic character and how to reflect the part it played in the events of Easter 1916. I expect to receive the report shortly and will examine its recommendations as speedily as possible.
133. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén fáth nach bhfuil eitiltí breise ar fáil chuig Oileáin Árann mar a bhíodh ar an bpraghas céanna leis na heitiltí OSP; an dtuigeann sí an tábhacht a bhaineann le seirbhís sholúbtha a bheith ar fáil chuig Oileáin Árann ar phraghas réasúnach; an bhfuil sé i gceist aici aon rud a dhéanamh leis an staid a fheabhsú; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [14714/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFaoin gconradh atá idir mo Roinn agus Galway Aviation Services Limited (Aer Arann Islands) don tréimhse 1 Eanáir 2017 go dtí 31 Nollaig 2020, tá sceideal críochnúil eitiltí le cur ar fáil do na hoileáin Árann faoi Oibleagáid Sheirbhís Phoiblí. D’eascair an conradh seo as próiseas cuimsitheach tairisceana a reáchtáladh anuraidh faoina raibh sé oscailte dóibh siúd a bhí ag déanamh tairisceana eitiltí bhreise a thairiscint gan uasteorainn, anuas ar an íosleibhéal seirbhísí a bhí iarrtha. Ba phróiseas casta a bhí ann, ag cur san áireamh na rialacha a bhain le soláthar poiblí, státchabhair agus trasfhóirdheonú lena mb’éigean do mo Roinn cloí. Sa chomhthéacs seo, ní bheadh sé cuí athchuairt a thabhairt ar an bpróiseas seo.
134. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the details of any payments made by her Department, its agencies or any bodies under her aegis to any broadcasters here in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016; the broadcaster to which the funds were provided; the reason for the payments; and if there are any reasons for payments to broadcasters in 2017. [14717/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn light of the volume of information concerned it is not possible to provide these details to the Deputy in the time available. Arrangements are therefore being made for the information requested in respect of both the Department and the bodies under its aegis to be collated and forwarded to the Deputy in line with the timelines set out in Standing Orders.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
135. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork joined the waiting list for an assessment of need; the person's place on the waiting list currently; the number of children on the waiting list the person is on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14578/17]
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 questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
136. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his plans to include Crohn's disease under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will include epi pens under the scheme. [14582/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra156. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to add a medical condition (details supplied) as a qualifying condition under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14712/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra158. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the inclusion of conditions (details supplied) onto the long-term illness card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14748/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 136, 156 and 158 together.
The LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme.
137. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be considered for the SDU initiative for a hip replacement. [14586/17]
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 scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
138. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to difficulties in relation to referring persons with Elhers-Danlos syndrome for the treatment abroad scheme, as in the case of a person (details supplied); the steps being taken to rectify this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14587/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) operates a Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland under EU Regulation 883/04, as per the procedures set out in EU Regulation 987/09, and in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines. Subject to the EU Regulations and Guidelines, the TAS provides for the cost of approved treatments in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland through the issue of form E112 (IE) where the treatment is:
- Among the benefits provided for by Irish legislation,
- Not available in Ireland,
- Not available within the time normally necessary for obtaining it in Ireland, taking account of the patient's current state of health and the probable course of the disease.
All patients in conjunction with their Irish based public referring hospital consultant have the ability to apply to the HSE TAS seeking access to public healthcare outside the State. Each application to the HSE TAS is reviewed individually on its own merits and there are no restrictions on a person making an application to the HSE TAS for review and decision. Each application is for an individual episode of care unless otherwise specified by the consultant on the application form.
Applications to the TAS are processed and a determination given in accordance with the statutory framework prior to a patient travelling to avail of treatment. The presence of a rare illness, such as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, is not of itself criteria for availing of treatment abroad: most rare diseases are treated without any need for recourse to services in other jurisdictions. It is not possible to give a “blanket” statement on applications to TAS for patients with a particular condition.
As the HSE is responsible for the administration of the TAS they have been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
139. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 572 of 28 February 2017, the specific date when a person (details supplied) in County Cork joined the waiting list for an assessment of need; the specific number the person is on the waiting list for the assessment of need; the specific number of children on that waiting list; when he expects the person to have the assessment of need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14588/17]
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 questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
140. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on their medical card application. [14589/17]
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 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 was issued to Oireachtas members.
