Wednesday, 5 Apr 2017

Written Answers Nos. 288-299

Drugs Payment Scheme Administration

Ceisteanna (288)

Peter Burke

Ceist:

288. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if DPS, drugs payment scheme, patients must pay the DPS amount of €144 only 11 times per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17051/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Drugs Payment Scheme Administration

Ceisteanna (289)

Peter Burke

Ceist:

289. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the approach taken by DPS, drugs payment scheme, pharmacists when a patient runs out of medication before the calendar month is up; if there are instances where patients must pay €144 twice in one month; if this is taken into account at the end of the year in cases where patients could have made up to 14 monthly payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17052/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Health Services Funding

Ceisteanna (290)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

290. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17061/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

HIQA Inspections

Ceisteanna (291)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

291. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the details of all HIQA examinations, visits, reports and recommendations into a nursing home (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17064/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Health Information and Quality Authority is the independent authority established under the Health Act 2007 to monitor safety and quality and drive improvement in Ireland’s health and personal social care services. Since 2009 all nursing homes have been registered and inspected by HIQA.

Once finalised, HIQA inspection reports are published on the Authority's website www.hiqa.ie.

Nursing Home Subventions

Ceisteanna (292, 293, 294)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

292. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated to a nursing home (details supplied) in each of the years 2008 to 2015, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17065/17]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

293. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he has received a request for increased funding from a nursing home (details supplied); if he will provide extra funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17066/17]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

294. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will provide additional funding to enable a nursing home (details supplied) comply with HIQA recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17067/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 292 to 294, inclusive, together.

As these are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Medical Card Reviews

Ceisteanna (295)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

295. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a decision to revoke a medical card from a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be reviewed in view of evidence having been supplied that supports claims by the card holder that every effort was made to engage with his Department and supply it with the required information concerning the holder's place of residence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17084/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Heritage Schemes

Ceisteanna (296)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

296. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is grant aid available to renovate traditional farm buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17054/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme provides grant-aid for the conservation of traditional farm buildings and related structures on GLAS farms. This Scheme is administered by The Heritage Council on behalf of my Department and seeks to ensure that traditional farm buildings and structures are restored and conserved for renewed practical agricultural use as part of the normal working life of the farm.

While my Department has no similar scheme in respect of traditional farm buildings on non-GLAS farms, I am aware that The Heritage Council operates a broadly based ‘Heritage Management Grant Scheme’ that is open to all, and which may provide some opportunities for non-GLAS farmers. In addition, The Revenue Commissioners, in conjunction with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, allow tax relief for expenditure on works of repair, maintenance or restoration to approved historic properties and gardens, which can be a very significant assistance to qualifying farms. The Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, through the local authorities, also provide assistance for appropriate conservation work to eligible structures in respect of buildings contained on the Record of Protected Structures and in Architectural Conservation Areas.

Aquaculture Licences

Ceisteanna (297)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

297. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to prevent unregulated aquaculture on Lough Foyle, County Donegal, while awaiting the jurisdictional issues to be resolved with the Crown Estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16884/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The management of aquaculture licensing functions in Lough Foyle gives rise to legal and jurisdictional complexities. Negotiations regarding the jurisdiction of the Lough Foyle area are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. I understand these negotiations are ongoing.

My Department organises and participates in an inter-departmental working group which is pursuing a way forward in terms of the future management of aquaculture activities on Lough Foyle, in parallel with a workable resolution to the complex jurisdictional issues involved.

GLAS Payments

Ceisteanna (298)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

298. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16940/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015.

Payment in respect of the 2015 scheme year has now been approved and processing of the payment in respect of the 2016 scheme year will now commence with a view to issuing payment at the earliest possible date.

GLAS Payments

Ceisteanna (299)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

299. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in a 2016 GLAS payment issuing to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16941/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016.

During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue presented on the computerised crosscheck of Department databases. Parcels approved into the GLAS scheme for the Farmland Habitat action have been merged since the GLAS application was submitted which has resulted in unforeseen technical issues on the Department's databases. Department officials are actively working to resolve this issue with a view to further processing the application for the 2016 payment as soon as possible.