Written Answers Nos. 1122-1139
1122. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the overall budget for providing nursing home care and convalescent care in HSE provider settings as opposed to private and voluntary care settings for each of the years 2011 to 2016; the number of beds and the numbers employed each year in each setting, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20664/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1123. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the reason the medical board of appeal was unable to issue a certificate under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concession) Regulations 1994 to a person (details supplied). [20683/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
1124. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the reason the medical board of appeal was unable to issue a primary medical certificate for disabled drivers and passengers to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20684/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
1125. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20685/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1126. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) in Beaumont Hospital can be backdated to the date when the original referral should have been made. [20706/17]
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 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.
1127. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he will provide extra home help hours for a person (details supplied) in order for them to remain in their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20713/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1128. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the status of the review of A Vision for Change; and the timeframe for consultation on the review. [20797/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra'A Vision for Change' came to the end of its 10-year term in 2016 and preparations for a review and updating of policy have been underway since early last year. In September 2016, an external evidence and expert review was commissioned from WRC Consultants as the first step in determining the parameters of a revision of A Vision for Change.
This review was completed on 17 February 2017, and will provide evidence to determine the policy direction for a revision of A Vision for Change, both in terms of international best practice and the experience of implementing A Vision for Change. The review is currently being assessed by the Department of Health.
In line with a commitment given to Dáil Éireann on 6 October 2016, an Oversight Group will be established within three months of the review being finalised to oversee the development of a new policy for mental health based on the outcome of the Expert Review. Terms of Reference for this Group are being finalised. The policy review process will also involve consultation with key stakeholders.
1129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the basis on which the HSE may contemplate action likely to result in the closure or down-scaling of activity at St. Brigid's Hospital, Crooksling, in view of the serious bed shortage that exists; if bed shortages are likely to feature for a considerable time into the future and that the services and facilities at the hospital will remain an urgent requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20818/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1130. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the way in which action 1.4 of A Healthy Weight for Ireland will be advanced; the status of the provision of potable water in all learning centres; if a national audit has taken place of learning centres in respect of the availability of potable water; if not, if this will be done as a matter of priority; the consultation his officials have had with the Department of Education and Skills in this regard; the cost of providing potable water in all learning centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20828/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1131. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the way in which action 1.8 of A Healthy Weight for Ireland will be advanced; the status of proposals on the roll-out of evidence-based fiscal measures to support healthy eating and lifestyles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20830/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1132. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the way in which action 1.10 of A Healthy Weight for Ireland will be advanced; the status of the evidence review for fiscal measures on products that are high in fat, sugar and salt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20831/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1133. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the way in which action 2.1 of A Healthy Weight for Ireland will be advanced; the status of the development of guidelines and support materials for those working in developing the built environment for urban development and planning in relation to reducing the obesogenic environment; the timeline for same; the consultation he has had with other Departments in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20832/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1134. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his plans to undertake an audit of the built environment infrastructure and facilities available to schools and learning centres as part of the roll-out of the national physical activity plan for Ireland; the consultation which has taken place with his Department and other Departments in this regard; if his attention has been drawn to the results of a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20833/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1136. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the way in which action 10.2 of A Healthy Weight for Ireland is being advanced; the status of the implementation of a nutrition health surveillance system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20836/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1130 to 1134, inclusive, and 1136 together.
In September 2016 Minister Harris and I launched “A Healthy Weight for Ireland Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016 – 2025”. The key themes of the Policy are Prevention, Care and Management, and Research and Data with the overall aim of reversing the rising levels of overweight and obesity. The World Health Organisation has set a global target to halt the rise in obesity by 2025. “A Healthy Weight for Ireland” will cover the ten year period until 2025 and sets targets to be achieved and actions that will produce measurable outcomes. Twenty priority actions have been identified and work has commenced on the implementation of the majority of those priority actions already. The timeframes for the other actions will operate over the lifespan of the policy which is 2016 - 2025.
Some specifics regarding actions which the Deputy has requested information on are as follows:
Action 1.4 - The Department of Health, in collaboration with the HSE is working with the Department of Education and Skills on the development of a 'whole of school' healthy lifestyle programme. This approach includes schools curriculum, policies, environment and working with parents and the community. Potable water provision is an integral part in policies pertaining to nutrition, physical activity and wellbeing of children. My Department does not have a direct function in relation to rolling out initiatives in school settings as this is a matter for the Minister for Education and Skills. However both Departments are in discussion on how best to progress measures relating to healthy lifestyles in the school setting.
Action 1.8 - My Department has published a paper regarding a levy on Sugar Sweetened Drinks - "Introducing a Tax on Sugar Sweetened Drinks - Health Rationale, Options and Recommendations," which is available on the Department's website and which will support the Department of Finance's budget proposals to introduce a Sugar Sweetened Drinks levy in 2018 and which is contained in the Programme for Government.
Action 1.10 - An amount of work has been undertaken and is ongoing in relation to the evidence review of fiscal measures on products that are high in fat, sugar and salt. The Institute of Public Health is currently reviewing patterns of sugar sweetened drinks consumption as a contribution to this work. This Department will continue research in this area including on factors that may influence behaviour change relating to diet.
Action 2.1 - Drafting has already commenced on potential terms of reference for the establishment of a working group to develop a set of guidelines in relation to the built environment. The group will comprise relevant Government Departments, The Health Services Executive, County and City Councils, Academics and Professional Bodies among others.
The National Physical Activity Plan also contains a number of actions in relation to the built environment, including the development of guidelines and a programme of continuous professional development for those working in the built environment to promote the importance of physical activity. However, the undertaking of an audit of schools and learning centres would be a matter for the Department of Education and Skills as my Department does not have responsibility for school infrastructure and development.
Action 10.2 - Certain preparatory work has been undertaken with regard to the requirements in relation to nutritional health surveillance. Public health surveillance is the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data for use in planning, implementation and evaluation of public health practice. The annual Healthy Ireland Survey is among the activities undertaken by the Department to enhance the range of reliable information available to it. The Survey was commissioned to enhance data collection and monitoring capacity in the implementation of Healthy Ireland. The survey results include information on diet and nutrition including data on eating habits, the consumption of fruit and vegetables, the consumption of snacks and sugar sweetened drinks, and the use of folic acid supplements. This is being utilised to advance our knowledge and understanding of the Obesity problem.
Two waves of the Survey have been published, and are available at: http://www.healthyireland.ie/about/research/healthy-ireland-survey/. A third report will be published later this year.
1135. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his plans to roll out national initiatives to increase physical activity for children in schools as part of the national physical activity plan; if he will work with the Minister for Education and Skills to examine the need for physical activity and education to be part of the education syllabus from early childhood education to secondary level and to be part of teacher training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20835/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraGet Ireland Active! The National Physical Activity Plan for Ireland (NPAP) is one of the key developments arising from Healthy Ireland, the framework for improving health and wellbeing across the population. One of the most important aspects of Healthy Ireland is the recognition that no single Government Department, organisation or agency can make Ireland a healthier nation, but that all sectors of society and the whole of Government need to be proactively involved in improving the health and wellbeing of the population.
While my Department has responsibility for the strategic planning and coordination of the implementation of the Framework actions, the NPAP identifies and assigns responsibility for leadership on the implementation of specific actions to named Departments, organisations or agencies. The NPAP has highlighted the need to encourage more children to be active. A number of actions were included in the Plan and approved by Government to ensure that progress was made in supporting and encouraging more children to be active in school settings. My Department does not have a direct function in relation to rolling out initiatives in school settings as this is a matter for the Minister for Education and Skills.
In particular, actions 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 19 and 21 of the NPAP, which include initiatives to promote physical activity in schools, implement the contents of the physical education curriculum, and further develop teacher training, are the responsibility of the Minister for Education and Skills.
1137. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he has given consideration to the resourcing of lymphedema services in Dublin; the number of persons that are being treated for both primary and secondary lymphedema; the location of services provided for its treatment in Dublin; his plans to increase the resourcing of this treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20840/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
1138. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will make funding available through Coillte for required repair and maintenance of paths at an amenity (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19385/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the amenity to which the Deputy refers, namely Castlemorris Woods Walk, Knocktopher, Co. Kilkenny, is part of the Coillte forest estate. Coillte CGA was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of their lands, are the responsibility of the company.
The matter was, however, raised with Coillte who confirmed that Castlemorris Wood is one of the company’s properties and advised that Coillte receives recreation funding from the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
I understand that the Castlemorris property is a mixed use wood combining recreation, biodiversity and commercial objectives. Coillte is aware that this area is used a lot by recreational walkers and, over the last number of years, has spent some money on erecting signage for recreational users and on maintaining the walking tracks and trails in this area. Coillte adds that, as part of its 2017 plans, it has allocated some money to Castlemorris woods to repair walking trails and I understand that this work will be carried out in the next few months.
Coillte also advised that there was a recent harvesting operation at Castlemorris and that, in line with the company’s normal forestry operations, the roads are currently being repaired post-harvesting.
1139. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the 2017 traditional farm building grants scheme will open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19532/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe second tranche of GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme closed for applications on 18 November 2016. The scheme is administered by The Heritage Council on behalf of my Department. A total of 93 applications were shortlisted and grant offers will issue to the successful applicants by mid May.
I plan to open a further tranche of this very successful scheme later this year for applications for works to be undertaken in 2018.
