Written Answers Nos 1128-1147
1128. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if a hospice (details supplied) in County Cork will be allocated the €300,000 it will cost to address the pay restoration commitment made by the Government in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26960/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 39 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE has in place Service Level Agreements with voluntary providers which set out the level of service to be provided for the grant to the individual organisation. Any individuals employed by these section 39 organisations are not HSE employees and therefore, the HSE has no role in determining the salaries or other terms and conditions applying to these staff. It should also be made clear that as the staff of these Section 39 organisations are not public servants, they were not subject to the FEMPI legislation which imposed pay reductions or the provisions of the subsequent Public Service Agreements which provided for pay restoration.
It is a matter for Section 39 organisations to negotiate salaries with their staff as part of their employment relationship and within the overall funding available for the delivery of agreed services.
1129. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has plans to recruit additional home help carers in an area (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26963/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1130. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 378 of 23 May 2017, if he will provide the figures for all pension contributions made by public sector workers in each body under the aegis of his Department, excluding those in the Civil Service, including the pension levy, in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [26974/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked that the HSE respond to you directly on the aspect of the question that relates to them. In relation to Non-Commercial State Agencies under the aegis of the Department, this information is being sought and will be forwarded to the Deputy when collated.
1131. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the urgent need of respite for children, young adults and ageing adults in the community in County Louth; if his attention has been further drawn to a proposal for providing care for 30 persons (details supplied); his views on this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26981/17]
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 I understand from the Chief Officer CHO Area 8 in the Health Service Executive (HSE), the proposal submitted is currently being reviewed as part of the CHO8 Respite Provision Project. For that reason and because the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
1132. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange to have a HSE premises (details supplied) redecorated. [26982/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care facilities, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Executive for direct reply.
1133. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that currently there is only one occupational therapist for County Louth (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26987/17]
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.
1135. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill is expected to be finalised in the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26993/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Health (Alcohol) Bill has completed Second Stage in the Seanad and the intention is to recommence Committee Stage in the Seanad during this session of the Oireachtas.
1138. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with disabilities who have been allocated a personal assistant to date; the number who have a personal assistant currently; and the length of the waiting list for persons with disabilities to achieve the funding necessary for a personal assistant in terms of numbers and time [26996/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1139. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health his plans to invest the necessary funding to provide the number of personal assistants who are necessary to meet demand; the number of persons with disabilities who receive the funding for personal assistants directly; and the number who receive it through a third-party organisation. [26997/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1138 and 1139 together.
The Government is committed to providing services and supports to 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. The commitment is outlined in the Programme for a Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles, equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is committed to protecting the level of Personal Assistant services available to people with disabilities. In their National Service Plan for 2016, the HSE exceeded the expected activity level for Personal Assistant hours which was 1.3 million hours, by approximately 200,000 hours. This reflects the responsive nature of the service provided and takes account of assessed need over time, as individual needs change. I understand that in 2017, the HSE expects to deliver 1.4 million Personal Assistance hours, an increase of 100,000 hours, to 2,357 adults with a physical and/or sensory disability.
As the Deputy's questions relate to a detailed service matter, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the HSE for a more detailed direct reply to the Deputy.
1140. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no centre for independent living in County Meath; and his plans to open such a centre in the future. [26999/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Centre for Independent Living is a private limited company and registered charity and therefore it is not within my remit as Minister to advise on this matter.
1142. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of organisations classified under section 39 that operate in line with the knowledge of the Health Service Executive; the number of staff employed by each organisation; and the difference in pay scales for each staff member in each organisation in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017 [27001/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are 1,667 agencies currently being funded by the HSE under Section 39 through Grant Aid Agreements and Service Arrangements. Staff employed by Section 39 organisations are not HSE employees and, therefore, the HSE has no role in determining the salaries or other terms and conditions applying to these staff. Accordingly, any arrangements offered by each service provider in relation to its employees terms and conditions, including rates of pay are a matter for these organisations. As such, the Executive would not retain the detailed information requested by the Deputy in relation to the pay scales for each member of staff in each of these organisations.
1143. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of the pricing application for the drug Entresto (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27002/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The HSE has completed its review of Entresto for the treatment of symptomatic chronic heart failure in adult patients.
Under the 2016 Framework Agreement on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines, in a situation where the HSE wishes to reimburse a medicine but cannot do so from within existing resources, it may inform my Department of its decision in this respect. The Minister for Health, may as he deems appropriate, bring a Memorandum to Government in relation to the funding implications and requesting consideration of same.
The HSE has advised my Department that Entresto cannot be funded from within existing resources. This matter is currently under consideration by my Department.
It should be noted that the final decision on the reimbursement of medicines remains the statutory responsibility of the HSE.
1145. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health when a person in (details supplied) will be seen by CAMHS. [27016/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1146. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the space and availability of residential care for persons in Dublin who are in need of full-time care due to their level of disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27018/17]
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 question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
1147. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in receipt of a primary medical certificate in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017, by county, in tabular form. [27025/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
