Written Answers Nos. 506-520
506. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not been given a definitive date for surgery; the reason they have not received a date for surgery in view of the urgency of the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32797/17]
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.
508. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health the detail of the agreed allocation of the €15 million in development funding for mental health in 2017; the additional or new services being provided in 2017; the funding provided to each, by CHO, in tabular form; and the additional posts being provided in each. [32825/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
509. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health when the recently approved assistant psychologist posts, 114 in total for primary care teams across Ireland, will be advertised by the HSE; the date for this advertisement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32826/17]
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.
510. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health the mental health development budget for 2016 spend by CHO area and type of service, that is child and adolescent, general adult and old age psychiatry; and the amount within that budget which was spent on inpatient, day, residential and other services for children, adults and older persons broken down by CHO area, in tabular form. [32827/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
511. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health when the external evidence and expert review which was commissioned to a company (details supplied) as the first step in determining the parameters of a revision of A Vision for Change will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32828/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra'A Vision for Change' has guided national mental health policy for the past 10 years and its term came to an end in 2016. The first stage of the review involved an expert evidence review and analysis of national and international best practice in the development and delivery of mental health services. The Department of Health awarded a contract for this review in November 2016. The evidence review has identified sites of best practice, outlining how these models can apply to the Irish context. The review also assessed the current delivery of Mental Health Services in Ireland having regard to the international evidence and the implementation of 'A Vision for Change'.
This first stage evidence review was completed in late February 2017. It will now inform the parameters of a broader review of 'A Vision for Change', through the establishment of an Oversight Committee which will oversee the development of a new policy for mental health based on the outcome of the Expert Review. It is envisioned that the appointment for the Chair of the Oversight Committee will shortly be confirmed, at which point the evidence review will be published.
512. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of qualified, registered counsellors employed by the HSE in each CHO area in each of the years from 2015 to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32830/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra513. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of qualified, registered counsellors currently employed by the HSE in each CHO area; the number on full time, part time and other contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32831/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 513 together.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
514. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32832/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently concluded a public consultation on my proposal to regulate counsellors generally under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. On foot of the consultation process, I decided last month to proceed with the designation of two distinct professions under the Act, that of counsellor and psychotherapist. Each will have its own register under one registration board. This decision has now been communicated to the Health and Social Care Professionals Council, the relevant professional bodies and all the respondents to the public consultation process.
The Department is now preparing the necessary regulations to designate the professions. These regulations, when drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, will require the prior approval of this House and that of the Seanad. These will be the first in a suite of regulations that will need to be made over a period of time. It is hoped that the draft regulations will be ready for submission to the Oireachtas in the autumn.
515. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the first year and full-year cost of reducing the drug payment scheme threshold from €144 to €130, €120, €110 and €100, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32912/17]
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.
516. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the first and full-year cost of recruiting an additional 100 consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32913/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
517. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the first and full-year cost of recruiting an additional 1,000 nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32914/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
518. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health his views on the threatened discontinuation of the youth counselling services being provided by an organisation (details supplied) due to a lack of funding from the HSE; the steps he is taking to ensure that the service is continued and expanded to cover areas of Galway city and county in which there is a demand for these services. [32919/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
519. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32921/17]
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.
520. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting a first assessment from the HSE under the Disability Act 2005 at the end of June 2017 or latest day available for each local health office, in tabular form. [32922/17]
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.
