Thursday, 28 Sep 2017

Transport Support Scheme

Ceisteanna (161)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

161. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if the motorised grant scheme will be reintroduced; and if so, when it will be open to new applicants. [41046/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant Scheme in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes in February 2013.

The Government is aware of the continuing needs of people with a disability who rely on individual payments that support choice and independence. In this regard, monthly payments of up to €208.50 have continued to be made by the Health Service Executive to 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance.

The Government decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new Transport Support Scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health and the Programme for a Partnership Government acknowledges the ongoing drafting of primary legislation for a new Transport Support Scheme. I can confirm that work on the policy proposals for the new Scheme is at an advanced stage. The proposals seek to ensure that:

- There is a firm statutory basis to the Scheme's operation;

- There is transparency and equity in the eligibility criteria attaching to the Scheme;

- Resources are targeted at those with greatest needs; and

- The Scheme is capable of being costed and is affordable on its introduction and on an ongoing basis.

The next step is to seek Government approval to the drafting of a Bill for the new Scheme.

HSE Staff Recruitment

Ceisteanna (162)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

162. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason medical scientists and those in similar posts within the Saolta healthcare group are able to apply for inter-hospital transfers within the group but not to other HSE hospital posts outside of the group in view of the fact that recruitment for the entire HSE is handled centrally. [41048/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (163)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

163. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) can be scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41062/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

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 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.

Mental Health Services Expenditure

Ceisteanna (164)

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

164. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the cost of extending access to the counselling in primary care service to all those aged 16 to 25 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41063/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As indicated in the HSE Service Plan 2017, the Counselling in Primary Care Service expects to see around 8,900 adults this year, and collaboration is also progressing between mental health and primary care in relation to developing counselling for those under age 18. Around 3,000 adults will also be seen by the HSE National Counselling Service. Other service initiatives aimed at developing counselling or advice from a prevention or early intervention point of view include, for example, the prioritisation this year of new Jigsaw services at Dublin, Cork and Limerick and the enhancement of Primary Care psychology through the provision of an additional 114 Assistant Psychologists.

As the planning and scoping of any proposal to extend services is primarily a operational matter, in the light of changing demand or other relevant factors, this would first of all have to be considered by the HSE, in the overall context of competing demands and resource limitations. I have, therefore, asked the Executive to respond in further detail direct to the Deputy on this matter raised.

Home Help Service Expenditure

Ceisteanna (165, 166)

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

165. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the number of home help hours funded in 2017; the cost of increasing the allocation by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41064/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

166. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the funding required to address all cases in which a need for a home care package has been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41065/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together.

As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Organ Donation

Ceisteanna (167)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

167. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if the assistance scheme for living organ donors can be expanded to include relief, compensation and assistance to parents not working outside the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41069/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Policy for the Reimbursement of Expenses of Living Donors provides for the reimbursement of accommodation and travel expenses incurred by living kidney donors up to a maximum of €6,000. In addition, the scheme reimburses loss of earnings incurred by salaried/waged donors and self-employed donors for up to 12 weeks after the donation, up to a maximum of €10,000.

The policy was introduced in 2014 and a review of the provisions of the policy was undertaken last year. The scheme acknowledges the great generosity of living kidney donors. However, it is not feasible to cover all expenses of donors under the scheme, which is funded from the overall health budget. There are no plans to further alter the scheme.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (168, 169, 170)

Shane Cassells

Ceist:

168. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health the number of agency hours that have been approved for all vaccination programmes in schools in County Meath to the end of 2017. [41071/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Shane Cassells

Ceist:

169. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health the number of vaccination schedules postponed in County Meath schools in the past number of weeks. [41072/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Shane Cassells

Ceist:

170. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health if there is a threat to scheduled vaccination appointments in secondary schools in County Meath in the week commencing 25 September 2017 or in the coming weeks. [41073/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 to 170, inclusive, together.

As these matters relate to the vaccination programme in County Meath, the Deputy's questions have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Services for People with Disabilities

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 to 174, inclusive, together.

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.