Written Answers Nos. 168-175
168. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if the HSE community health care organisation, CHO, 1 has submitted information and an application for additional funding for community hospitals as part of the capital plan (details supplied) formation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52548/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth capital funding was outlined in the recently published Public Service Estimates for 2018 and the HSE is currently developing its Capital Plan for 2018 - 2021.
The Government is also preparing a new 10 year National Investment Plan for the period 2018-2027, which is expected to be published by the end of the year alongside and in support of the forthcoming new National Planning Framework, to sustain national economic and social progress over the long term.
My Department has asked the HSE to reply directly to you in respect of community hospitals.
169. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the projects in County Donegal that will receive additional funding as a result of the mid-term review of the capital plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52549/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth capital funding was outlined in the recently published Public Service Estimates for 2018 and the HSE is currently developing its Capital Plan for 2018 - 2021.
The Government is also preparing a new 10 year National Investment Plan for the period 2018-2027, which is expected to be published by the end of the year alongside and in support of the forthcoming new National Planning Framework, to sustain national economic and social progress over the long term.
My Department has asked the HSE to reply directly to you in respect of capital projects in County Donegal.
170. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the extent to which data are collected on the level of benefits covered by medical insurance policies; and the way in which this varies over time. [52558/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Insurance Authority (HIA) is the statutory regulator of the private health insurance market, one of whose principal functions is to maintain the register of health insurance contracts. The HIA monitors market developments to ensure that new products meet minimum benefit requirements. These requirements ensure that all consumers obtain an appropriate minimum level of health insurance cover regardless of what plan they purchase and that every plan available is inclusive of a minimum suite of benefits and procedures.
There are 313 health insurance products currently in the market, a significant decrease from the 343 plans available in July 2016. While each product has a specific set of benefits, over and above the minimum benefits, there are two main categories of plans – advanced (90% of the market) and non-advanced (10%). The HIA regularly publishes analysis of market developments, including the proportion of advanced to non-advanced plans, in reports available on their website www.hia.ie.
171. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the services available and the way in which they are accessed for a person (details supplied) presenting as a suicide risk who cannot be seen by child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, due to budget constraints and cannot access adult services; the way in which their risk will be managed in the absence of such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52559/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnquiries have been made with the HSE who have indicated that they are in contact with this person and their family and I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Deputy may be aware that the HSE provides advice on their website http://www.yourmentalhealth.ie/supports-services/urgent-help.htm for people who may have concerns regarding persons with suicidal tendencies. The HSE advises that where someone has such concerns, they should contact as quickly as they can their G.P., their local Emergency Department, HSE Mental Health Services or the Samaritans.
172. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the publication of the roadmap for out-of-hours access to mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52579/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the timeframe for the publication of the roadmap for out-of-hours access to mental health services, the HSE has provided the following information:
The HSE Mental Health Division assigned a Service Improvement Lead to progress the improved out-of-hours access to mental health services initiative earlier this year. The HSE initially mapped the entire 114 Adult Mental Teams to determine the existing level of 7/7 service provision. The results of this exercise showed that there currently is approximately 60% coverage across the nine CHOs of 7/7 cover comprising of a combination of Assertive Outreach, Home-Based Treatment Teams and nurse-provided cover.
The HSE then estimated the level of resources required to provide a 7/7 service across the entire 114 teams which were identified as being approximately 50 Whole Time Equivalents.
As part of Programme for Government funding in 2017, approximately €4.5 million was sought and was granted for the staffing, facilities and non-staffing costs associated with the enhanced Service which will initially be for known Service Users. A consultation process with all nine CHOs then took place to agree staffing numbers and professions. This has now been completed and the HSE is currently in the process of recruiting the additional staff indicated. A more detailed model of care and set of KPIs to assess the value and impact of a 7/7 Service is also being developed which is expected will inform the development of 24/7 Mental Health Services including Crisis Intervention.
Given the recruitment timelines the HSE has indicated that it anticipates the additional staff to be in place by the end of Quarter 1 2018 with the enhanced 7/7 Services commencing from then.
173. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans for the HSE to fund pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP, in view of the announcement on 1 December 2017 that the drug will become available for prescription from 4 December 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52586/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the pricing and reimbursement of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
174. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to issue permits for the harvesting of cockles on the Backstrand in Tramore, County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52400/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Cockle (Fisheries Management and Conservation) (Tramore Bay) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 533 of 2007) prohibit commercial harvesting of cockles within the area. The area of Tramore Bay and the backstrand area have been designated for protection as both a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area for birds as part of Ireland's Natura 2000 network. Therefore, any proposal to introduce commercial cockle fishing in this area through a permitting system would need to be set out in a fisheries Natura plan, and such a plan would need to be appropriately assessed in order to identify the potential impacts of such fishing on the features of Natura 2000 sites in the area. The process governing the assessment and consideration of fisheries Natura plans is set out in the European Union (Birds and Natural Habitats) (Sea-fisheries) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 290 of 2013).
Prior to any harvesting being allowed in the proposed fishing area, the area would also need to be classified by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority for the production of cockles under food safety legislation.
I am not aware of any requests to develop a commercial fishery for cockles in this area at this time. I would encourage members of the fishing industry looking to explore the potential for a viable fishery in the area in question to bring their proposals to the South East Regional Inshore Fisheries Forum for discussion and consideration. Further information on the Inshore Forums can be found online at www.inshoreforums.ie.
175. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52425/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2017 Transfer of Entitlement application to my Department seeking the transfer of entitlements by way of lease. My Department has been in direct contact with the person named in relation to an outstanding issue pertaining to this transfer. This issue is currently being finalised by my Department and when finalised it will facilitate any payments due under the Basic Payment Scheme issuing as soon as possible.
