Written Answers Nos. 379-397
379. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if a timescale has been put in place to provide a written commitment from the HSE on the capital cost of renovations to a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13808/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has asked the Health Service Executive to provide the Deputy directly with the information requested in respect of Skibbereen Community and Family Resource Centre.
380. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 50 of 15 November 2017, when the new 50-bed mental health unit at University Hospital Galway will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13810/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra381. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 50 of 15 November 2017, the reason for the delay in opening the new 50-bed mental health unit at University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13811/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 381 together.
As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
382. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the changes and the timeline for changes to the fair deal scheme regarding the treatment of family farms in the financial assessment of the application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13814/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has been advancing work on this matter and having regard for this complex issue and for the sensitivities of the Scheme I requested legal advice from the office of the Attorney General regarding potential changes to the legislation that will address this matter.
The Department has received this advice and is exploring the legislative changes necessary and any potential impacts as a result of amending the scheme. A Memo for Government on this issue will be brought forward shortly and subject to Government approval and the drafting process, I then hope to bring forward these legislative proposals thereafter.
383. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by members of an organisation (details supplied); if he has received correspondence on same; if he has received meeting requests from members of the organisation on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13839/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have met with Athletic Rehabilitation Therapists Ireland, as have my officials, on a number of previous occasions regarding their concerns in respect of the designation of the profession of Physiotherapist for regulation by CORU under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005.
Athletic rehabilitation therapists are a separate profession to that of Physiotherapist. As a separate profession they do not use and are not seeking to use or practice under the title physiotherapist /physical therapist and there is no risk of confusion in the public mind with regard to the services of those practising under the title athletic rehabilitation therapist.
I have assured the ARTI on a number of occasions that once work concludes on the regulation of the professions currently designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act, 2005, CORU will be requested to undertake a risk assessment of a number of other professions seeking regulation by CORU, including Athletic Rehabilitation Therapists, and to make recommendations to me in this regard.
384. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the status of the assessment to be undertaken by CORU on the professions seeking regulation including athletic rehabilitation therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13840/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I have stated previously in the House, once work concludes on the regulation of the professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, CORU will be requested to undertake a risk assessment of a number of other professions seeking regulation, including Athletic Rehabilitation Therapists, and to make recommendations to me in this regard.
On the 21 March 2018, the Oireachtas approved the designation of counsellor and psychotherapist under the Act, increasing to sixteen the number of professions regulated by CORU. Taking into account this additional statutory responsibility and the extensive work programme underway on concluding the regulation of professions already designated, the risk assessment will be undertaken by CORU as soon as is practicable.
385. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13853/18]
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 the Deputy directly.
386. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if funding will be allocated for two extra full-time dental hygienists for a health centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13854/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
387. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health the number of approved home care package scheme applications waiting allocation of carers by local health office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13867/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
388. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the review of the pricing system for long-term residential care facilities; if he will introduce an independent appeals process within the fair deal scheme to provide third party recourse for nursing home providers that fail to agree a fee with the NTPF and in an effort to bring greater transparency to the fair deal pricing mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13871/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
The Report of the NHSS Review published in 2015 identified a number of issues for more detailed consideration, including a review of pricing mechanism by the NTPF, with a view to:
- Ensuring value for money and economy, with the lowest possible administrative costs for clients and the State and administrative burden for providers;
- Increasing the transparency of the pricing mechanism so that existing and potential investors can make as informed decisions as possible; and
- Ensuring that there is adequate residential capacity for those residents with more complex needs.
A Steering Committee has been established to oversee this review which is chaired by the NTPF and includes representatives from my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The NTPF has responsibility for the development of this report, although Department Officials continue to engage with the NTPF regarding the review. The most recent update from the NTPF is that the report will be finalised and ready for review in the first half of 2018.
With regard to the Deputy’s question on plans to introduce an independent appeal mechanism within the NHSS to provide third party recourse for nursing home providers that cannot agree a fee with the NTPF, I cannot nor would I wish to, prejudge the outcomes of the NTPF pricing mechanism review. However I welcome the work to date and look forward to the NTPF concluding the review later this year.
389. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of areas in County Wexford that do not have a general practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13873/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
390. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) whose medical services are being moved to a different part of the county will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13876/18]
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
391. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the human tissue Bill. [13877/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government approved the preparation of a General Scheme and Heads of a Human Tissue Bill last year. The proposed legislation will include provisions on:
- organ donation and transplantation;
- post-mortem practices;
- anatomical examination/education and training; and
- public display of bodies after death.
Work on drafting the General Scheme is progressing and it is proposed to seek Government approval to publish, and to progress the drafting of the Human Tissue Bill, in the coming months.
392. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a new residential nursing care unit at Merlin Park Hospital; when a planning application will be lodged for a new facility; when construction of this new facility will commence; the number of long-stay patients that will be catered for in this unit; if there will be a dedicated Alzheimer’s unit at this facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13878/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
393. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide access to a treatment (details supplied) through the HSE for spinal muscular atrophy; if a child that has type two spinal muscular atrophy can have access to testing under way here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13903/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
394. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 322 of 3 October 2017, if the attention of the HSE staff management has been drawn to the way in which it can request to draw down funds previously returned to the HSE unspent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13904/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra395. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 322 of 3 October 2017, the length of time a request has been made to reclaim funds previously returned unspent; the number of requests granted; the number of requests refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13905/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra396. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 322 of 3 October 2017, if when health areas return funds allocated for mental health services in a given year; their allocation for the ensuing financial year remains unchanged, increased or decreased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13906/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra397. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 322 of 3 October 2017, the reason funds were returned; if mental health services were directed to return funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13907/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 394 to 397, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
