Written Answers Nos. 321-340
321. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of persons that have availed of the LEO Brexit Mentor Programme by local enterprise office in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17452/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Enterprise Office (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports to those who are interested in starting or growing their own business.
The suite of LEO Brexit supports available to micro and small businesses through the 31 LEOs nationwide include:
- Access to the ‘Brexit SME Scorecard’ online tool where micro and smaller businesses can self-diagnose their readiness for Brexit;
- A ‘Technical Assistance for Micro-enterprises’ grant designed to support qualifying businesses to diversify into new markets, enabling companies to explore and develop new market opportunities;
- Rollout of ‘Lean for Micro’ nationwide which will make small businesses more efficient and competitive;
- A ‘LEO Innovation and Investment Fund’ pilot programme to support innovation in micro-enterprises and get them investor ready to scale their businesses;
- Tailored mentoring to address Brexit related business challenges;
- Targeted training on specific Brexit challenges, including financial aspects and capability building in innovation, competitiveness and opportunity diagnosis; and
- Continued information, advice and guidance across all 31 LEOs and regionally.
The additional Brexit supports on offer through the LEOs are focused on capability building, market diversification, driving increased competitiveness and promoting innovation so that LEO client companies can better cope with the challenges arising on foot of Brexit and to explore any opportunities presented.
The data requested has to be collated at individual LEO level and in the time available it has not been possible to get definitive data. I will revert to the Deputy with the requested data over the coming days.
322. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if a replacement industry for a location (details supplied) in County Kildare has been identified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17477/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I have previously noted, the property in question was placed on the open market last summer. The IDA continues to engage with the owner about its potential sale and is actively drawing the attention of its clients to the property.
323. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the form, date and amount of all invoices issued to her Department by a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2007 to 2017, in tabular form. [17899/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraNeither my Department nor any of its Offices received invoices from the company referred to over the period 2007 to 2017.
324. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if, under the lobbyist register, it is expected that calls from lobbyists are recorded; if this is the practice in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17993/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPolicy responsibility for the regulation of lobbying lies with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Public bodies have specific responsibilities under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015. The Act requires each public body to publish a list showing the name, grade and brief details of the role and responsibilities for each person that is a “designated public official” for the purposes of the Act. My Department maintains an up to date list of its designated public officials on its website. Emails sent by designated public officials in my Department indicate that the sender is a designated public official and that the recipient may need to assess whether any particular communication with them requires to be registered in accordance with the Act.
The Regulation of Lobbying Act places responsibility for assessing whether any particular communication may constitute lobbying, and for recording details of any lobbying carried out, with the lobbyist. The Act places no obligation on public bodies to record details of communications that may be considered to be lobbying. My Department does not therefore maintain a record of communications that may be considered to be lobbying.
325. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the budget allocation and the number of participants for Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur in 2017 and 2018. [18004/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) is an initiative under the Government's Action Plan for Jobs which is run by the 31 LEOs nationwide in partnership with the Local Authorities.
The initiative is funded by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation through Enterprise Ireland.
The aims of the competition are to support a culture of entrepreneurship at local level, to promote entrepreneurship as a career choice among young people in Ireland and to encourage Ireland’s young people to set up new businesses which will ultimately scale and create jobs in every county in Ireland.
IBYE has a total investment fund of €2 million, including a €50,000 Investment Fund for each of the 31 LEOs and further investment to the winners at regional and national level.
The initiative is open to people aged between 18 and 35 and is run across three categories:
- Best Business Idea (pre-trading)
- Best Start-Up Business (up to 18 months)
- Best Established Business (over 18 months).
The budget allocations, including the investment funds, administrative and promotional costs and the numbers of participants in 2016/17 and 2017/18 winner are set out in the table.
Since the initiative began in 2014, over 5,700 young people have participated in IBYE. A survey of the winning entries over 2014 to 2016 shows that they have created 2,200 jobs and achieved some €124m in export sales. Participants that do not win investments are offered opportunities to participates in business bootcamps or to receive business mentoring.
The 2017/18 National Final took place on 22nd of April 2018. The winner was Conor O’Loughlin of Glofox, who won a €45,000 investment fund through the Local Enterprise Office Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown.
|
IBYE Budget Allocation |
||
|
Year |
2016/17 |
2017/18* |
|
Total € |
2,605,224.99 |
2,584,000* |
* The 2017/18 Budget Allocation is provisional as the associated administrative costs from the rescheduling of the National Finals at the beginning of March (due to the weather) have yet to be finalised.
|
IBYE Applications |
||
|
Year |
2016/17 |
2017/18 |
|
Total |
1,837 |
1,471 |
326. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of the 70,000 emigrants that have been facilitated to return here to date in 2018 as outlined in A Programme for a Partnership Government. [18005/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's goal is to support the creation of an additional 200,000 jobs by 2020, including 135,000 outside of Dublin, and to attract back at least 70,000 emigrants. The whole of Government effort to deliver on these objectives is supported by the annual Action Plan for Jobs.
The CSO estimates that between April 2016 and April 2017, 27,400 Irish emigrants returned to Ireland. As the economy continues to grow and the economy approaches full employment, this trend is likely to continue.
Since the first Action Plan for Jobs was launched in early 2012, there are almost 346,000 more people at work bringing total employment in the State to 2,225,100 (as of Q4 2017). My Department and its agencies have a range of initiatives to connect with Irish emigrants (and others) and outline the careers and entrepreneurial opportunities in Ireland. These include:
- IDA Ireland actively promotes Ireland as a location for new investment and Enterprise Ireland has specific targets to attract entrepreneurs to Ireland with a focused marketing programme underway in international markets.
- Since 2016, my Department has funded TechLife Ireland- a partnership with Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the Irish Technology industry to promote and brand Ireland as a top destination to pursue a career in technology and attract 3,000 top tech professionals to Ireland each year. Industry is playing an important role in supporting the initiative and driving its development.
- Science Foundation Ireland encourages leading researchers to move to Ireland raising Ireland's profile as a location for research excellence and career advancement. For instance, SFI awards two Saint Patrick's Day Science Medals to distinguished Irish scientists, engineers or technology leaders living and working in the USA: one academic and one from industry.
Finally, I would emphasise that ensuring a continued focus on attracting foreign direct investment and maintaining and improving competitiveness is critical to attracting talent back to Ireland.
327. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of staff in the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement in each of the years since it was established and to date in 2018, by account, administrative staff, legal personnel, gardaí and other staff, in tabular form; the amount of funding allocated to the office in each of the years 2010 to 2017; the allocation for 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18071/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table.
No. of staff 1 serving in the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) (2001-2018)
|
Grade |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 2 |
|
Director |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Corporate Compliance Manager |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Legal Adviser |
0 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
- |
|
Principal Solicitor |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
Enforcement Portfolio Manager |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
2 |
|
Digital Forensic Specialist |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
Principal Officer |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Professional Accountant Grade 1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Solicitor |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
4 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
5 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
10 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
|
Executive Officer |
1 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
|
Clerical Officer |
2 |
7 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
|
Total |
17 |
32 |
31 |
32 |
33 |
32 |
35 |
41 |
44 |
43 |
42 |
38 |
37 |
35 |
33 |
35 |
35 |
36 |
|
Gardai 3 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
1 Refers to number of people not FTE’s (i.e. not Full Time Equivalents where 2 people working a week on, week off pattern would equal 1 FTE)
2 Staffing as at 23rd April 2018
3 The ODCE also has an approved complement of seven members of An Garda Siochana (one Detective Inspector, two Detective Sergeants and four Detective Gardai).
Following his appointment, the current Director undertook a review of the structure of the ODCE, together with the staffing and skills mix available to him. That review identified, in particular, a significant skills deficit in the area of accountancy expertise. Following that review, the Director sought, and was granted, sanction to recruit a cohort of new accountants. Following engagement between my Department, the Director and the Public Appointments Service, six accountants were recruited and a further two have been selected and are about to be appointed. The Department also recruited a digital forensics specialist, who was assigned to the ODCE. My Department is working with PAS and the Director towards the filling of two vacancies for Enforcement Lawyers and a recruitment campaign to fill these vacancies with suitably qualified and experienced candidates is well underway.
Finally, as regards the “key job specifications” of the staff, these would have changed from time-to-time as the Director of the Office determined in the normal, routine, management of business in the Office and in that regard an organisation chart is included in each of the ODCE’s Annual Reports since its inception, which are published on its website www.odce.ie and which would provide relevant information for the Deputy.
Funding allocation for the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) in respect of the years 2010 to 2018 is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
Funding allocation |
€6.086m |
€5.967m |
€5.697m |
€5.330m |
€4.672m |
€5.091m |
€5.015m |
€4.895m |
€5.057m |
328. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of investigations ongoing being conducted by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. [18072/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 949(3) of the Companies Act 2014 provides that the Director of Corporate Enforcement shall be independent in the performance of his statutory functions.
I, as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation have no direct role in relation to these functions.
329. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the remit of the State Aid Modernisation Working Group; her plans for the group meeting which takes place here in April 2018; and if draft proposals have been submitted by member states and Ireland with respect to changing state aid thresholds at EU level as a policy response to safeguard exposed business to Brexit. [18073/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Aid Modernisation Working Group meeting is being hosted by Ireland for the first time on 27th April 2018. Member States take it in turn to host the meeting. The Working Group, which meets 3 – 4 times a year, is currently chaired by France who develops the Agenda in consultation with DG Competition. Member States may make recommendations for items to be included on the Agenda but these items must be within the remit of the Group. The Working Group mandate is to discuss best practice, share information and knowledge with a view to making recommendations to the High-Level Forum on State Aid.
To this end, the group may:
- discuss the implementation of the new SAM instruments: Evaluation, Transparency and the new Procedural Regulation,
- share MS' experiences under the Best Practices Code, and, if necessary, make recommendations for its review,
- share MS practices on specific topics, e.g. cumulation rules, incentive effect, net extra cost, etc.
- identify best practices on how to ensure effective mechanisms for State aid control in the context of Structural funds (including major projects),
- make suggestions on how to improve the knowledge on state aid rules of granting authorities by providing training (with support of DG COMP), how to disseminate this knowledge, how to improve the communication with the Commission and between MS,
- share best practices on the mechanisms in place to ensure state aid compliance and legal certainty (e.g. under GBER), including processes and cases,
- share experience on the application of the State aid rules, on the basis of MS practices, the Commission's monitoring experience and recently issued guidance, with a view to learning from each other and identifying practical solutions for an effective implementation of SAM.
Commission officials attending the meeting will also have the opportunity to meet stakeholders.
In terms of considerations around State aid, in November 2017, the then Tánaiste met with Commissioner Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition who has responsibility for EU State aid policy to discuss, amongst other things, the impact of Brexit on Irish businesses. An outcome from this meeting was the establishment of a Technical Working Group on State Aid comprising representatives from DG Competition, the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation, Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The objective of the Group is to scope and design schemes to support enterprises impacted by Brexit in line with State Aid rules. To date, the Working Group has met four times and in between these meetings, there has been engagement on specific issues to continue to progress matters.
Should issues arise that require an approach that does not fit within the existing State Aid rules, this will be raised as part of the Working Group discussions.
A notified Rescue and Restructuring (R&R) scheme was approved by the Commission in late November 2017. This scheme has been put in place as it is considered prudent to have contingency measures in place so that we can respond swiftly to changing circumstances as necessary. Under the scheme, which will run until 2020, Enterprise Ireland can provide restructuring support to SMEs in severe financial difficulties.
As part of the deliberations of the Technical Working Group on State Aid, it was agreed that Ireland should extend the R&R scheme to include temporary restructuring support for those SMEs with acute liquidity needs. This extension has been notified to the Commission and approval is expected early in Q2 2018.
My Department is carrying out extensive work to prepare for all Brexit eventualities. Informed by detailed research, my Department is putting in place a package of measures that will allow us to respond to the needs of businesses including the Brexit Loan Scheme which was launched last month and which will provide affordable working capital financing to eligible businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit or will be in the future.
The recent signing of the counter guarantee from the EIB group (through its InnovFin Guarantee) means that the €24 million exchequer funding announced in the 2018 Budget (€14 million from my Department and €9 million from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) can be leveraged to provide a fund of €300 million. The Brexit Loan Scheme, which was launched last month, is open to businesses of fewer than 500 employees which can demonstrate that they are significantly exposed to the impact (or potential impact) of Brexit. They must be a viable business, doing business in Ireland, and they must have a business development strategy demonstrating that they plan to innovate or adapt in response to Brexit. This scheme will be operated within De Minimis State Aid Regulation.
My officials are also examining policy proposals for a new longer-term Business Investment Loan Scheme to support businesses to invest strategically for a post-Brexit environment and a new Business Finance Advisory Hub service which would focus on business development.
The Agencies of my Department are at the forefront in working with firms to ensure they are equipped to deal with Brexit and to enhance their performances in an increasingly competitive global trading environment through lean programmes, skills development and reducing business costs.
Enterprise Ireland (EI) has launched the 'Brexit SME Scorecard', an interactive online tool which can be used by all Irish companies to self-assess their exposure to Brexit. EI is also offering a 'Be Prepared Grant' of up to €5,000 to support clients to develop a Brexit Action Plan and it continues to support clients to improve their competitiveness, acquire new markets and enhance management skills.
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are organising workshops, seminars and training to assist companies to better understand the challenges of Brexit and have a range of supports to help clients to respond to those challenges, to become more competitive and to source new markets.
InterTrade Ireland is also working to minimise the impact of Brexit on north-south trade.
330. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend general practitioner cards to all carers in receipt of the respite care support grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17871/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2017, the Government announced that additional funding would be provided to enable all carers in receipt of Carer's Allowance to qualify for a GP visit card. Government approval was given earlier this month to provide GP services without fees to persons in receipt of either full or half rate Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit and to draft the Heads of Bill to legislate for this provision. It is intended that this measure will be implemented this year, subject to the drafting and enactment of the necessary legislation.
There are currently no plans to extend GP visit Cards to persons specifically in receipt of a Carer's Support Grant (formerly known as the Respite Care Grant), however it is noted that many persons in receipt of this Grant will qualify for a GP visit card as the Carer's Support Grant is paid automatically to persons in receipt of Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit.
331. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 134 of 18 April 2018, the nature of the technical drafting issue that has come to light in relation to Parts 2 and 3 of the Child and Family Relationships Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18041/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA number of technical drafting issues have come to light in relation to Parts 2 & 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. The implications of these issues are being explored by officials in my Department and the Office of the Attorney General, and as these discussions are ongoing, I do not wish to preempt the outcome by citing specific details. I would be happy to arrange a briefing for the Deputy on the substantive issues in due course.
Clarification on whether primary legislation is required to resolve these issues is being sought. In the event that primary legislation is required I would seek to deal with it as a matter of urgency.
332. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if Versatis patches will be reinstated and made available to persons with medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17394/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra333. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the list of ailments that can be treated with Versatis medicated patches on the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17395/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra334. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if there is an investigation into the possible extension of the ailments that Versatis medicated patches can treat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17396/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 332 to 334, inclusive, together.
Medicines play a vital role in improving the health of Irish patients. Securing access to existing and new and innovative medicines is a key objective of the health service. However, the challenge is to do this in a safe and sustainable manner. Treatment must be appropriate and proportionate and clinical decision-making, such as prescribing, should be based on both patient needs and sound medical evidence.
Lidocaine 5% medicated plasters are licensed for the localised relief of post-shingles pain in adults. This is the only licensed use for the patch in Ireland. It has been reimbursed in the community drugs schemes since 2010.
Clinical concern arose when, from 2012 on, usage increased significantly, to the point where, in Ireland, more plasters were being used in than the entire UK National Health Service. In such situations, it is important and appropriate for clinicians to review usage and, in 2016, the HSE Medicines Management Programme (MMP) reviewed the use of the plasters. The review estimated that only 5-10% of prescribing was for the licensed indication.
Following the clinical review, the HSE introduced a new reimbursement approval system for the patches from September 2017, to support appropriate use and patient care. Under these arrangements, the patient's GP or consultant must apply to the MMP for reimbursement approval on behalf of the patient. In the case of a negative reimbursement decision, the treating clinician can appeal the decision. Once a patient is approved for reimbursement support, irrespective of the indication, there will be no expiry on the duration of treatment. This also applies to applications already approved by the MMP.
As of 29 March 2018, there have been 5,747 online applications from clinicians requesting the reimbursement of Versatis. Of these applications, 1,205 patients (over 21%) have been approved. Of 672 online appeals, over 71% of patients have been approved for reimbursement. The MMP has sought further information on another 41 appeals. Accordingly, since 1 September 2017, 1,681 patients have been approved for reimbursement of lidocaine plasters, based on the clinical case made by their GP or consultant.
It is clear that this new process supports appropriate use and prescribing and both post-shingles patients and other appropriate cases can continue to be treated with lidocaine plasters.
The HSE notified prescribers and pharmacies of the introduction of the new system in August 2017. This advice was re-issued recently, and information for patients and practitioners is on the HSE Medicines Management Programme website at www.hse.ie/yourmedicines .
This reimbursement decision is a matter for the HSE. However, I fully support the objectives of the HSE Medicines Management Programme.
335. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a procedure for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17398/18]
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.
336. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied) [17419/18]
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.
337. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number and cost of operations and procedures carried out under the National Treatment Purchase Fund in each of the past three years by specialty; the estimated cost of such operations or treatments had they been carried out in a HSE hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17427/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the question raised by the Deputy, I have asked the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the HSE to provide the Department with comparative figures and estimates.
As this information is in the process of being collated, I have asked both agencies to respond directly to me, and I will forward the response to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
338. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number and cost of operations or treatments undertaken under the National Treatment Purchase Fund in each of the past three years by medical facility or hospital in which they were undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17428/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe NTPF has advised my Department that it did not have a direct role in the commissioning of patient treatments in 2016 and 2015. The procurement of treatments was carried out by the HSE and the role of the NTPF was the administration of the payments to the hospitals.
In addition, the NTPF has indicated that the 2017 Annual Financial Statements have not yet been finalised and as a result the data requested by the Deputy in relation to 2017 is not currently available.
In response to the specific question from the Deputy, details of the treatments undertaken by the NTPF by type of medical facility/hospital between 2014 and 2016 are set out in the table.
|
Patient Care Expenditure by Payee |
2016 |
2015 |
2014 |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
Private Hospitals |
30,387,932 |
21,330,689 |
|
|
Voluntary Hospitals |
15,000 |
||
|
Public Hospitals |
484,193 |
||
|
Total |
30,387,932 |
21,345,689 |
484,193 |
|
2016 |
2015 |
2014 |
|
|
Patient Care Expenditure by speciality |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
Orthopaedics |
12,958,057 |
5,509,381 |
|
|
ENT |
4,286,291 |
3,794,944 |
|
|
General Surgery |
3,533,586 |
2,689,430 |
484,193 |
|
Ophthalmology |
2,338,225 |
992,493 |
|
|
Gynaecology |
1,416,340 |
430,835 |
|
|
Non-cosmetic Plastic Surgery |
1,402,816 |
977,058 |
|
|
Vascular Surgery |
1,219,941 |
561,278 |
|
|
Urology |
1,203,697 |
2,473,238 |
|
|
Neurosurgery |
652,283 |
1,378,357 |
|
|
Cardiac Surgery/ Cardiology |
614,518 |
1,537,431 |
|
|
Radiology |
408,064 |
770,633 |
|
|
Dental and Oral Surgery |
208,575 |
110,575 |
|
|
Surgical Dermatology |
78,846 |
45,944 |
|
|
Rheumatology |
35,832 |
42,281 |
|
|
Pain Management |
26,741 |
757 |
|
|
Neurology |
4,119 |
31,055 |
|
|
Total |
30,387,932 |
21,345,689 |
484,193 |
339. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number and cost of operations and procedures carried out under the cross border directive in each of the past three years by specialty; the estimated cost of such operations or treatments had they been carried out in a HSE hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17429/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra340. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number and cost of operations or treatments undertaken under the cross border directive in each of the past three years by medical facility or hospital in which they were undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17430/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 340 together.
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine these matters and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
