Tuesday, 12 Jun 2018

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Ceisteanna (844)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

844. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI, sanctioned a person (details supplied) in 2015 following a fitness to practice hearing. [25347/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) is the statutory regulatory authority for nurses and midwives in Ireland and is responsible for holding Fitness to Practice inquiries.

Therefore I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NMBI for attention and direct reply within 10 working days.

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Ceisteanna (845)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

845. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if public money is being used to fund an appeal by a person (details supplied) of the outcome of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI, decision made in 2015 in regard to fitness to practice. [25348/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I can confirm that no such funding has been provided by my Department. I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE and asked them to reply directly on behalf of that organisation.

Services for People with Disabilities

Ceisteanna (846)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

846. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the number of staff allocated to a respite centre (details supplied) in County Donegal; if there is sufficient staff in place in order to be able to operate the centre at full capacity; the number of places available at the centre when it is at full capacity; the number of full-time care staff at the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25352/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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.

The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.

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.

Services for People with Disabilities

Ceisteanna (847)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

847. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a commitment that was given to a person (details supplied) by the HSE in County Donegal to have full-time residential care in place by May 2018; the reason this has not occurred; when it is likely that this full-time residential care will be made available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25369/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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.

Assisted Human Reproduction

Ceisteanna (848)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

848. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason the definition of close family member in the proposed legislation regulating assisted human reproduction does not include first cousins or individuals related by marriage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25383/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government approved the drafting of a Bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated areas of research in October last year. Officials in my Department are engaging with the Office of the Attorney General in relation to the process of drafting this Bill.

Head 17(2) of the General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill prohibits the use of gamete donation in an AHR treatment procedure, that would involve an embryo created through the fertilisation of the donor's gametes with gametes from a close family member of that donor. Under this Head "close family member" is defined as a parent, son, daughter, sibling (including half-brother or half-sister), grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, nephew or niece, being such a family member from birth. These provisions reflect the existing legal framework which prevents sex and marriage between close genetic relatives on the basis of consanguinity.

Maternity Services

Ceisteanna (849)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

849. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the costs associated with the implementation of the maternity and infant care scheme for each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25384/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Services for People with Disabilities

Ceisteanna (850)

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

850. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health when funding will be made available for a residential placement for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25419/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (851)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

851. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment. [25426/18]

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 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.

Home Care Packages Provision

Ceisteanna (852)

Eugene Murphy

Ceist:

852. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) who has been waiting on a home care package for some months will be awarded same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25435/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Charges

Ceisteanna (853)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

853. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of abolishing the €100 charge for the use of emergency departments; and the estimated cost of abolishing the €75 day charge for inpatient care. [25436/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

In 2017, €27 million was raised through the statutory inpatient charge, and a further €17m was raised through the outpatient charge in the Acute Hospitals.

Therefore, it would cost approximately €44 million to abolish these charges.

Respite Care Services

Ceisteanna (854)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

854. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing respite care hours by 10%, in tabular form. [25437/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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.

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 864, 875, 907 to 913, inclusive, and 915 together.

Implementation of Ireland's first National Maternity Strategy - Creating A Better Future Together 2016 - 2026 - is being led by the National Women & Infants Health Programme. To this end, the Programme has developed a detailed Implementation Plan which I was pleased to launch in October 2017. The Plan is presented under the Strategy's four strategic priorities and details how each of the 77 actions will be implemented.

The Programme has estimated that full implementation will cost in the region of an additional €80 million revenue funding over the lifetime of the Strategy. Work to identify the precise capital funding requirement is ongoing. The Strategy will be implemented on a phased basis over the coming years and therefore the funding requirement will vary from year to year. In that context, the Implementation Plan will inform the annual Estimates process each year. I can confirm that additional funding of €4.15 million is being provided to the Programme this year for the Strategy.

The Strategy is very clear that all women must have equal access to ultrasound services and additional funding has been made available for that purpose. Indeed, one of the Programme's priorities for 2018 is to increase access to anomaly scans. I understand that the Programme has approved the appointment of an additional 28 ultrasonographers which was the total requirement identified to provide 100% access to anomaly scanning. The Programme is also working with the maternity networks to ensure foetal medicine expertise is available when an anomaly is identified.

In conclusion, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly on your specific queries concerning maternity-related ultrasonography services and to provide a detailed breakdown of the 2018 €4.15 million allocation for the Strategy.

Services for People with Disabilities

Ceisteanna (865)

Seamus Healy

Ceist:

865. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an assessment of needs for a child (details supplied) at HSE south Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25449/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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.