Tuesday, 10 Jul 2018

Written Answers Nos. 429-444

Home Help Service Provision

Ceisteanna (429)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Ceist:

429. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of home support hours delivered to persons with a disability to date in 2018 by CHO area in tabular form [30167/18]

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.

Home Help Service Provision

Ceisteanna (430)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Ceist:

430. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with a disability, that is, ID, autism and physical and sensory disability in receipt of home support services to date in 2018 by CHO area in tabular form. [30168/18]

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.

Disability Services Provision

Ceisteanna (431)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Ceist:

431. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when the task force on personalised budgets will report. [30169/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

In line with a commitment in the Programme for Government I established a Task Force on Personalised Budgets for People with Disabilities on 20 September 2016. The Task Force consisted of a Strategy Group and an Advisory & Consultative Group.  It included officials from the relevant Government Departments and agencies, HSE, academic and policy experts, stakeholder organisations and a wide range of people with lived experience of disability and disability services (both intellectual and physical). 

Its remit was to consider people whose primary disability was physical or sensory, intellectual, autism, neurological or any combination of these and to make recommendations on personalised budgets models which will give people with disabilities more control in accessing health funded personal social services, giving them greater independence and choice in accessing services which best meet their individual needs. I have considered the findings of the Task Force Report and intend to publish it in the near future.

Disability Diagnoses

Ceisteanna (432)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Ceist:

432. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting a first assessment from the HSE under the Disability Act 2005 at the end of June 2018 or latest date available by local health office area in tabular form. [30170/18]

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.

Speech and Language Therapy Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (433, 434)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Ceist:

433. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy assessment waiting list by local health area; and the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively in tabular form. [30171/18]

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Ceist:

434. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy initial treatment waiting list in each local health office area; and the number waiting less than 4, 4 to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively in tabular form [30172/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together.

As these question(s) relate to service matters, I have arranged for them to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Speech and Language Therapy Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (435)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Ceist:

435. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy further treatment waiting list in each local health office area; and the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively in tabular form. [30173/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Occupational Therapy Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (436, 437)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Ceist:

436. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy first time assessment waiting list in each local health office area; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number waiting aged 0 to four, five to 17, 18 to 64 and 65 or more years of age in each category in tabular form. [30174/18]

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Ceist:

437. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy treatment waiting list in each local health office area; the numbers waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the numbers waiting aged 0 to four, five to 17, 18 to 64 and 65 or more years of age, respectively in each category in tabular form. [30175/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 436 and 437 together.

As these questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for them to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Tobacco Control Measures

Ceisteanna (438)

Mary Butler

Ceist:

438. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of initial tobacco sales to minors test purchase inspections carried out at the end of June 2018 or the latest date available. [30176/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As sales to minors test purchase inspections are a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE), this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Sunbeds Regulation

Ceisteanna (439, 440, 441)

Mary Butler

Ceist:

439. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of test purchases carried out under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 at the end of June 2018 or the latest date available. [30177/18]

Mary Butler

Ceist:

440. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of mystery shopper inspections carried out under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 at the end of June 2018 or the latest date available. [30178/18]

Mary Butler

Ceist:

441. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of establishments receiving a planned inspection under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 at the end of June 2018 or the latest date available. [30179/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 439 to 441, inclusive, together.

These are matters for the HSE therefore I have referred the questions to the HSE for attention and direct reply.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland Inspections

Ceisteanna (442)

Mary Butler

Ceist:

442. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of official food control planned and unplanned surveillance inspections of food businesses at the end of June 2018 or the latest date available. [30180/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Official control inspections in food businesses are carried out by a range of State bodies (‘official agencies’) under service contracts with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).  The official agencies include the HSE, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Local Authorities, Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and National Standards Authority of Ireland; each official agency has responsibility for official controls in certain sectors of the food supply chain.

The official controls verify compliance by food business operators with the requirements of food legislation, including food hygiene and safety, traceability, authenticity, labelling, and food standards.  Where necessary, enforcement action is taken to ensure consumer protection and food safety.  The FSAI monitors the work done by the official agencies and reports on it to my Department.

The most recent complete data available on official control inspections in food businesses, including planned and unplanned inspections are for January-December 2017 and are presented in the table below.  In total, 63,723 inspections were carried in 2017.

Official Agency	2017
Health Service Executive (Environmental Health Service)	*44,934
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine	11,569
Local Authorities	4,891
Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority	2,245
National Standards Authority of Ireland	84
Total Number of Inspections	63,723

*Includes planned and unplanned surveillance inspections

Tobacco Control Measures

Ceisteanna (443)

Mary Butler

Ceist:

443. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of inspections of e-cigarette and refill container manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers under the European Union (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Products) Regulations 2016 at the end of June 2018 or the latest date available. [30181/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The number of Inspections of e-cigarette and re-fill container manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers is a matter for the HSE.  I have referred your question to the HSE for direct reply.

Health Promotion

Ceisteanna (444)

Mary Butler

Ceist:

444. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have completed a structured patient education programme for diabetes at the end of June 2018 or the latest date available. [30182/18]

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.