Written Answers Nos. 1440-1459
1440. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the income limits when applying for a medical card; when the limits were last changed; if he plans to increase the eligibility limit for receipt of a medical card by a single person over 70 years of age; the limit for a couple; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32919/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have attached a copy of the current income limits as per the HSE's medical card guidelines for the Deputies attention.
Under the Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Act 2013, when a person attains the age of 70, the medical card income limits are €500 gross income per week for a single person and €900 gross income per week for a couple.
Persons aged 70 or older, who are assessed as ineligible under the gross income thresholds, may also have their eligibility assessed under the means-tested medical card scheme if they so wish, for example in the event that they face particularly high expenses, for example, nursing home or medication costs. This scheme is open to all persons, irrespective of their age and assessment is based on net income and assessable outgoing expenses. The general scheme, although having lower income thresholds, provides for income disregards and relevant outgoings to be taken into account in the assessment process.
Furthermore, persons, including those aged over 70 years, may be deemed eligible for a medical card on a discretionary basis, if they are judged to face undue hardship in arranging GP services as a result of medical or social circumstances. In addition, from August 2015, all persons aged 70 or older qualify for a GP Visit Card, regardless of income.
There are no proposals at present to amend the current income limits for the granting of eligibility for medical cards for persons aged 70 and over. However, it should be noted that the gross income limits are reviewed annually and considered in the context of the budget
1441. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the status of the capital plan for investment for Dungloe Community Hospital, County Donegal; the works proposed at the hospital; the timeframe for the works to be carried out; the estimated costs for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32927/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, my Department has asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to the proposed development at Dungloe Community Nursing Unit.
1442. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the status of the capital plan for investment for Falcarragh Community Hospital, County Donegal; the works proposed at the hospital; the timeframe for the works to be carried out; the estimated costs of the entire improvement works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32928/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, my Department has asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to the proposed development at Falcarragh Community Nursing Unit.
1443. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 781 of 12 July 2018, if a meeting has been arranged with an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32929/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1507. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if and when he plans to meet with an organisation to discuss access to the new MS drug Ocrevus and other medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33220/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1443 and 1507 together.
Owing to scheduling difficulties, it was not possible for me to meet with MS Ireland in June. However, I am willing to meet with MS Ireland on a mutually convenient date.
1446. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide alternative respite care whilst the Boyne View centre, Drogheda, is being refurbished; the details relating to the project; the plan to minimise the impact to service users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32935/18]
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.
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.
1448. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of environmental health officers employed in each county; the number of inspections of food outlets they have carried out by county in each of the past three years and to date in 2018; the number of closure orders made by county in the same period in tabular form; if inspections of food outlets are also carried out by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32946/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficial 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), including the HSE; the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; the Local Authorities; the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority; and the National Standards Authority of Ireland. Each official agency has responsibility for official controls in certain sectors of the food supply chain. Food retailers and the food service sector are inspected by the HSE’s Environmental Health Officers.
The FSAI does not generally conduct inspections of food businesses. Occasionally investigations or audits are conducted by the FSAI as part of its oversight role, which may involve inspections in food businesses with official agencies.
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy regarding the aspects of the question relating to the Environmental Health Service.
1449. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance call-outs in the Connemara area by month from January 2016 to date in 2018 by the number of emergency calls, other calls and their response times in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32947/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
1450. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for home help hours by county, by new applicants and those waiting for additional hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32948/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1451. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each county waiting for assessment and reassessment for home help hours and for additional home help hours; the number who have been approved but are on a waiting list; the length of time they have been waiting in each case in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32949/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1450 and 1451 together.
As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1452. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay and the expected date for an assessment of needs to be undertaken for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32959/18]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
1453. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay and the expected date for an assessment of needs to be undertaken for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32960/18]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
1454. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his policy towards the introduction and use of medicinal cannabis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32962/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn foot of the HPRA report ‘Cannabis for Medical Use – A Scientific Review’, I announced my intention to establish a ‘Cannabis for Medical Use Access Programme’ to facilitate access to cannabis-based products, that are not authorised as medicines but are of a standardised quality and meet an acceptable level of quality assurance. The programme will provide access to cannabis treatments for patients who are under the care of a medical consultant, for certain medical conditions which have failed to respond to standard treatments.
An expert group has drawn up clinical guidance for healthcare professionals treating patients through the access programme, which includes guidance on which cannabis products are appropriate for medical use. However, the access programme is not yet operational as further work is required in relation to certain elements, in particular the availability of appropriate quality-approved medical cannabis products that are affordable to patients. This is a critical aspect in establishing the access programme and the Department is working intensively on finding solutions to the supply of appropriate products for Irish patients.
In the meantime, prescribing of cannabis for medical treatment by medical consultants, for their individual patients is being facilitated via the Ministerial licence application route. It should be noted that it will be a matter for the prescriber and their patient to source the prescribed medical cannabis-based product. It is understood that patients who have been prescribed such products have sourced it from Transvaal Pharmacy in The Hague, at the following address: Kempstraat 113, 2572 GC The Hague. Tel: 070-3469314.
Medical practitioners and patients may consult the Department of Health website which contains detailed information on medical cannabis, including clinical guidance on the use of medical cannabis and details on how a medical practitioner may apply for a Ministerial licence for medical cannabis.
1455. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the work of the advisory committee on bioethics within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32963/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the National Advisory Committee on Bioethics was established to advise the Minister for Health on the ethical and social implications of scientific developments in human medicine and healthcare.
No decision has been made regarding the next topic on the work programme for the National Advisory Committee on Bioethics. The Committee last met on 24 September 2015. Given that the topic of the Committee's next project has yet to be determined, no specific date has been selected for the next meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Bioethics.
1456. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults or attacks on hospital staff at South Tipperary General Hospital in each of the past six years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32964/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
1457. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 330 of 26 June 2018, the number of older persons waiting for home support by LHO. [32980/18]
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.
1458. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the reason there has been a reduction in the homecare services provided in the CHO 7 area of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32981/18]
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.
1459. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the status of his plans to provide a general practitioner in Carnew, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32983/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
