Tuesday, 25 Sep 2018

Written Answers Nos. 359-372

Mental Health Services Data

Ceisteanna (359)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

359. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of completing the recruitment required for the full implementation of A Vision for Change. [38800/18]

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.

Drugs Payment Scheme Data

Ceisteanna (360)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

360. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of reducing the drug payment threshold to €100. [38801/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The HSE have statutory responsibility for the administration of community drug schemes. As such, I have referred the matter for direct reply to the Deputy.

Speech and Language Therapy Data

Ceisteanna (361)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

361. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full year cost of recruiting an additional 200 speech and language therapists. [38802/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.

Occupational Therapy Staff

Ceisteanna (362)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

362. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of recruiting an additional 200 occupational therapists. [38803/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.

Physiotherapy Provision

Ceisteanna (363)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

363. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of recruiting an additional 200 physiotherapists. [38804/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.

Dental Services Data

Ceisteanna (364)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

364. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of recruiting an additional 50 dental surgeons. [38805/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.

Ambulance Service Data

Ceisteanna (365)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

365. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated capital cost of providing an additional emergency ambulance; and the estimated full-year costs of additional personnel required for its staffing. [38806/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Disability Services Data

Ceisteanna (366)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

366. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of providing an additional one and a half million personal assistant hours for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38807/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The full year cost of providing an additional one and a half million Personal Assistant hours is €37.5 million.

Home Care Packages Data

Ceisteanna (367)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

367. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of providing an additional 200 intensive homecare packages for persons with dementia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38808/18]

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.

Questions Nos. 368 and 369 answered with Question No. 351.

Question No. 370 answered with Question No. 356.

Neuro-Rehabilitation Services Data

Ceisteanna (371)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

371. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in community neuro-rehabilitation teams in each community healthcare organisation, CHO, in tabular form; the specific medical or healthcare posts in each team in each community healthcare organisation; and the estimated full-year cost of providing a full neuro-rehabilitation team in each CHO. [38812/18]

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 a service issue, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Charges

Ceisteanna (372)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

372. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the €10 charge on medical card holders for X-rays in public hospitals; the rules regarding charging medical card holders that require X-rays as outpatients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38813/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The only outpatient charge that applies in public hospitals is the €100 Emergency Department charge, for which medical cardholders are exempt. Therefore it should be noted that there is no legal basis for levying a any charge for planned public outpatient services, this applies to all persons who access these services in the public hospital system.

If the Deputy wishes to contact the Department with full details of this issue, I will request the HSE to investigate and revert back to the Deputy.