Written Answers Nos. 204-218
204. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if there is a policy regarding ministerial use of private email for Government business in her Department; and if so, if it will be published. [41517/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no specific policy in place regarding Ministerial use of private email for Government business in my Department. I can confirm however, that I do not use private emails for Department/Official business, and neither do my advisors.
205. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health the measures he plans to implement in order to assist a section 39 funded voluntary hospice (details supplied) in County Sligo in order to enable it to implement both the Lansdowne Road and public sector pay agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40594/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra375. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the pathway provided for full pay restoration in view of the fact that recent negotiations regarding the pay restoration of section 39 workers have concluded with reports of a deal being struck at the cost of €7.7 million; and the way in which the estimated cost of €68 million will be provided for in the coming years. [41195/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 375 together.
The Deputies will be aware that in February 2018, an agreement was reached at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) between my Department, the HSE and health sector Trade Unions in relation to a process aimed at resolving the pay restoration issue for staff employed by section 39 bodies in 50 pilot organisations. The 50 organisations included were agreed at the WRC by all parties.
I asked the HSE to engage with the Section 39 organisations to establish the facts around what cuts were applied and how and when they were implemented. The HSE has completed the first phase of their work in relation to the agencies identified as part of the WRC process. This exercise has shown that of the agencies who returned data, a majority did apply pay reductions of some form. It also showed that some agencies made some form of pay restoration between 2016 and 2018.
Following constructive engagement with the assistance of the Workplace Relations Commission, an agreement was reached on 2 October between the parties. Pay restoration will commence with an annual pay increase of up to €1,000 in April 2019 for those employed by the 50 organisations involved in the pilot. Any outstanding balance will be paid in two equal amounts in 2020 and 2021.
It is recognised that some of the remaining organisations will have pay restoration issues also. A process of engagement to address this will commence in 2019.
206. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in processing an application by a person (details supplied) for an early intervention team in order to access educational supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40729/18]
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.
207. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the resources to early intervention teams in order to cease the long delays for families seeking educational supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40730/18]
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.
208. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a pre-budget submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41132/18]
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.
209. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if budget requests from an organisation (details supplied) will be allocated in budget 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40588/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
210. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the amount of section 39 funding by county to an organisation (details supplied). [40589/18]
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.
211. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the reason an organisation (details supplied) in respect of activities in County Meath receives no funding under section 39. [40590/18]
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.
212. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the status of the primary care centre in Rialto, Dublin 8, in view of the collapse of a company (details supplied). [40592/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
213. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a psychologist for a school (details supplied); if a psychologist is in place; when the psychologist position became vacant; if it has been advertised; his plans to fill it in the near future; if there is a full-time school aged team psychologist based in Letterkenny, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40597/18]
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.
In relation to the provision of psychology resources in school, this is a matter for the Department of Education and Skills.
214. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he or the HSE has reviewed an application for funding by a group (details supplied) for a multiple sclerosis care centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40598/18]
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.
215. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40601/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedical card holders are required to pay a prescription charge of €2.00 per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists under the General Medical Services scheme. This charge is subject to a monthly cap of €20 for each person or family.
Pharmacies are obliged by law to collect prescription charges on behalf of the HSE.
Any future changes to the prescription charge is a matter which I intend to consider in the context of the implementation of the health commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government, having regard to the funding available to facilitate such measures.
216. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have a consultation with an occupational guidance adviser further to commitments made that such a consultation would occur. [40603/18]
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.
217. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of gynaecologists employed in Cavan General Hospital in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [40605/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
218. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant specialists and the title of each employed in Cavan General Hospital in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [40606/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
