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Thursday, 6 Dec 2018

Written Answers Nos. 162-186

Medical Waste Disposal

Ceisteanna (162)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

162. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if all medical waste from public hospitals is being recycled as much as possible and not being sent into landfill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51251/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

Home Care Packages

Ceisteanna (163)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

163. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a reablement home care service in County Galway, similar to the successful programme introduced as a pilot scheme in the Dublin north city area and subsequently established there as a permanent service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51267/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

Trade Union Membership

Ceisteanna (164)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

164. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his policy and the policy in the health service in general regarding facilitating workers who wish to join a trade union of their choice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51274/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Constitution, employees have the right to join a trade union of their choice. Health sector employers recognise and support this right in accordance with the law.

Hospital Charges

Ceisteanna (165)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

165. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the procedure the HSE uses to determine if discretion should be used to waive inpatient fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51276/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is an operational matter this has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Charges

Ceisteanna (166)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

166. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of times per year since 2012 the HSE waived inpatient fees in cases of excessive hardship in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51277/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

HSE Data

Ceisteanna (167)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

167. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the amount per year that has been raised by the HSE from inpatient mental health patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51278/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (168)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

168. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51279/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (169)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

169. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51281/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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, since 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.

Ambulance Service Response Times

Ceisteanna (170)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

170. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the number of ambulances that are estimated to be despatched following a 999 call in circumstances in which the person is advised that the wait for arrival to the patient's address is more than three hours is recorded; the number of estimates of this waiting time or above given to 999 callers in an emergency; if the despatch times have been audited; if he has considered allocating additional resources to the relevant districts in view of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51288/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

Trade Union Recognition

Ceisteanna (171)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

171. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 218 of 28 November 2018, if he will clarify a series of matters relating to same (details supplied). [51294/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the question relates to agreements between the HSE and certain trade unions in relation to recognition of negotiating rights for particular grades employed in the Executive, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.

Medical Card Eligibility

Ceisteanna (172)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

172. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if eligibility for a medical card will be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied); if the case will be reviewed as a matter of urgency with a view to restoring a medical card to enable the person to receive the required treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51305/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

Services for People with Disabilities

Ceisteanna (173)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

173. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51306/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (174)

John Brady

Ceist:

174. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the position of a person (details supplied) on the waiting list to see a clinical psychologist at the Enniscorthy CAMHS; the length of time the person has been on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51313/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Data

Ceisteanna (175)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

175. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for processing applications under the nursing home support scheme in CHO 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51321/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

HSE Data

Ceisteanna (176)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

176. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the contracts the HSE or its agents have with a company (details supplied); when each contract was signed; when these contracts were tendered for; the value of each contract from commencement to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51323/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

Treatment Abroad Scheme

Ceisteanna (177)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

177. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a matter (details supplied) regarding the cross border directive will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51325/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

Departmental Reports

Ceisteanna (178)

Shane Cassells

Ceist:

178. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health the number, date of publication and details of post-enactment reports published by his Department since March 2011, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51375/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. I will survey the Department and revert to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Legislative Measures

Ceisteanna (179)

Shane Cassells

Ceist:

179. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health the number of Acts passed since March 2011 that his Department is responsible for; the date each Act was signed into law in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51391/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

All information in relation to Acts passed can be found on the Oireachtas website.

A list of all Acts passed since March 2011, that the Department of Health was responsible for, is also provided for the Deputy in the following table.

No.

Date of Enactment

Title

1

8 July 2011

Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Act 2011

2

25 July 2011

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2011

3

16 December 2011

Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011

4

21 December 2011

Nurses and Midwives Act 2011

5

28 February 2012

Health (Provision of General Practitioner Services) Act 2012

6

27 March 2012

Clotting Factor Concentrates and Other Biological Products Act 2012

7

2 April 2012

Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Act 2012

8

26 December 2012

Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2012

9

26 December 2012

Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Act 2012

10

28 March 2013

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2013

11

28 May 2013

Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013

12

4 June 2013

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2013

13

3 July 2013

Health Service Executive (Governance) Act 2013

14

24 July 2013

Health (Amendment) Act 2013

15

30 July 2013

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013

16

18 December 2013

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Act 2013

17

25 December 2013

Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2013

18

24 June 2014

Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014

19

8 July 2014

Health Identifiers Act 2014

20

17 July 2014

Health Service Executive (Financial Matters) Act 2014

21

28 July 2014

Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2014

22

19 November 2014

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014

23

25 December 2014

Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2014

24

25 December 2014

Protection of Children's Health (Tobacco Smoke in Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) Act 2014

25

10 March 2015

Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Act 2015*

26

11 March 2015

Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 2015

27

24 June 2015

Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2015

28

24 December 2015

Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2015

29

24 December 2015

Mental Health (Amendment) Act 2015

30

26 July 2016

Health (Amendment) Act 2016

31

27 July 2016

Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 2016

32

26 December 2016

Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2016

33

16 February 2017

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2017

34

31 March 2017

Health (Amendment) Act 2017

35

16 May 2017

Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Act 2017

36

23 May 2017

Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Act 2017

37

9 December 2017

Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Act 2017

38

21 December 2017

Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2017

39

2 July 2018

Mental Health (Amendment) Act 2018*

40

17 July 2018

Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2018

41

24 July 2018

Children and Family Relationships (Amendment) Act 2018

42

18 September 2018

Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Act 2018

43

3 October 2018

Mental Health (Renewal Orders) Act 2018

44

17 October 2018

Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018

45

20 November 2018

Children’s Health Act 2018

*Origin: Private Members' Bill

Departmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (180)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

180. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the grant and funding schemes operated by his Department; the value of each scheme; and the basis or criteria used for the allocation of funding in respect of each scheme [51407/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The funding and grants available from my Department are as provided in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2018 (Vote 38 - Health)

My Department administered a National Lottery Discretionary Fund up to and including 2016 from which once-off grants were paid to community and voluntary organisations providing a range of health related services. This fund no longer operates.

The HSE operates a similar scheme and continues to provide grants to health agencies and other organisations from National Lottery Funds. Details of the scheme are available at:

https://www2.hse.ie/services/national-lottery-grants/national-lottery-grants.html.

HSE Staff

Ceisteanna (181)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

181. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if the management of the HSE is engaging with public health nurses in CHO area 1 south Donegal community nursing service as per the recommendations of the WRC in February 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51413/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Ceisteanna (182, 183)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

182. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when an organisation (details supplied) will receive notification of funding for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51426/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

183. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when an organisation (details supplied) will receive notification of funding for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51427/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together.

The 'Drugs Initiative' allocation of €6.987 million in the Department of Health's Vote for 2018 and 2019 was determined as part of the 2018 and 2019 budget and estimates process approved by the Government.

In 2018 over €5.25 million was allocated to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces by the Department of Health under the 'Drugs Initiative'. It is expected a similar amount will be allocated in 2019.

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces will be notified of their 2019 funding allocations by the Department of Health and the HSE as soon as the HSE National Service Plan for 2019 has been submitted and approved by the Minister for Health.

Treatment Abroad Scheme

Ceisteanna (184)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

184. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number and value for claims paid by the HSE in respect of persons by county in each of the years since 2014 under the cross border directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51434/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

Commencement of Legislation

Ceisteanna (185)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

185. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for the ongoing delay in fully commencing the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015; if his attention has been drawn to the impact and distress the long delay in commencing the delayed parts of this Act is having on affected families; the timescale to complete the relevant work to allow for commencement in view of the fact that numerous deadlines have been missed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51463/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The commencement of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 requires the completion of a number of interrelated tasks in order to ensure the new legislative framework is coherent at all stages for individuals. I am responsible for the commencement of Parts 2 & 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, which contain provisions relating to the regulation of donor-assisted human reproduction (DAHR) procedures carried out in the State, including dealing with the rights of children born as a result of those procedures. Certain sections in Part 9 of the Act provide for the registration and re-registration of the birth of a donor-conceived child. The commencement of Part 9 is the responsibility of the Minister for Justice and Equality, following consultation with the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

The Children and Family Relationships (Amendment) Bill 2018 was enacted on 24 July 2018. This Act was introduced to correct typographical and technical errors in the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, which will facilitate the subsequent commencement of Parts 2 & 3 of the Act. There are important administrative and operational arrangements to be put in place to facilitate the implementation of Parts 2 & 3, including the establishment of the National Donor-Conceived Person Register and the appointment of authorised persons under the Act. It is my intention that Parts 2 & 3 of the Act will be commenced as soon as possible.

Officials from the General Register Office, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Health are working together to ensure that the appropriate legislative, regulatory, and operational, mechanisms are in place to allow for the earliest possible commencement of all of the relevant legislation that will allow for birth registrations of donor-conceived children.

Maternity Services

Ceisteanna (186)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

186. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is seeking to include a public interest director on the board of the new national maternity hospital in view of media reports (details supplied); if so, the purpose of such a role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51465/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department is currently engaging with the hospitals in relation to the legal framework required to protect the State's investment in the new hospital. In those circumstances, it is not appropriate for me to provide any detailed comment on the issues at hand. However, in broad terms, there are three substantive issues to be finalised: confirmation of the withdrawal of the Sisters of Charity from the St. Vincent's Healthcare Group; ensuring that the new hospital remains in public ownership; and making sure that there is a robust and modern governance system in place to protect the State's interest.

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