Wednesday, 30 Jan 2019

Written Answers Nos. 176-200

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (176)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

176. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4588/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (177)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

177. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4594/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

Medical Aids and Appliances Applications

Ceisteanna (178)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

178. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a hearing aid by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4598/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Ceisteanna (179)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

179. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of amending the fees charged under the NHSS to enable nursing home residents with an assessed weekly income of €300 or less to retain a minimum of €60 weekly. [4599/19]

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.

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (180)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

180. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost, current and capital, of providing a mobile catheterisation laboratory for Waterford University Hospital. [4600/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Health Services

Ceisteanna (181)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

181. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year running costs of opening all medical assessment units on a seven day basis. [4601/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

In relation to the specific question posed on costs, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to provide this information directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Consultant Recruitment

Ceisteanna (182)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

182. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of recruiting an extra 500 hospital consultants; and the average estimate for support staff required per consultant. [4602/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Nursing Staff Recruitment

Ceisteanna (183)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

183. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of recruiting an additional 4,000 nursing staff. [4603/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Prescriptions Charges

Ceisteanna (184)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

184. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of abolishing prescription charges. [4604/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The estimated full year cost of abolishing the prescription charge is €94 million.

General Practitioner Contracts

Ceisteanna (185)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

185. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of increasing the general practitioner rural practice allowance to €25,000. [4605/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

National Maternity Strategy Implementation

Ceisteanna (186)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

186. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of implementing the national maternity strategy. [4606/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Implementation of the National Maternity Strategy - Creating A Better Future Together 2016 - 2026 - is being led by the National Women & Infants Health Programme. To this end, the Programme has developed a detailed Implementation Plan. The Strategy will be implemented on a phased basis over the coming years and the funding requirement will vary from year to year. In that context, the Implementation Plan will inform the annual Estimates process each year.

Funding of €3.1m will be made available to the National Women & Infants Health Programme in 2019 to continue service developments introduced in 2018, along with an additional €1m development funding to further progress the Strategy.

Home Help Service Data

Ceisteanna (187)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

187. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of providing an additional 3 million home support hours for older persons. [4607/19]

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.

Mental Health Services Funding

Ceisteanna (188)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

188. 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. [4608/19]

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 (189)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

189. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of reducing the drug payment threshold to €100. [4609/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The estimated full year cost of reducing the Drugs Payment Scheme monthly threshold to €100 is €20 million.

Speech and Language Therapy Staff

Ceisteanna (190)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

190. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of recruiting an additional 200 speech and language therapists. [4610/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Occupational Therapy Staff

Ceisteanna (191)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

191. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of recruiting an additional 200 occupational therapists. [4611/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Physiotherapy Provision

Ceisteanna (192)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

192. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of recruiting an additional two hundred physiotherapists. [4612/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Dental Services Staff

Ceisteanna (193)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

193. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of recruiting an additional 50 dental surgeons. [4613/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Ambulance Service Data

Ceisteanna (194)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

194. 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. [4614/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Disability Services Data

Ceisteanna (195)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

195. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of providing an additional 1.5 million personal assistant hours for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4615/19]

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 Care Packages Data

Ceisteanna (196)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

196. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of providing an additional 200 intensive home care packages for persons with dementia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4616/19]

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.

Hospital Beds Data

Ceisteanna (197)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

197. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of providing an additional 100 critical care beds. [4617/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of acute services, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to this matter.

Disability Services Data

Ceisteanna (198)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

198. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing an additional 150 inpatient rehabilitation beds. [4618/19]

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

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (199)

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

199. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4619/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Voluntary Sector Funding

Ceisteanna (200)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

200. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if funding and support will be provided to an organisation (details supplied) to allow it remain open and continue to provide services to the deaf community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4623/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I am aware of the financial difficulties that the Irish Deaf Society is currently experiencing and the concerns regarding its future sustainability.

The Irish Deaf Society focuses its service delivery on advocacy, training and development as distinct from the delivery of health and social care supports to the deaf community and for this reason, it does not receive core-funding from the Health Vote. However, there are a number of other funding options available to the Irish Deaf Society. It has received funding, in the past, from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the Department of Education & Skills. It has also received grants from the Department of Justice and Equality and the National Lottery.

I am currently working with colleagues in Government to see if this issue can be resolved and I remain hopeful of a positive outcome.