Written Answers Nos. 437-458
437. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the rationale behind the appointment of a HSE staff member and the appointment of a Department of Public Expenditure and Reform official to the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6656/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra438. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the number of persons appointed to the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board since it was set up in 2007; the expertise of these appointees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6657/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 437 and 438 together.
Established under the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (Establishment) Order 2007, the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) is charged with planning, designing, building and equipping the new children’s hospital and outpatient and urgent care centres.
The 2007 Order provides that the Board will consist of a Chairperson and 12 ordinary members appointed by the Minister for Health for a period of five years. Of the 12 ordinary members, three shall be appointed to represent the interests of the general public; three shall be appointed on the nomination of the Chairperson; two shall be appointed on the nomination of the Health Service Executive; one shall be appointed on the nomination of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin; one shall be appointed on the nomination of the Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street; one shall be appointed on the nomination of the National Children’s Hospital at Tallaght; and one shall be appointed on the nomination of the Faculty of Paediatrics, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
In 2007, the Chairperson and ordinary board members that were appointed collectively had wide-ranging experience and expertise in areas such as public and private sector management, capital infrastructure management, finance, ICT, construction, communications, health and hospital management, and paediatric medicine.
Following An Bord Pleanála's refusal for Mater site project an interim Board of officials was appointed in January 2013 until July 2013, when a new Board was appointed to progress the project on the St. James's campus. The skill set associated with the new Board includes construction management, legal expertise, engineering and environmental consultancy, architecture, paediatric medicine, planning, procurement, accountancy, ICT and hospital management. This Board was re-appointed in July 2018 on expiry of their five-year term of office. As noted above, as provided for under the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (Establishment) Order 2007, two of the Board members are appointed on the nomination of the HSE, and three to represent the interests of the general public. It is under that latter provision that the official from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was appointed.
The Children's Health Act 2018 amended the Board appointment process to better reflect the Board's primary role which is to deliver on the capital project, rather than its previous broader remit which also included operational planning for the services, the latter now being a matter for Children's Health Ireland. To allow for the appointment of a Board under the new provisions sooner than on the expiry of the five-year term of office, the Act also includes a provision which, when commenced, provides for the cessation of membership of the Board in place at the time of commencement of the provision.
As set out in the NPHDB Annual Reports, a total of 42 individuals have been appointed to the NPHDB to date since its establishment in 2007.
442. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be placed in a facility as a matter of urgency. [6685/19]
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.
443. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the capital expenditure on the national children's hospital in December 2017; the month that coincided with the European Investment Bank, EIB, confirming its capital investment loan in the same project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6723/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra444. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the proportion of the EIB loan approved for the national children's hospital in December 2017 vis-à-vis the complete hospital project. [6724/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 444 together.
Expenditure on the construction of the new children’s hospital and associated outpatient and urgent care centres up to the end of December 2017 was €127.79m. The European Investment Bank is providing a loan of €490 million to Ireland to support the project. This represented 50% of the capital cost estimate in 2017 in respect of this project, which was €983m.
445. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if an assessment for the provision of a public health nurse for a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [6728/19]
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.
448. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for orthodontic treatment with the Health Service Executive. [6740/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
449. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the details of funding mechanisms available for the purchase of vehicles for HSE community care facilities in County Donegal providing residential, temporary and respite care to ensure they meet HIQA standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6742/19]
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.
450. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding Dingle Community Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6748/19]
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.
452. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of the 1,800 members of the National Ambulance Service, NAS, availing of the facility to have union deductions taken by NAS payroll. [6758/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
453. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the reason the drug Daxas is not covered under the medical card scheme; his plans to include this drug under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6765/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
454. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the funding received from the European Investment Bank for the construction of the new children’s hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6767/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Investment Bank is providing a loan of €490 million to Ireland to support the construction of the new children’s hospital on St James Hospital campus and associated outpatient and urgent care centres at Connolly Hospital and Tallaght University Hospital.
455. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will address the respite crisis being experienced for dozens of families at a centre (details supplied); the position regarding the latest reports of an oil leak there; when the centre will be open again and return to full service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6769/19]
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.
456. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for bariatric surgery; the position of the person on the waiting list; the reason for the delay in providing this treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6770/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
457. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on the community ophthalmic services scheme in 2016, 2017 and 2018; the budget allocation for same in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6773/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
458. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the way in which the €3.1 million will be spent in 2019 for the national women and infants health programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6774/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
