Written Answers Nos. 179-194
179. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the expenditure details for all consultancy or audit services provided to his Department by a company (details supplied) from 2015 to 2018, inclusive, and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7564/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere were no payments made to PWC for any services from 2015 to 2019 to date.
180. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the reason documentation is being requested from a person (details supplied) from the medical card section in view of the fact it has already been provided; if a decision will be expedited regarding same in view of the medical circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7571/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
181. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive is allowed to deny the granting of a treatment that has been approved by a committee (details supplied). [7573/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, relating to the work of the Rare Diseases Medicinal Products/Technology Review Committee, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
182. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the opening hours of a health facility (details supplied) in Dublin 8; the number of beds in the facility; the numbers sleeping on the premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7582/19]
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.
183. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health the ongoing supervision the Health Products Regulatory Authority carries out for parallel import products, particularly regarding repackaging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7583/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraA medicinal product, placed originally on the market in another EU Member State or EEA country, may be parallel imported to Ireland, provided that the equivalent product is already on the market here or has been withdrawn for commercial reasons only, and the importer has obtained a parallel import licence (known in Ireland as a parallel product authorisation (PPA)) from the HPRA to place the parallel imported product on the Irish market.
A PPA is granted only for a product that fulfils the following criteria:
- The Irish-market product must have a current, full Irish marketing authorisation at the time of submission or, if not still authorised, it must have been withdrawn for commercial reasons only.
- The parallel-imported product must have the same active substance(s), the same pharmaceutical form (e.g. tablet, capsule, injection, etc.) and have no significant therapeutic difference from, the Irish-market product.
- The parallel-imported product must be imported from an EU Member State or an EEA country and it must have a current, full marketing authorisation in that country.
As outlined above, the parallel import licence is termed a Parallel Product Authorisation and is identified by the letters ‘PPA’ in front of the authorisation number. Authorisation is granted under the Medicinal Products (Control of Placing on the Market) Regulations 2007, as amended. Prior to placing the parallel imported product on the Irish market, a certain amount of over labelling or repackaging will be required under the terms of the PPA granted by the HPRA.
An additional requirement of obtaining an authorisation for a parallel product is that the repackaging and/or over labelling of the product is done in accordance with good manufacturing practice (GMP) by the holder of a manufacturer’s/importer’s authorisation (MIA). If the repackaging and/or over labelling takes place in Ireland, the MIA is granted by the HPRA (under the Medicinal Products (Control of Manufacture) Regulations 2007, as amended) if the manufacturing operation is found to be satisfactory on initial inspection. MIA holders are inspected for continuing compliance with GMP at regular intervals, generally every two to three years, under a risk based inspection programme.
I would refer the Deputy to the HPRA's website for a comprehensive guide to Parallel Imports of human medicines.
184. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the status of plans being devised and considered by the HSE regarding the future of services at a community hospital (details supplied) in County Donegal; his plans to redevelop the facility; if so, the details of same; his immediate plans for current services housed at the unit with the view to ensuring continuation of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7585/19]
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.
185. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of reversing and restoring all adjustments to consultants' remuneration since 2008. [7591/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
186. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of reversing or restoring all FEMPI adjustments for general practitioners since 2008. [7592/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, GPs are reimbursed for a range of services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders. GPs are remunerated for these services primarily on a capitation basis, with a range of additional support payments and fees for specific items of service. GPs are also remunerated for services they provide on behalf of the HSE under other public health schemes, such as the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme, Primary Childhood Immunisation Scheme, etc.
The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Act 2009 imposed a range of adjustments to health contractor payments. These included different levels of reductions to various GP fees and allowances and the elimination of certain payments, resulting in savings of approximately €120 million per annum.
Despite reductions to the payment rates of health contractors made under FEMPI legislation, the total fees paid to GPs under the GMS scheme have increased from just over €472 million in 2009 to approximately €525 million in 2017. This increase in fees is largely due to significant developments and investment in GP services introduced in recent years, with more services being made available to our citizens and additional financial support provided by the HSE.
The Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 now allows the setting and varying of contractor payments on a non-emergency statutory basis. It is my intention to put in place a new multiannual approach to fees in return for service improvements and contractual reforms based upon health policy considerations and engagement with representative bodies.
Officials from my Department and the HSE are currently engaged in talks with the Irish Medical Organisation in relation to the reform and modernisation of the GMS contract. Agreement on the delivery of service improvements and contractual reform has the potential to facilitate a substantial increase in the resourcing of general practice on a multiannual basis. Of course, any agreement must benefit patients an provide value for the taxpayer.
In line with the long-established approach to such processes, and by agreement of the parties concerned, I am not in a position to give further details while engagement between the parties is underway.
187. Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Health the reason an organisation (details supplied) is not included in negotiations on a new deal for general practitioners regarding the reversal of FEMPI and other matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7594/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to engaging with GP representatives on the development of modernised contractual arrangements.
Talks between the Department of Health, HSE and the IMO are ongoing. Historically, the IMO has been the main representative body for GPs and the only one involved in contractual processes. It negotiated the existing 1972 and 1989 GP contract arrangements with the Department of Health.
While some progress has been made in the current phase of talks, there are a number of outstanding issues that need to be addressed. The introduction of an other organisation into the process at this stage would likely prolong and complicate negotiations and may make an agreed outcome less likely.
Agreement on the delivery of a range of service improvements and contractual reforms has the potential to facilitate a very substantial increase in the resourcing of general practice on a multi-annual basis.
188. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when required surgery will be available to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7608/19]
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.
189. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if the professional services being provided for the construction of the national children's hospital are being paid for as a percentage of the overall cost. [7651/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraA competitive procurement process, in accordance with Government procurement guidelines, was undertaken by the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board in 2014 to appoint the design team for the new children's hospital. The design team was procured in August 2014 on a lump sum tender. It was not appointed on the basis of a percentage of the contract price.
190. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the capital projects completed by his Department since 2011; the initial contract value of same; the final cost of same; and the final cost of the capital projects that have had an ex post review, in tabular form. [7851/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of the health capital programme, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
191. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the outbreak of equine flu in the UK (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7473/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraEquine influenza is endemic in both Europe and North America, with outbreaks occurring on an almost annual basis. The virus rarely causes fatalities. Similar to human influenza, vaccines are available. However, if sufficient numbers of horses are infected, equestrian events may have to be cancelled in order to control the spread of the disease.
The recent equine influenza outbreak in the UK resulted in temporary suspension by the racing authorities in the UK of race meetings there and a temporary ban by the racing authorities in Ireland on British-trained horses running in Ireland.
On February 11th, 2019, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) announced that horses from Britain meeting IHRB requirements could resume racing in Ireland, with immediate effect. Also on that date, the British Horseracing Authority announced a return to racing from 13th of February 2019.
My Department has liaised closely with the Irish Equine Centre (IEC) on the equine influenza situation. Testing for equine influenza is provided by the IEC and they have also provided on-going expert advice to the industry. My Department’s continued financial support towards maintenance of the Irish Equine Centre’s OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) reference laboratory status in respect of equine influenza (one of just four such designated laboratories in the world) provides an important safeguard to Ireland’s equine industry.
My Department will continue to liaise closely with the Irish Equine Centre and monitor the situation in both Ireland and the UK.
192. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a system of licensing and registering for animal rescues is being developed; the consultation that has taken place in relation to the issue; the persons or bodies with which consultation has taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7539/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAnimal rescues that rehome companion animals outside of Ireland are currently registered by my Department, as required by Council Directive 92/65/EEC (the Balai Directive). Further, all premises on which farmed animals are kept are subject to registration.
Under the new EU Animal Health Law (EU Regulation 2016/429), animal rescue organisations will be among the establishments keeping terrestrial animals that will be required to apply for registration with my Department to allow them to operate, from 21st April 2021 (the date from which the EU Animal Health Law will apply).
193. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason an organisation (details supplied) has never had to tender for the public service contracts for running dog pounds. [7540/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of pounds is a matter for each local authority; neither I nor my Department have any function in this regard. My Department works closely with local authorities to ensure that optimum animal welfare standards are maintained. Should the Deputy have any concerns regarding a particular establishment, it is recommended that contact be made with my Department’s Animal Welfare Helpline on Call Save 0761064408; phone 016072379; Email animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie.
194. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if allegations of wholesale corruption in the animal rescue community have been made to his Department; if so, if the claims came from a particular organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7541/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been no such allegations made to my Department. However, if the Deputy is aware of any specific issues that require follow up action, details should be passed immediately to my own Department, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Charities Regulator and An Garda Síochána in order that matters raised can be fully investigated.
