Written Answers Nos. 268-286
268. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for six, nine, 12, 18 and more than 18 months, respectively, for speech and language therapy by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17210/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
269. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a psychological assessment will be offered in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17215/19]
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.
270. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the fair deal scheme will be approved in the case of persons (details supplied); if consideration of their case will be expedited in view of the fact that the family cannot provide the level of care needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17218/19]
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.
271. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will receive assistance from the HSE in the payment and processing of the payments for the provision of the oxygen supply and sleep apnoea machine. [17221/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the particular issue raised relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
272. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the reason personalised budgets for an organisation (details supplied) are being referred back to the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17222/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for the formulation and development of policy in respect of the provision of healthcare and support services; responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services rests with the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The HSE has now been tasked with implementing the recommendations of the Task Force Report in relation to setting up demonstration projects. I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy to update him on progress.
273. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied). [17224/19]
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.
274. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the date on which an application was made for funding for an MRI scanner for St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny. [17227/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
275. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the services affected by funding reductions or re-profiling arising from the overspend on the national children's hospital that will affect health, mental health or disability services in an area (details supplied) and community organisation area 7. [17236/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Minister as soon as possible.
276. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of unpaid assistant psychologist positions operated by the HSE at present and over the past three years; the service the position was linked to; the average hours worked; if the hours were contracted; and if additional financial support was provided. [17237/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
277. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his plans and timelines to provide additional funding to increase the number of residential placements for persons with intellectual disabilities (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17239/19]
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 a service issue, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
278. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if staff who have to work overtime due to the fact that they cannot leave patients or a ward without care due to staffing shortages as a result of the recruitment and retention crisis will be paid for that overtime worked in view of recent reports of a HSE recruitment and overtime ban. [17251/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
279. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason an operation was cancelled for a person (details supplied) in October 2018; and the reason the person has not received another appointment. [17260/19]
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.
280. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the first and full year cost of restoring distance coding and increasing the rural practice allowance to amounts (details supplied), in tabular form. [17269/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased that agreement has been reached with the IMO on a major package of GP contractual reforms which will benefit patients and GPs. In return for cooperation with the service developments and reforms, the Government will increase investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) over the next four years. This will see significant increases in capitation fees for GPs who participate in the reform programme and the introduction of new fees and subsidies for additional services such as the chronic disease programme.
As part of this package, the financial allowance available under the Rural Practice Support Framework will be increased by 10% in 2020. There will also be increased support for GPs working in disadvantaged urban areas. Improvements in the maternity and paternity leave arrangements have also been agreed, in recognition of the need to ensure that general practice is compatible with doctors’ family friendly commitments.
I am confident that these measures help make general practice more sustainable and help make general practice a more attractive career option for doctors.
The “distance code” was removed as a factor in calculating GP fees and allowances in 2010. Under the previous arrangements, certain fees payable to GPs such as capitation and out of hours fees varied according to a patient's age, gender and distance of their residence from the GP's surgery.
To accurately cost a reinstatement of the previous "distance code" arrangement would require a detailed exercise by the HSE, which would involve establishing a database for the current population of GMS patients containing their age, gender and distance of their residence from their GP's surgery. As the HSE does not maintain such a database, it is not possible to provide a cost estimate in respect of this element of the Deputy's question.
In relation to the cost of increasing the financial supports available to rural practices by the amounts specified, as this is a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
281. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if the adult respite service for persons with intellectual disability at a centre (details supplied) in County Wexford will be made available for families outside the county; if so, the plans the HSE has to ensure that families in the county do not receive a decreased service due to additional demand created by opening the service up to persons outside the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17280/19]
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.
282. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the date on which the HSE audit of orthodontic services will be completed and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17285/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
283. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health his plans and the plans of the HSE to approve the drug Kuvan for persons with PKU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17286/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra396. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on the drug sapropterin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17721/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 283 and 396 together.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.
I am advised by the HSE that HSE Leadership has approved the reimbursement of Sapropterin (Kuvan) subject to Start-Stop criteria and appropriate protocols and processes being in place to ensure reimbursement is only targeted to those cohorts covered by the Start-Stop criteria.
The HSE has advised that reimbursement will be in place from 1 July 2019.
284. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the length of time a person (details supplied) will be waiting for glasses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17287/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
285. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the cost in the first and full year of restoring the pay disparity between new entrant consultants recruited post 1 October 2012 and those hired prior to 1 October 2012 for hospital consultants to pre-2012 pay levels; the number of consultants hired in the post 1 October 2012 period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17291/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
286. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when the health (transport support) Bill will be published; the progress made towards replacing the mobility allowance and the motorised transport schemes with new schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17292/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra332. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health the status of the review of the mobility allowance; and when details of a new scheme will be announced. [17462/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra358. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when the transport grant for disabled persons which ceased five years ago will be reinstated; the position regarding the health (transport support) Bill; when it will be finalised and implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17580/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 286, 332 and 358 together.
The Deputies will be familiar with the background to the closure of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant schemes in February 2013.
My colleague, the Minister for Health and I, brought a Memorandum to Government in May 2018 on proposals for a new Transport Support Payment Scheme. Following consideration of the matter, it was decided to withdraw the Memorandum from the Cabinet Agenda at the time. I intend to revert to Government in due course with revised proposals to reflect the discussions at that Cabinet meeting and further discussions between myself and Minister Harris on the best way to progress the Transport Scheme.
It is important to note that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers scheme operated by the Revenue Commissioners, remains in place. This scheme provides VRT and VAT relief, an exemption from road tax and a fuel grant to drivers and passengers with a disability, who qualify under the relevant criteria set out in governing regulations made by the Minister for Finance. Specifically adapted vehicles driven by persons with a disability are also exempt from payment of tolls on national roads and toll bridges. Transport Infrastructure Ireland has responsibility for this particular scheme.
There are improvements in access to a range of transport support schemes available to persons with disabilities in the State and on-going work is being carried out by Government Departments, agencies and transport providers to further improve access to public transport services. Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has responsibility for the continued development of accessibility and availability of public transport for people with a disability.
