Written Answers Nos. 185-197
185. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting one whole-time equivalent dedicated paediatric dietitian per primary care network; the estimated cost based on recruitment from the current base; the estimated cost of developing the service from the beginning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18173/19]
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.
186. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 717 and 718 of 26 March 2019, the person or body with which the obligations and responsibilities in the code of practice for the governance of State bodies rest in situations in which the chairman and the board have behaved inappropriately. [18176/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra187. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 717 and 718 of 26 March 2019, the appropriate entity to deal with an allegation of wrongdoing by the chairperson of the board of a State body; and his role in such circumstances. [18177/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together.
If the Deputy has questions in relation to the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies these should be addressed to my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
The Deputy has included details which relate to the management of an employment law matter by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). Responsibility for ensuring that the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland complies with its statutory and governance obligations, including those of employment law, rests with the Board.
Where a person believes that wrongdoing has occurred, it would appear that an appropriate method for dealing with such issues is by way of the provisions set out in the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. Section 21(1) of the Act requires that every public body shall establish and maintain procedures for the making of protected disclosures by their employees. Accordingly, if the person concerned wishes to make an internal report under Section 6 of the Act, they are advised to consult these procedures for information as to how to do so. As an employee of a public body, they can also make their disclosure to the Minister for Health under Section 8 of the Act. Furthermore, a public disclosure can be made under Section 10, if the conditions of that section of the Act are met.
Specifically in relation to the NMBI, the Nurses and Midwives Act, 2011 sets out the circumstances under which I may remove a member of the Board from office.
188. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 718 of 26 March 2019, if no action was taken by his Department following it being alerted to an email (details supplied); and if the allegation in regard to wrongdoing by the chairperson of the board contained therein was left to the chairperson and the board to address or not, internally. [18178/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I have previously advised the Deputy on a number of occasions, I have no role in the management of day to day staffing issues in the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. Responsibility for ensuring that the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland complies with its statutory and governance obligations, including those of employment law, rests with the Board
The email referred to by the Deputy raises issues around the handling by the Board of the NMBI of an employment law matter. I am informed that this matter came before the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. I am further informed that the NMBI Board's position was based on clear legal advice. Both the Labour Court and the Workplace Relations Commission are independent, statutory bodies. Given their statutory independence, I have no role when the bodies exercise their quasi-judicial functions in relation to industrial relations disputes or employment law complaints.
189. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of complaints, notifications and disclosures of wrongdoing in the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI, from current or former personnel since July 2014; the date of receipt of each by his Department or his predecessors and-or the NMBI; the nature of the wrongdoing complained of in each case; the action taken by the him and each former Minister, his Department and-or the NMBI; the duration and outcome of such action; and the cost of associated legal and consultancy costs of the NMBI and his Department. [18179/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAny complaints or disclosures submitted internally in the NMBI are a matter for that organisation and I have asked the NMBI to reply directly to the Deputy on the matter.
Insofar as the Deputy asks about the receipt of such matters by my Department, I take it that the Deputy is referring to the making of such complaints or disclosures under the provisions of the Protected Disclosures Act, 2014. All protected disclosures received by my Department are given due attention in keeping with the Departments policies and procedures in accordance the Act. Annual Reports detailing the number of disclosures received between 2015 and 2017 are available on the Departments website. The Report for 2018 will be published no later than 20th June 2019. Given that all such disclosures must be treated as confidential it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.
190. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a date for optical surgery will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [18196/19]
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.
191. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason for the continued closure of a newly built ward in a nursing home (details supplied); the cost to build and refurbish the ward; the cost of the continued closure; the number of beds on the ward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18198/19]
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.
192. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if Forensic Science Ireland tests for potency of cannabis seized; if it tests for the purity of cannabis seized; if it confirms the presence of other substances in the cannabis, the details of the substances; the quantity of the other substances should they be present in the cannabis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18201/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraForensic Science Ireland falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, and the matters raised by the Deputy, which relate to the analytical testing of seized substances, are, I understand, appropriate to Forensic Science Ireland.
I would therefore suggest that the Deputy direct his inquiries to the Minister for Justice and Equality or to Forensic Science Ireland.
193. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if a scan for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18202/19]
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.
194. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of a neurology clinical nurse specialist for University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18210/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
195. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will consider making deep brain stimulation available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18211/19]
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.
196. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for Parkinson’s disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18212/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth services are provided, and funded by the HSE. The objective of the HSE, as stated in the Health Act, is to use the resources available to it in the most beneficial, effective and efficient manner to improve, promote and protect the health and welfare of the public.
The HSE National Service Plan 2019 was published on 20 December 2018. The Service Plan sets out the type and volume of services that the HSE will provide for a budget of over €16 billion.
Each year the HSE sets out the type and volume of health and social care services that it will provide in its National Service Plan, having regard to the level of funding provided to it. It includes a National Scorecard of priority areas to be reported against and also a National Performance Indicator suite which sets out a wide range of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) against which progress is reported on throughout the year. KPIs fall into one of four key quadrants: Finance, Governance and Compliance; Workforce; Access and Integration; and Quality and Safety.
As the Deputy's question relates to the provision of services, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
197. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the State agencies and bodies under the remit of his Department; the location of each such body, by county; and the number of full and part-time persons employed in each such body. [18234/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked that the HSE respond to you directly on the aspect of the question that relates to them. In relation to non-commercial state agencies under the aegis of the Department, this information is being sought and will be forwarded to the Deputy when collated.
