Tony McLoughlin
Ceist:360. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health if all agency staff in the position of both nursing and care assistants are Garda vetted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20850/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraGarda Vetting
Ceisteanna (360)
Freagraí scríofa
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
Health Reports
Ceisteanna (361)
James Browne
Ceist:361. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number and title of all reports, investigations and-or reviews commissioned since 1 January 2005 by the HSE and-or his Department that remain uncompleted and-or unpublished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20859/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. I will survey the Department and the collated replies will be prepared into a full response to the Deputy as soon as possible.
I have asked the HSE to respond directly with regard to their reports, investigations and or reviews.
Services for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (362)
Eamon Scanlon
Ceist:362. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health if he will report on ongoing talks with a group (details supplied); the issues being discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20863/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives.
I want to acknowledge the important services provided by Rehab and the commitment of staff to people with disabilities and their families.
Minister Harris and I held a joint meeting on Tuesday 07 May last, with Rehab and the HSE. Rehab and the HSE committed to working together intensively with a view to making substantive progress in reaching a solution to the issues.
A further meeting is scheduled to take place tomorrow, 15 May.
Our collective aim is to ensure service continuity for service users and their families.
Autism Support Services
Ceisteanna (363)
Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:363. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an autism therapist for Inishowen, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20864/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 Help Service Provision
Ceisteanna (364)
Tony McLoughlin
Ceist:364. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health the reason there is such a long delay for applications to be decided upon for home help in counties Sligo and Leitrim; the funding allocated for home help in the counties in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019; if additional funding will be provided for the provision of home help to sick and elderly persons in the counties for the remaining months in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20899/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Screening Programmes
Ceisteanna (365)
Aindrias Moynihan
Ceist:365. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the average time for the release of results to patients under the various screening programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20922/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and, accordingly, I have asked the HSE to respond to him directly.
Health Screening Programmes
Ceisteanna (366)
Aindrias Moynihan
Ceist:366. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the policy for the release of results to patients under the national diabetic retina screen programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20923/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Physiotherapy Provision
Ceisteanna (367)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:367. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if the HSE provides physiotherapy services in Connemara, County Galway; the locations at which this service is provided; the frequency with which physiotherapists attend at each centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20924/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
Fibromyalgia Support Services
Ceisteanna (368)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:368. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health his plans to fund a registry of persons suffering from fibromyalgia in order that it is possible to ascertain the number of persons suffering from this condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20925/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage
Ceisteanna (369)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:369. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend cover under the long-term illness scheme for drugs related to the treatment of fibromyalgia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20926/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of thalidomide.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme at this time. However, I wish to inform the Deputy that the LTI Scheme will be included as part of a review of the current eligibility framework, including the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, to be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.
For people who are not eligible for the LTI scheme, there are other arrangements which protect them from excessive medicine costs.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €124 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family.
People who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of GP consultations.
Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage
Ceisteanna (370)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:370. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the long-term illness scheme to include cover for those over 21 years of age who suffer from type 1 diabetes for the use of the FreeStyle Libre device for blood monitoring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20927/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Services for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (371)
Darragh O'Brien
Ceist:371. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that funding that has been recommended and approved to the CHO DNCC disability resource committee is released as a matter of urgency in the interests of the health and well-being of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20928/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Departmental Advertising Expenditure
Ceisteanna (372)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:372. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the costs incurred by his Department in respect of advertising in all forms to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21123/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have set out below the costs incurred by my Department in respect of advertising, in all forms, to date in 2019.
Healthy Ireland aims to encourage people to make positive choices to improve their physical and mental health, while also providing support and information to help people make those healthier choices.
Iris Oifigiúil is the official means used by the Government for announcing appointments to public offices and publishing proclamations, statutory instruments, appointment of receivers to companies, etc.
- Healthy Ireland: €279,164.86
- Iris Oifigiúil: €3,630.00
TAMS Administration
Ceisteanna (373)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:373. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) is not on the approved list for the TAMS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20326/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The TAMS II Scheme has been very successful to date in terms of uptake with the number of approvals that have issued to date exceeding 19,900. All of these approvals represent committed expenditure under the TAMS II measure of the Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020. 10,000 of these approvals have yet to be submitted as payment claims. Until such time as these approvals are acted upon or expire the budget for TAMS must include provision for the potential expenditure involved.
Requests for the inclusion of additional investments can only be included in the context of the overall budgetary position which is being closely monitored. There are no proposals at present to amend the comprehensive list of investments available under TAMS to include the system detailed.