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Wednesday, 25 Sep 2019

Written Answers Nos. 126-140

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (126)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

126. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a date for admission to Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39024/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Under 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.

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Ceisteanna (127)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

127. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of staff positions by department submitted to the HSE and its national recruitment service by Letterkenny University Hospital from 1 May 2019 to date; and the number cleared by the HSE for recruitment and appointment. [39026/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Patient Deaths

Ceisteanna (128)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

128. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will establish an independent review into the clinical care provided to a person (details supplied) in Letterkenny University Hospital in October and November 2016 following the concerns of the person's family regarding the serious incident review carried out by Saolta University Health Care Group. [39027/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I would like firstly to convey my condolences to the family on their sad loss and to acknowledge the distress and upset experienced by them throughout this difficult time.

I have been in contact with the HSE and have been assured by them that lessons have been learned from the shortcomings in the care provided to the person concerned and the subsequent review of care carried out by the Saolta University Healthcare Group.

I have been also been informed by the HSE that they have offered the family the opportunity to discuss and to fully address the concerns that they may have.

Disability Services Funding

Ceisteanna (129, 130)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

129. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reason funding has been cut for a facility (details supplied). [39028/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

130. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will restore funding for a facility (details supplied). [39029/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 130 together.

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.

HSE Expenditure

Ceisteanna (131)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

131. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by the HSE on taxis to date in 2019, in tabular form. [39030/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospitals Expenditure

Ceisteanna (132)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

132. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on private ambulances by each hospital to date in 2019, in tabular form. [39031/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Disability Services Funding

Ceisteanna (133)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

133. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if funding will be allocated to a centre (details supplied) to allow it open from the current 40 to 52 weeks per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39032/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí 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.

Health Services Data

Ceisteanna (134)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

134. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health when a dialysis unit (details supplied) last underwent a quality assurance check by the HSE; the term of the contract for the service with the HSE; the cost of the service per year; the number of patients presenting for dialysis over the lifetime of the contract to date; if there have been complaints from the service users or staff at the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39037/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.

Hospitals Data

Ceisteanna (135, 136, 137)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

135. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of tubal ligations carried out on public patients in each of the years 2016 to 2018, in tabular form. [39049/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

136. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of vasectomies carried out on public patients in each of the years 2016 to 2018, in tabular form. [39050/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

137. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the public hospitals that provide tubal ligation and vasectomy services. [39051/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 to 137, inclusive, together.

In relation to the particular queries raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (138)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

138. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when he plans to introduce proposals for the introduction of a vaccine damage compensation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39052/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to “…put in place a scheme, on a no-fault basis, that will respond to the needs of people with disability arising from vaccination”. The policy objectives in putting in place a scheme to meet the needs of people with disability arising from vaccination are to provide fair and just compensation for those who may have been injured by a vaccine, to reduce the costs to the State by providing an alternative to litigation and to maintaining public confidence in immunisation.

My Department asked the Health Research Board to carry out an evidence review on vaccine injury redress programmes in other jurisdictions. The review has been completed and can now be found on the HRB website. This matter is under consideration by my Department with a view to developing a proposal regarding a vaccine damage scheme based on evidence concerning vaccine damage schemes, legal advices and consultation with other Government bodies.

In June 2018, the Government agreed to the establishment of an Expert Group to review the law of torts and the current systems for the management of clinical negligence claims. It was agreed that High Court Justice Charles Meenan would Chair the Group which would advise on whether there are alternative mechanisms to the current court process for resolving clinical negligence and personal injury claims.

Judge Meenan's Expert Group is examining the system from the perspective of the person who has made the claim to explore if there is a better way to deal effectively yet more sensitively with certain cases. In this process the Group is also looking at the impact of tort legislation on the overall patient safety culture and open disclosure.

I am informed that submissions were invited by the Group with 39 submissions received in total. The Expert Group commenced its work in September 2018 and has met on a monthly basis since its first meeting. Judge Meenan submitted an Interim Report to myself and the Minister for Justice and Equality on the 9th of January. The Final Report is expected in November.

Ambulance Service Data

Ceisteanna (139)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

139. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of voluntary off-road ambulances nationally; the number of call-outs these ambulances have undertaken in each of the past three years and to date in 2019 on behalf of the 999 emergency services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39055/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Energy Policy

Ceisteanna (140)

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

140. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his policy regarding the upcoming EU meeting to ratify the fourth list of projects of common interests; his plans to support the building of LNGs here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38926/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Shannon LNG is an EU Project of Common Interest (PCI) on the current list of PCIs. This project was supported by Ireland in obtaining this designation as it would enhance our gas security by increasing import route diversity.

Projects of Common interest are key infrastructure projects with one of their main objectives being to safeguard the EU’s energy security by diversifying sources. A new list of these projects is drawn up every two years following an evaluation process carried out by the European Commission. The first PCI list was adopted in 2013 and the Shannon LNG project has been designated a PCI on each list since that date.

The fourth list of PCIs is currently under evaluation by the European Commission and it is expected to be adopted in October 2019. The inclusion of the Shannon LNG project on the list continues to have the support of Government.

As a private commercial project, final investment decisions on whether this project will proceed are matters for the project promoter.

I intend to carry out a security of supply review which will consider what fossil fuels are required, and how they are sourced, during the transition to a low carbon economy. This is required particularly as coal and peat are removed from electricity generation, and as we move from 30% renewable electricity to 70% renewable electricity. When we go from 30% renewable electricity today to 70% renewable electricity in 2030, we will need backup electricity generation when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining. For example, in a recent 30 day period, 25% of Ireland’s electricity was provided by wind generation. However, over this same period, one day had only 4% of our electricity provided by wind and on another day it provided 62% of our electricity.

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