Seán Sherlock
Ceist:741. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health to address an issue (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16598/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth Services Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (741)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (742)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Ceist:742. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of staff at St Luke’s, Kilkenny paediatric diabetes clinic; if his Department is aware that all new insulin pumps have been put on hold as they no longer have the staff to facilitate training and after care; to provide an estimated timeline on the recruitment of new staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16601/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (743)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Ceist:743. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the team in Caredoc is the only national team not to have received the building momentum pay rises and 37.5-hour week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16613/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of GP services to medical card and GP visit card holders. GPs contracted under the General Medical Services Scheme are required by their contract to make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum or deputy, for emergencies outside of normal practice hours. While there is no obligation on GPs to participate in GP out of hours co-operatives as a means of meeting the contractual requirement, such services facilitate the provision of GP services outside of normal surgery hours and fulfil their obligations under Section 58 of the Health Act 1970.
Caredoc is a private company, not a public service organisation and, as such, staff employed by Caredoc do not fall under the current Public Service Agreement, Building Momentum. Building Momentum was agreed between public sector unions and the State and the agreement set out matters such as reform measures, industrial relations processes and pay rises for public servants. Only public service staff encompassed by the agreement benefitted from the pay rises.
Caredoc is privately owned and run and the terms and conditions of employment of their staff, once in line with employment legislation, is strictly between the employer and the employee. Caredoc is not and have not been party to the Public Service Agreements.
Medical Cards
Ceisteanna (744)
Ivana Bacik
Ceist:744. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the progress in extending the income disregard for medical cards to include the rent-a-room income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16662/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Housing For All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland is the Government’s housing policy to 2030, with an overall objective to ensure that everyone in the State has access to a home to purchase or rent at an affordable price, built to a high standard and in the right place, offering a high quality of life. Action 17.1 of Housing for All commits to removing “potential barriers to use of the rent a room scheme to increase its potential as a source of student accommodation by reviewing the assessment of Rent a Room Income within the Medical Card assessment process.”
Rent a Room tax relief is a measure put in place by the Revenue Commissioners in 2001 to increase the availability of accommodation for rent in the State. The relief allows participants on the scheme to earn up to €14,000 per year tax-free if they rent out a room (or rooms) in their home for use as accommodation by others. The objective of Government is to provide for a disregard of up to €14,000 income for persons who have been granted Rent a Room relief by the Revenue Commissioners such that the income will not be assessed within the medical card assessment process.
Officials in my Department have progressed work, over recent months, to develop legislative amendments needed to give effect to this objective. Government approved the publication of the General Scheme of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill on 3rd October 2023. Following Government approval for publication of the final text of the Bill (23rd January 2024), the Bill was published on 31st January. The draft legislation has now commenced its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas and it is hoped that this will be completed as soon as possible.
Disease Management
Ceisteanna (745)
Danny Healy-Rae
Ceist:745. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to extending the age for funding of treatment option of CAR-T Immunotherapy for leukaemia patients to beyond the age of 25 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16677/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (746)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:746. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16702/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí 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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Eating Disorders
Ceisteanna (747)
Mark Ward
Ceist:747. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health for an update on the number of public inpatient beds for adults with eating disorders; the cost of operating one bed per year; if there will be an increase in beds in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16708/24]
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.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (748)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:748. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to review documents for funding for the Irish Heart Foundation; his plans on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16715/24]
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.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (749)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:749. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to review a document and the need for funding for an organisation (details supplied); the measures his Department is taking on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16729/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (750)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:750. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to review a case (details supplied); if he can provide an urgent appointment, given the pain this girl is in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16734/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (751)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:751. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health what supports are available for a patient (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16746/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (752)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:752. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a colonoscopy for a patient (details supplied) is being delayed given the family history in this case; if he can expedite this appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16757/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.