Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

HSE Transport Service

Maureen O'Sullivan

629. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason behind cutting the Health Service Executive transport service for patients attending appointments in other hospitals; the amount in savings his Department is making in this cut; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this greatly affects the elderly community who with only their pensions as income cannot afford the fares being offered by private wheelchair accessible taxi services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50546/13]

Hospital Staff Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

1025. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason the salary offered in the urologist position for Temple Street Hospital is below the normal salary for these positions at €109,000; when the position is filled the reason the urologist will be working half the time in Temple Street and half the time in Crumlin; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this may be making it difficult for the position to be filled and that it would impact on the quality of services for children with spina bifida and other health conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45633/13]

HSE Staff Remuneration

Maureen O'Sullivan

1151. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will list all the non-core payments of middle and senior management staff (non-medical) in the Health Service Executive in 2012, non-core meaning overtime, bonuses, including sponsored trips, hospitality events, benefits-in-kind or any other payments not defined as basic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46426/13]

Water Quality Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

229. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason unlicensed industrial grade products like H2SiF6, hydrofluorosilicic acid, which is extremely toxic, are allowed, when such a product would not be sanctioned in drug form on the Irish market, where only pharmaceutical grade and licensed medicines are permitted for sale here and their intake strictly monitored as well as the dosage, which is not the case with artificial water fluoridation where intake is unknown and the dose in water is only used as a marker for levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45464/13]

Health Services Staff Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

573. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of administrative staff who were employed by the Department of Health in 2005, that is, clerical officers, staff officers, and executive officers; the number of middle and senior managers who were employed, that is, higher executive officers, assistant principals, principals, assistant secretaries, deputy secretaries general and Secretaries General; how these employment numbers compare on a grade-by-grade basis with the numbers employed in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44694/13]

Health Services Staff Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

574. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of administrative, middle and senior management staff, non-medical, that were employed by the Health Service Executive in 2005; if he will provide a breakdown of job titles; on a category-by-category basis, how these numbers compare with staff numbers employed in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44695/13]

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Maureen O'Sullivan

575. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the non-core basic wage payments middle and senior management staff, non-medical, in the Health Service Executive received in 2012; if he will list the details of these payments including descriptions and rationale; the benefit in kind middle and senior management staff, non-medical, received in 2012; if he will list the benefits including sponsored trips and hospitality events that were offered in that year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44696/13]

Hearing Tests

Maureen O'Sullivan

576. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the system that is in place for testing newborns for deafness and for children acquiring hearing loss within the first 12 months; the policy implemented by Health Service Executive and supporting agencies for support for these children and their parents in the early years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44700/13]

Hearing Tests

Maureen O'Sullivan

577. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding community waiting lists for basic hearing tests of children up to 24 months and access to supporting routine hearing services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44701/13]

Cochlear Implants

Maureen O'Sullivan

578. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the policy of his Department on the potential benefits and value of a policy to support the fitting of bilateral both-ear implants for babies who have been discovered to be deaf; if he recognises that the bilateral both-ear implants could have a positive impact on speech perception, integration into mainstream education and general quality of life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44702/13]

Hearing Tests

Maureen O'Sullivan

579. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding his target to ensure that there is a universal hearing test for all newborns at all maternity hospitals by 2014; the specific elements of the Health Service Executive care pathways for a newborn, from the initial hearing test to the process of fitting a hearing aid for a baby; if he will identify where there are current gaps in the delivery of this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44703/13]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Maureen O'Sullivan

223. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that renal failure is one of the top causes of death for children with spina bifida, the reason since 2009, when spina bifida care was transferred to Temple Street University Hospital, there has not been a paediatric urologist established in the hospital to carry out routine monitoring tests such as blood test for kidneys, renal ultrasound, DMSA scan, bladder function assessment, video urodynamic study and spinal MRI which may prevent fatal kidney failure; the reason the recent vacancy for a paediatric urologist by the HSE has not been filled yet and when the appointment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44041/13]

Water Fluoridation

Maureen O'Sullivan

127. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will explain the discrepancy of the CAS number of natural fluoride being 16984-48-8 while the product specification of fluoride used in our water is different 16961-83-4 (details supplied); the reason natural fluoride is not being used in our water supply; the organisation that has approved the fluoride as detailed in the product specification as being fit for human consumption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43734/13]

Substance Misuse

Maureen O'Sullivan

601. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health in view of the increasing diversity of illicit drugs and prescribed drugs being abused in deprived parts of cities and towns and increasingly in conjunction with increased consumption of cheap alcohol and consequent damage to persons, families and communities, the way he will work with communities in facing the challenges of addiction and health resulting from these patterns of poly-drug use among varying age groups; if he is committed to a local integrated solution based approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42435/13]

Water Fluoridation

Maureen O'Sullivan

222. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will have the Irish Medicines Board carry out a test to determine if fluoride is safe for human consumption and have the results made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41605/13]

National Substance Misuse Strategy

Maureen O'Sullivan

17. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans for the implementation of the recommendations of the steering group report on the national substance misuse strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40064/13]

Drug Rehabilitation Clinics

Maureen O'Sullivan

62. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of dedicated drug recovery beds in Dublin north city Health Service Executive; their location and the way the issues of density of drug recovery/supported housing accommodation are addressed within the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40065/13]

National Drugs Strategy Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

256. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of times the Oversight Forum on Drugs Committee and the Drugs Advisory Group have met in the past year since September 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40282/13]

National Drugs Strategy Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

257. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update in the review of the structures of the National Drugs Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40283/13]

Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions

Maureen O'Sullivan

194. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health how he intends to address the demands of non-consultant hospital doctors in view of the planned strike; if he will address the lack of progress the Health Service Executive in restructuring rosters in a fair manner; if he is committed to implementing a retention plan to prevent high emigration of Irish doctors to other countries in search of fairer working conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40103/13]