Written Answers Nos. 318-335
318. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 180 of 23 November 2016, the cost in legal fees after the HSE acquired the freehold interest in a portion of the site at St. James's at a cost of €110,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38441/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to this issue I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
319. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health if he will increase the funding for counsellor and neuro-physiotherapist services for persons who have suffered aneurysms or strokes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38447/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
320. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting on services from CAMHS for less than 12 months, less than 24 months and less than 36 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38459/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
321. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of CAMHS teams that offer an out-of-hours service by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38460/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
322. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) who is in receipt of an invalidity allowance and has health issues will be allowed to retire on health grounds from their employment in the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38461/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
323. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Laois who have been refused access to a general practitioner service under the medical card system in view of the fact that general practitioner lists are full; his plans to deal with persons who need to be taken on by a local general practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38462/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraPatients who hold a medical card or GP visit card are registered with a single GP who holds a contract with the HSE to provide services to eligible patients under the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme.
Where a GMS patient experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept him/her as a patient, the HSE has the power to assign an eligible person to a GP's GMS patient list where the person has been removed from another GP's list or refused entry onto a GP's list, and the person has unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area, who are contracted to provide services under the GMS.
In relation to the information requested specific to Co. Laois, as this is a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
324. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the status of the allocation of the posts from the 2015 €35 million funding for mental health; the number of posts this allocation supports; the number that have been filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38465/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mental Health Budget has been increased by around €115 million since 2012 to present. 1500 posts were approved for recruitment up to the end of 2015 from this funding. Approximately, 1,150 of these new development posts have been filled since 2012. The allocation of posts funded by the €35 million development funding in 2015 has been completed, with 390 posts recruited in that year, now in place.
325. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 6 October 2016, if he will ensure that a response is provided by either him or the HSE to a proposal from a project (details supplied) without any further delay. [38474/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Health Service Executive replied to the Deputy's earlier Parliamentary Question on 28th November, 2016. From my earlier reply to the Deputy, she will be aware that the Minister for Health, along with Department and Health Service Executive (HSE) officials, recently met with representatives of An Saol Project, at which they outlined their ideas for the project.
The Programme for Partnership Government includes a commitment to publish "a plan for advancing neuro-rehabilitation services in the community." A National Steering Group, chaired by the Head of the HSE's Disability Reform Team, has completed an implementation framework in respect of the recommendations from the National Policy and Strategy for the Provision of Neuro-rehabilitation Services in Ireland 2011 - 2015. The Group is currently considering feedback on the framework, which was circulated to wider stakeholder interest groups. The HSE intends to finalise and progress implementation of the framework for the Neuro-rehabilitation Strategy in 2017. I understand that the HSE will consider proposals for specialised services for people with severe acquired brain injury in the broader context of the finalisation of the implementation framework and available resources.
As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for an updated reply to be issued directly to the Deputy.
326. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 993 of 16 September 2016, the number of convicted persons under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 that are in receipt of custodial medical treatment or care in the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum in each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38497/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
327. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38527/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply.
328. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health his plans regarding the severe staff shortages in the maternity unit at Mayo University Hospital, particularly in view of the strike action being taken by INMO midwives at the hospital due to what they describe as a severe shortage of midwives and ongoing clinical risks to mothers and babies at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38529/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to the recent threat of industrial action taken by INMO midwifery staff regarding staffing shortages in the maternity unit in Mayo University Hospital (MUH), local management and Saolta Group HR have been in regular contact with the INMO on this matter and management are endeavouring to address it. Both parties have agreed to refer the matter to the Workforce Relations Commission for their assistance in seeking a resolution, and any industrial action by the INMO has been suspended pending those discussions taking place.
There are currently no permanent vacant posts in the maternity department/labour ward. There were four midwives appointed in 2016 to vacant posts and two WTE maternity leaves are replaced by new graduates of September 2016.
In terms of additional posts, MUH is currently in the process of recruiting a Bereavement Clinical Nurse Specialist and has established a training position for obstetric sonography. It has sought approval for a number of new posts for the Maternity Department including a Clinical Midwife Manager 3, Clinical Midwife Specialist Lactation Consultant, Clinical Midwife Manager 2 shift leaders, which will amount to four whole time equivalents; obstetric emergency staffing for the out of hours theatre service and a clinical audit nurse. MUH is working with the Saolta Group and the HSE nationally in relation to these posts. Interviews for a new post of Director of Midwifery will take place this month and if a suitable candidate can be identified it is expected the post will be filled early next year. Significant work has been and is being undertaken in relation to supporting the maternity services at Mayo University Hospital.
329. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if there is a system in place whereby persons in mental health institutions who do not have any family members to advocate for them have an advocate assigned to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38531/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI agree with the Deputy that it is important that persons who suffer from a mental illness, particularly when they are receiving treatment in a psychiatric hospital, should have access to supports where they wish to raise personal matters and perhaps do not have family members or others available to them for that purpose.
The Irish Advocacy Network is an independent, mental health organisation led by people with personal experience of mental health difficulties who provide a Peer Advocacy Service across the island of Ireland. Because their advocates have self-experience, the Network seeks to build a strong affinity with, and empathy towards clients. The services they provide promote recovery by offering advocacy, information and support to their clients. Their ultimate aim is to enable people with mental health difficulties to self-advocate, to support them in having their voice heard and to allow them grow in confidence and claim their rights. The service is confidential and free. Contact details for the Irish Advocacy Network are available on their website at www.irishadvocacynetwork.com.
330. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the need for more funding for mental health for community based and accessible safe harbours in the County Waterford area; his plans to increase funding to the recommended levels in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38533/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
331. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) did not have their social worker replaced after their social worker went on maternity leave; if he will arrange for a replacement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38534/16]
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.
332. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the amount spent across departments on agency staff by the Cavan and Monaghan hospital group in 2016 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38535/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
333. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the cost of dispensing one treatment of methadone to a person with an opioid dependence; the number of trained medical practitioners that can dispense methadone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38541/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
334. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the roll-out stages and funding allocation for the extension of the CARE project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38544/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of services to prevent and treat addiction to alcohol is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and as such, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply.
