Results 17,261-17,280 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Remuneration (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: Staff employed in the public health service are in receipt of a series of pay increases under the Public Service Stability Agreement.  This will see public servants receiving an average 7% increase in their salary over the lifetime of the Agreement.  By the end of 2020, the commitment is there to restore 90% of the pay reductions experienced under the FEMPI legislation.  Public...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: In 2016, the Herity Report concluded that the needs of the effective catchment population of University Hospital Waterford (UHW) could be accommodated from a single cath lab and recommended that the operating hours of the existing cath lab should be extended. Approval and funding has been provided for the additional staff required to facilitate this service and recruitment is progressing. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Legislation (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 462 together. It was my original intention to provide for safe access to termination of pregnancy services in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.  However, a number of legal issues were identified which necessitated further consideration and advice.  In order to allow full consideration of these issues, Government...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Capital Programme (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 113 together. The overarching policy of the Government is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. The standard of care delivered to residents in public units is generally very high, but we recognise that many of our community hospitals are housed in buildings that are...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Services Provision (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas on 13 December 2018 and signed into law by the President on 20 December 2018.  Services for termination of pregnancy have been available since 1 January 2019.  Additional resources have been allocated to provide for termination of pregnancy services this year.  In total...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Administration (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Policy (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: The Report of the Independent Review Group established to examine private activity in public hospitals (the "De Buitléir Report) has been received and is being examined in my Department. It is a comprehensive examination of private activity in public hospitals and contains a small number of recommendations.  Detailed consideration of the Report by my Department officials is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Expenditure (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: The HSE’s latest income and expenditure position at 30 April 2019 shows a revenue deficit of €116.2m which represents 2.3% of the available budget.  The main drivers of the deficit are acute hospitals, PCRS and demand-led schemes, disability services and the treatment abroad scheme. Current gross expenditure on the Health Vote, year to date, is 8.8% higher than the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Screening Programmes (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: Diabetic RetinaScreen, the National Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme is a government funded screening programme in Ireland that offers free, regular diabetic retinopathy screening to people with diabetes aged 12 years and older. Diabetic RetinaScreen uses specialised digital photography to look for changes that could affect sight. Results are delivered in compliance with quality...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (2 Jul 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Capital Programme (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Maternity Strategy Implementation (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: Project Ireland 2040 provides €10.9 billion for health capital developments across the country. This unprecedented health capital investment will support existing Government priority projects and policies, including funding to support implementation of the National Maternity Strategy. The funding which will be made available over the next decade will enable us to provide an...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: I am conscious that waiting times are often unacceptably long and of the burden that this places on patients and their families. In this regard, the Government is committed to improving waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures. The joint Department of Health/HSE/National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) Scheduled Care Access Plan 2019 was published in March and sets out measures...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Cervical Screening Programme Inquiry (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: In the Supplementary Report of the Scoping Inquiry, which was published on 11 June, Dr. Scally confirmed that the number of laboratories involved in CervicalCheck work was greater than was originally thought, 16 in total, and the use of many of these laboratories was not approved in advance by CervicalCheck, nor was it known to it. The report also finds that, on the basis of the information...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: The vast majority of services in the new children’s hospital will be public services. However, as part of the National Contract for Consultants negotiated in 2008, some consultants holding specific contracts are entitled to engage in private outpatient practice outside of their public commitment and this commitment must be conducted on site, that is, in the hospital they are...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Cervical Screening Programme Inquiry (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware from previous responses on this issue, the HSE has advised that analysis was required in order to make the requested data available.  The requirement for analysis reflected the complexities involved in this work. For example, some women may have had multiple smears, not necessarily read in the same lab; slides may have changed by one grade or multiple grades...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists Action Plans (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: I am conscious that waiting times are often unacceptably long and of the burden that this places on patients and their families. In this regard, the Government is committed to improving waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures. The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has provided my Department with data on the number of patients resident in Cavan and Monaghan who...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (2 Jul 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: I can assure the Deputy that the vast majority of services in the new children’s hospital and the new maternity hospital will be public services.  However, as part of the National Consultants' Contract, negotiated in 2008, some consultants holding specific contracts are entitled to engage in private outpatient practice outside of their public commitment; this commitment must be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.