Results 25,041-25,060 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Capital Expenditure Programme (22 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 456 to 461, inclusive, together. The total capital funding for the public Health Services announced in Budget 2019 and published in the Estimates for Public Services 2019 is €667m, an increase of €174m (35%) over the capital funding provided in Budget 2018.- €567m (€564.461m + €2.539m) is available to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Capital Expenditure Programme (22 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: The €250,000 capital allocation referred to by the Deputy relates to Dormant Account funding. The 2019 action plan for Dormant Account Funding has yet to be finalised so at this stage it is not possible to identify those specific projects that will be funded.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme Data (22 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: As the information relating to vaccination rates is not readily available within my Department, the PQ has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Closures (22 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: As of  1 January 2019, Children's Health Ireland (CHI) governs the provision of paediatric services in Dublin at the Crumlin, Temple Street and Tallaght sites and will open services in Connolly hospital in the middle of 2019. Under the legislation establishing CHI, the boards of Crumlin and Temple Street hospitals voluntarily transferred their assets and liabilities to the new...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services Provision (22 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: The model of stand-alone maternity hospitals is not the norm internationally.  In line with the National Maternity Strategy, Government policy is to co-locate all remaining maternity hospitals with adult acute hospitals in order to provide optimal clinical outcomes.  Co-location of maternity services with adult services provides mothers with access to a full range of medical and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Electronic Cigarettes (22 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: The Department of Health is aware of, and actively monitoring, publications by authoritative bodies internationally on the use of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool. Analysis of emerging research on all products, and the findings of Healthy Ireland 2018 in relation to e-cigarette usage in Ireland, will continue to inform decisions around any future additional regulation in this...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (22 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: The Department of Health is aware of a temporary shortage of Hydrocortone (hydrocortisone) 10mg tablets in Ireland. The marketing authorisation holder has notified the medicines regulator, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), that the shortage of this medicine is due to manufacturing delays. Supply of the Irish authorised product is expected to resume in February 2019. A letter...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Paediatric Services (22 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 469 and 470 together. Works at Connolly are on target for practical completion of the building in the Spring with the opening scheduled for July 2019. Works at Tallaght are underway with a target handover date of July 2020. The estimated construction and fit out costs for the two OPD Urgent Care Centres at Tallaght and Connolly are €53.4m (ex VAT)....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (22 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is responsible for monitoring the safety and quality of all medicines including vaccines that are licensed in Ireland. The HPRA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) continually monitor adverse events to vaccination. HPV is one of the most closely studied and monitored medicinal products. All medicines, including vaccines are subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (22 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: I understand the person concerned does not hold a medical card or GP visit card and is having difficulty finding a GP. People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis. GPs are private contractors and it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients. In some instances GP practices have a full list of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Agencies Staff Recruitment (23 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: While the focus of the Government remains on securing an orderly and agreed Brexit, given the increased risks of the UK leaving without a deal contingency planning for a "No Deal" Brexit has intensified, which will require arrangements to be in place by 29 March 2019.  My Department has, to date, approved just over €6m to the HSE for additional Environmental Health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Building Programme (23 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together. The Health Service Executive is currently developing its Capital Plan for 2019. The requirements of Naas General Hospital and other health capital projects, currently at various stages of development, are being considered as part of this process.

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital Expenditure (23 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive is currently developing its Capital Plan for 2019. The requirements of the new children's hospital and other health capital projects, currently at various stages of development, are being considered as part of this process.   Year  €m 2016 outturn 30.64 2017 outturn 67.75 2018 outturn 107.85 2019 requirement 250.00 The estimated...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (23 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists (23 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (23 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: The HSE's Expert Group on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility examined the issue of awarding medical cards on the basis of illness and concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility.   The Expert Group also concluded that a person’s means should remain the main qualifier...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (23 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Products (23 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: In 2015 the then Minister for Health introduced the 'Emergency Medicines' legislation. An adrenaline auto-injector (Epipen) is a prescription-only medicine that ordinarily can only be supplied on foot of a prescription. There is nothing to prevent a person with a diagnosis of anaphylaxis who has been prescribed an Epipen from carrying their prescribed medication with then at all times. This...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Medical Services Scheme Data (23 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Industrial Disputes (23 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 to 140, inclusive, together. SIPTU is recognised by the HSE and has negotiating rights for frontline ambulance grades employed by the Executive.  As a result, the HSE deducts subscriptions at source for those ambulance staff that are members of that union.  However, the National Ambulance Service Representative Association (NASRA) is not...