Results 26,681-26,700 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Psychological Services (12 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (12 Mar 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: Medicinal Products Availability (12 Mar 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (12 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital (12 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has statutory responsibility for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital and outpatient and urgent care centres. Following evaluation by the NPHDB in early 2017 of main construction tenders and the selection of preferred contractors, the final cost of the design, build, and equipment programme...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (12 Mar 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: Medical Card Applications (12 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Car Parks (12 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is an operational issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staff Recruitment (12 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: The Civil Registration Service is operated by the Health Service Executive (HSE) on behalf of the General Register Office under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection. As this is a service matter I have referred your question to the HSE for direct response.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Agency Staff (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 to 2020 provides that management will engage with the Parties with a view to minimising the use of agency as far as possible and practicable over the lifetime of the Agreement. The level of spending on agency staff in the health sector is under constant review.  Agency staff are utilised by the sector where there is a difficulty in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 69 together. I am committed to securing and further developing the role of the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise as a constituent hospital within the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group. Since 2014, the focus has been on supporting the hospital to develop and enhance management capability, implementing changes required to address clinical service...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, as a result of the infrastructural issues affecting the roof of the building that housed the two orthopaedic theatres on the Merlin Park University Hospital site, remedial work was carried out in March 2018 to facilitate the reopening of one of the elective orthopaedic theatres. Following the recommissioning of the theatre procedures started again and in the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: In September 2018, the Sláintecare Programme Implementation Office commenced refining the three-year Implementation Strategy into a single-year Action Plan for 2019. This process has involved reviewing the 106 sub-actions of the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy - which was published in August 2018 - and identifying where further actions were required. A readiness assessment of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Voluntary Sector Funding (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: Major increases in public funding for our health services in recent years has brought the Governments annual investment to a level that compares favourably with spending in other countries.   In the last five years funding for community delivered services has increased by 27% to €5,876m, this increase in funding has facilitated key service developments.  However, it...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists Action Plans (13 Mar 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 I am committed to improving waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures. Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures carried out in the Ophthalmology specialty. Last year, under the Inpatient/Day Case...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive’s 2019 National Service Plan is based on an increased budget of over €848 million over the revised allocation for last year and brings their total budget for the 2019 financial year to over €16 billion. This is the largest ever financial allocation provided to our health services and will enable the continued improvement of services for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: I am pleased to be able to inform the Deputy that the development of the  primary care centres in Arklow, Baltinglass and Rathdrum is being progressed.    Construction has commenced on the Baltinglass site, with the opening of the centre scheduled for 2020.  Construction of Rathdrum Primary Care Centre is planned to commence...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital Status (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: As I advised Government in December 2018, the overall cost to complete the new children’s hospital project is €1,433m – €450m more than advised to Government in April 2017.  The Revised Estimates adopted by Government for 2019 provide for the costs arising this year in respect of this priority project. The costs in future years will inform future capital...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Generic Drugs Substitution (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: My Department and the HSE are engaging in a number of initiatives which will endeavour to lead to better access to medicines for patients, value for the taxpayer and the cost- effective provision of medicines in Ireland.  A public consultation on a National Biosimilar Medicines Policy was undertaken by my Department in 2017.  The responses to that...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: Recruitment and retention of nursing staff in the public health service continues to be a priority for the Government.  It is a significant challenge given a backdrop of global shortages in health professionals and international competition for nursing staff trained in Ireland. Considerable progress has been made in growing and retaining the nursing...