Results 33,381-33,400 of 46,522 for speaker:Simon Harris

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies O'Donoghue and Michael Collins for their questions. As rightly stated by the Deputies, I will meet the Irish Dental Association tomorrow. As the Deputies will know, the roadmap announced by the Government on Friday, 1 May, referred at a high level to wanting to increase the delivery of non-Covid care and services alongside Covid-19 care to meet demand. There are a range of...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Deputy Connolly and I are going to disagree on the nursing home issue, as is her right. I would make the point that we are recording, testing and getting an understanding that I do not believe many other countries have. When we get into the Covid committee, but also when we get past the pandemic, no doubt there will be lessons to be learned in regard to this pandemic. No country is...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Certainly, in the Government plan, the criteria that I now report against talk about how we "protect" and "shield". The short answer is that I am going to be conscious not to use it, as the Deputy requests. In regard to direct provision, guidance was drawn up by the HPSC and a group was set up specifically on vulnerable users, including those in direct provision. The advice is very clear.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I cannot say what the Deputy does or does not read, and I do not mean that in a rude way. I know a significant body of work was done by the HPSC in drawing up and publishing guidance and we know there has been a lot of work by the Department of Justice and Equality in that regard. My Department gives out the guidance. On private hospitals, I will send the table I have with me to the...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Yes, I would like to. The Deputy is right that the Houses passed legislation on 26 March giving me the ability to set regulations. He also knows that same legislation refers to what I need to take into consideration when setting regulations, which is obviously the public health advice I am given, which came after that. In fairness, on that issue, the Deputy will see we moved quite swiftly...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: That may be but-----

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: That is fine but I just want to point out there was no delay on that. With regard to airport restrictions, we are going to regulate in this area, but I also believe it will require the input of a number of Departments. The Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Justice and Equality, Transport, Tourism and Sport, and Health have met on this matter with the Attorney General. The Deputy is...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: It is because the Government has decided, based on public health advice, that we would introduce it on a phased basis. Any time anybody goes into somebody else's house there is a risk of transmitting the virus. We are trying to minimise that spread. We are starting with front-line healthcare workers, but as the Deputy will see in the plan, we intend to expand childcare schemes further as...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Air Ambulance Service Funding (13 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 449 and 796 together. The Munster Helicopter Emergency Medical Service referred to by the Deputy is provided by Irish Community Rapid Response (ICRR) under a Service Level Agreement with the HSE. Under the terms of this SLA, the ICRR committed to fund all maintenance, repairs, fuel and other expenses incurred in the provision of the transportation element...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances Applications (13 May 2020)

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: Health Services Funding (13 May 2020)

Simon Harris: As committed to in the Action Plan for 2019, Sláintecare has developed proposals for multi-annual capital and current funding, including a transition fund, to support health care reform. Following Budget 2020, the Sláintecare Programme Implementation Office have been resourced with a total of €45.5 million in 2020 (with an additional €50 million in 2021) in order to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (13 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Prior to 2019, all Sláintecare related funding was provided from the core administrative spending subhead within the Department of Health, with staff costs being met by the core Department of Health payroll. Since Budget 2019, a separate subhead has been created for Sláintecare specific measures under the ‘Health Care Reform’ heading (subhead II. H in the Revised...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (13 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I obtained Government approval in July 2018 for the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy to deliver the vision outlined for our health system in the Sláintecare Report produced by the Future Healthcare Committee. The Implementation Strategy recognises that strong leadership and clear governance will be essential to success and it clearly sets out the implementation and governance...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (13 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The Long Term Illness Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida;...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Delays (13 May 2020)

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: HSE Waiting Lists (13 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The data requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table below. The NTPF advise that this data relates to the following procedure: - Insertion catheter bladder, indwelling suprapubic (percutaneous) via laparoscopy (closed) or laparotomy (open) Please note that due to the low numbers of people waiting for this procedure, all groups fall into Small Volume Groups and the NTPF have limited the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Recruitment (13 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The number of Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) advanced nurse practitioner posts filled at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin in each of the years 2016 to 2019 was as follows: Year No. of Posts 2016 7.5 2017 16.59 2018 14.99 2019 18.93 Plans for 2020 are unclear at this point in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (13 May 2020)

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: Audiology Services Provision (13 May 2020)

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: Cross-Border Health Services Provision (13 May 2020)

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