Results 42,101-42,120 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Transfers (14 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Budgets (14 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: My Department is aware of and has reviewed the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council’s latest Fiscal Assessment Report, including its analysis in relation to Health budget. While IFAC's report is produced independently of the Department of Health, its findings in relation to the demands on health expenditure, in particular in relation to demographic pressures and increased demand for health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Contracts (14 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: My Department liaises closely with the Office of Government Procurement on all matters related to public procurement and monitors all areas of expenditure on an ongoing basis to ensure that value for money is being achieved. Under Department of Finance Circular 40/02, my Department makes annual returns to the Comptroller and Auditor General in respect of contracts above a €25,000...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (14 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: While the collection of taxes and issues relating to the interpretation of tax law are a matter for the Revenue Commissioners, I am aware of the concerns around the new guidance on the tax treatment of GPs' GMS income that has now been issued by the Revenue Commissions. The guidelines illustrate how GPs’ GMS income should be treated for the purposes of tax under current tax law....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (14 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: 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. In relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (14 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments (14 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6thOctober. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments (14 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (14 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 515 together. It is recognised that waiting times for many scheduled appointments and procedures were too long before and have been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care. The 2023 Waiting List Action...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (14 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments (14 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (14 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: It is recognised that waiting times for many scheduled appointments and procedures were too long before and have been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care. The 2023 Waiting List Action Plan builds on the foundational work done in the 2021 and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (14 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6thOctober. As a consequence of this industrial action, members...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (14 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides for two categories of eligibility for persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical card holders) and limited eligibility (all others). Adults with full eligibility can access a range of services including GP services, prescribed drugs and medicines, public in-patient hospital services, including consultants’...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Facilities (18 Jan 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank Deputy Cullinane for the question and his very appropriate ongoing agitation or advocacy for more beds. It is well established and, I think, agreed by all of us that there has been a significant deficit in the number of acute, high-dependency and critical care beds in the system. Since the start of 2020, as the Deputy will be aware, we have been in the process of adding a very...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Facilities (18 Jan 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Important progress has been made on the 1,500 beds. We are looking at a modular approach and rapid-build technologies, which can cut several years off these projects. Typically, these come in blocks of 24 beds, as do the traditional builds. The Deputy will have seen that they come in blocks of 24 and 48 beds, up to 96 beds, and they come faster. We are looking at them for a number of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Facilities (18 Jan 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: That is exactly what we want to do. We want to move forward with this as quickly as possible. I am not familiar with the figure of 700 beds but I will check with the officials as regards the thinking behind it. The Deputy and I are in agreement on the need for more beds. Many beds have been delivered but we want to deliver many more. If we get agreement on providing all 1,500 beds, on...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cancer Services (18 Jan 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for the question, which is on a matter that is very close to my own heart. The advancement of cancer services for patients in Ireland is a priority for me and the Government. The Deputy will be aware that we allocated €40 million to the national cancer strategy. That money has been put to very good use by our healthcare workers. We have hired nearly 400...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cancer Services (18 Jan 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: The €40 million was provided for 2021 and 2022, not since 2017. Those were the first two budgets of this Government. I asked exactly the same question the Deputy raised, namely, what is the full amount of funding sought under the national cancer strategy. The answer I was given was €20 million. In budget 2021, I allocated the full €20 million and a lot of money for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cancer Services (18 Jan 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I would look forward to that. For years the Irish Cancer Society advocated for the abolition of inpatient hospital charges. We delivered that last year and the Irish Cancer Society deserves great credit for it. Many of the groups argue that we need quicker access. I am pleased to note that due to the investment in 2021, 2022 and 2023, waiting times are down across the board. Waiting...