Results 4,661-4,680 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (25 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (25 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Rehabilitation Implementation Programmes (25 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The Report of the Working Group on Drug Rehabilitation (2007) defined rehabilitation in terms of 'providing a continuum of care to problem drug users, enabling them to address their needs as most appropriate for them. These needs may include health, social, housing, employment, education and /or vocational'. Arising from this report and in line with the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (25 Sep 2013)

Alex White: Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, the assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. There is no automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons of any age with a specific illness, such as cancer. However, under the legislation, there is provision...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal general practitioner, GP, service without fees within its term of office, as set out in the programme for Government and the future health strategy framework. It is a matter for the Government to determine policy in this area. There has been no Government decision at this stage on the details of the roll-out of a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: I assure Deputy Kelleher there is no question of a delaying tactic in this regard. In fact, I discussed this matter with the Minister for Health as recently as this afternoon. We are actively considering this question in terms of the approaches, the timing and the financial implications of the phased implementation of the universal primary care health service. As I said previously, it must...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: Will the Deputy support us on it?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: When decisions were made a decade ago in respect of the over 70s, I do not believe the Government of the day consulted GPs as to whether it should make the relevant policy choice.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: No Government would consult on such a policy choice. GPs and all other relevant practitioners are entitled to be involved in the discussions and, where appropriate, negotiations relating to the roll-out of any policy decision which affects them. However, policy decisions are a matter for Government and the Deputy can expect the relevant decisions to be brought forward in early course. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Services for People with Disabilities (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: St. Michael's House received more than €70 million in 2012 in funding from the HSE to provide a range of services to approximately 1,660 children and adults with an intellectual disability in more than 170 centres in the greater Dublin area and in Navan, County Meath. The HSE and St. Michael's House work in close collaboration in regard to the funding and delivery of services to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Services for People with Disabilities (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: I cannot disagree with the Deputy. There are real challenges here. Everybody understands that and, as public representatives, we are all aware of the incredible work St. Michael's House does. In circumstances where costs are being reduced, no one can deny but there is an impact. As I said, the HSE is trying to ensure services are impacted only as a very last resort. A concerted effort is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Services for People with Disabilities (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: I will take note of what the Deputy said in his rejoinder. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, is genuinely indisposed on this occasion and no offence should be taken by the Deputy.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Home Care Packages (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The issue of the provision of home care packages for children with life-limiting conditions is complex, encompassing those requiring short to medium-term care, those with a disability requiring long-term care and also sick children for whom sadly there is no reasonable hope of a cure. Palliative Care for Children with Life-limiting Conditions in Ireland – a National Policy, published...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Home Care Packages (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: When cost savings are required, they do not happen in disregard of the real needs of the people involved. That is particularly true in the case we are talking about. Of course resources are always a challenge. We all know the reasons they are a particular challenge at this time. The strategy that has been outlined is being brought forward. The appointment of the consultant in Crumlin is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Home Care Packages (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: I do not know whether I can add too much to what I have already said. The initial question related to the introduction of paediatric care packages for children. The national policy is in place and is being implemented. This is undoubtedly an important issue. No one can disagree with the general thrust of what Deputy Kelleher has said. We are always trying to identify more resources as...

Other Questions: Misuse of Drugs (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: A draft Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations, which will amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988, was prepared in my Department following a consultation which took place with a wide range of stakeholders during late summer and autumn 2012. Amendments proposed include the introduction of measures to address the problem of the illicit trading and supply of benzodiazepines and z-drugs,...

Other Questions: Misuse of Drugs (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The issue the Deputy raises is related to this question, although it has a slightly different focus. The focus of Deputy Naughten's question was on the misuse of drugs regulations and the increasing problem of the availability, literally on the street, of prescription drugs, many of which are antidepressants and drugs prescribed for anxiety. Deputy Flanagan is correct to link that with what...

Other Questions: Misuse of Drugs (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The Deputy raises a very good point, which was precisely the motivation for the consultation process and the intended introduction of these amended regulations. The Deputy is absolutely right; this is an increasing problem. There is poly-drug use, such as combinations of benzodiazepines with methadone or alcohol. It is a major new challenge in this sector and something with which we are...

Other Questions: Medical Card Numbers (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The departing Ombudsman also said that her officials' examination of complaints about the removal of discretionary cards showed "nothing substantial had changed in relation to the regulations that applied." The report went on to state the following:In the past, in situations where a person's income was above the threshold, appeals officers looked at other factors, such as their level of...

Other Questions: Medical Card Numbers (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: At the risk of irritating the Deputies with repetition, it has never been the case since 1970 that the law provided for the allocation of medical cards to persons on the basis of illness. Discretion does not suggest that someone must have the card. It means that someone must apply a particular assessment to a situation. This is what we are doing. It was centralised two years ago. We have...