Results 5,441-5,460 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists (18 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. Orthodontic referrals are generally received via the Public Dental Service school screening programme. An individual's access to orthodontic treatment is determined against a set of clinical guidelines called the Modified Index of Treatment Need. At the time of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (18 Dec 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 Delays (18 Dec 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: Departmental Bodies (18 Dec 2013)

Alex White: A response to question no. 129, raised by the Deputy, was issued by my office on 8 November 2013. A copy has re-issued 16 December 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Co-operatives (18 Dec 2013)

Alex White: 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: Primary Care Centres Provision (18 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high quality, integrated and cost effective health system. The development of primary care centres, through a combination of public and private investment, will facilitate the delivery of multi-disciplinary primary health care. In 2012 the HSE embarked on a prioritisation exercise for Primary Care Centres....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Data (18 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The table below details the number of medical cards in circulation over the previous ten years to date, as requested by the Deputy. Date Number of Medical Cards End 2003 1,152,908 End 2004 1,145,083 End 2005 1,155,727 End 2006 1,221,695 End 2007 1,276,178 End 2008 1,352,120 End 2009 1,478,560 End 2010 1,615,809 End 2011 1,694,063 End 2012 1,853,877 End November 2013 1,853,877

Written Answers — Department of Health: Prescription Charges (18 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The HSE is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services Provision (18 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The Public Dental Service of the HSE provides dental services for children up to 16 years of age and persons with special needs through its dental clinics. All HSE dental clinics prioritise emergency care for children up to 16 years of age, treatment for special needs patients and screening of children aged from 11 to 13 years, including referral for orthodontic services where necessary....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (18 Dec 2013)

Alex White: Children under 6 years of age and children of primary school age are provided with an optical screening service by the HSE. Any refractive errors are treated and spectacles or other appropriate care is provided where necessary. Children between 12 and 16 years, whose parents are in receipt of a medical card are eligible for HSE eyecare services when they are named on their parents' cards....

Topical Issues Debate: Speech and Language Therapy (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I understand this follows on from a query raised by a speech and language therapist in respect of the circumstances surrounding an appointment that was not made. Waterford community services' speech and language therapy department provides services to adults and children in Waterford city and county, including to St. Patrick's rehabilitation unit...

Topical Issues Debate: Speech and Language Therapy (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I cannot disagree with anything the Deputy has said in respect of the need for care and support in the community. She is right that I have been and remain an advocate of that approach to our health care services, frankly because I do not think there is any possibility of our ever being able to fund and manage these health services in the future, to say nothing about the immediate need the...

Topical Issues Debate: Mental Health Services Provision (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Positive mental health is an essential component of the Government's strategy to enhance the overall health and well-being of our population. While mental health problems are, unfortunately, increasing throughout society, emerging awareness and associated debate surrounding these issues can only be welcomed. A corresponding development of policies...

Topical Issues Debate: Mental Health Services Provision (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: As the Deputy correctly said, chapter 12 of A Vision for Change addresses the issue he raised, which is the needs of people with severe and enduring mental illness in the context of rehabilitation and recovery, and the document envisaged a consultant-led team per 100,000 of population. He listed the professionals who would be associated with the team and the work that would be required of...

Topical Issues Debate: Rural Broadband Scheme (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and I thank the Deputy for raising it. Ireland's telecommunications market has been liberalised since 1999 and has developed into a well regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators providing services over a diverse...

Topical Issues Debate: Rural Broadband Scheme (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The Deputy raises an important issue and I will relay his comments to the Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte. I know from discussing the issue with him that he is prioritising these matters. In addition to the State-led investment which will facilitate the widespread availability of reliable and guaranteed high-speed broadband, the national broadband plan also commits to a range of actions that...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The adjustment to the over-70s medical cards, to which the Deputy refers, is not a tax related adjustment and does not relate to any allowance or tax credit. Assessment for eligibility for an over-70s medical card is based on a gross income basis and there are no standard deductions allowable (for example, for income tax). Pensions, earnings, interest from capital and all other sources of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disease Management (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The HSE is engaged in an ongoing process to develop chronic disease management programmes across the spectrum of services from prevention to sustaining services, including specific additional investment in diabetes services for the promotion of integrated care. The National Clinical Programme for Chronic Disease Prevention has been established to ensure all national clinical programmes,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (19 Dec 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 Appeals (19 Dec 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...