Results 5,601-5,620 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (29 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: There were 453.76 Whole Time Equivalents (WTE) employed in my Department at the end of May 2011 (the latest available figures). This includes individuals working in the Office of the Disability Appeals Officer and the former Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The following table details the breakdown of staff by grade at the end of May 2011. Grade Level Whole Time...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (29 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (29 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: Following receipt of this report, which is due to be received in September 2011, my Department will further engage with patient representative groups. I will then quickly decide on the next steps required to address this situation. It is my intention that the report be published, subject of course to the usual legal and related considerations, which are as of now not expected to create any...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (29 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: The Government is committed to bringing about a significant reduction in the number of staff across the public service over the period to 2015, to realise efficiencies in the delivery of public services and contribute to the overall correction of the national finances, while protecting front-line services as far as possible. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is currently...

Written Answers — Public Service Remuneration: Public Service Remuneration (29 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: The Government's policies on public service pay and numbers, whereby pay has been reduced or capped and staff numbers are also being brought down, have been introduced of necessity, in response to the present serious economic and fiscal conditions. Such policies mean that all organisations across the entire public service, not just in the health sector, need to manage their resources in the...

Written Answers — Public Service Remuneration: Public Service Remuneration (29 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: Having regard to the ongoing severe economic conditions, the Government has introduced general policies in relation to the pay for future appointees to the Public Service and CEOs of Commercial State Companies. These policies are that a salary ceiling of €200,000 will apply to persons in higher positions across all sectors of the public service and a salary ceiling of €250,000 will apply...

Hospital Services (30 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: I am fully aware of the recommendations of HIQA with regard to Ennis hospital and its subsequent report on Mallow General Hospital. Both reports deal with the types of service that can safely be provided in smaller hospitals and with the structures required for good governance and accountability within our hospitals. The report on Mallow reiterates the implications of the Ennis report for...

Hospital Services (30 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: I could not agree more with the Deputy. I do not believe HIQA reports should be used to close smaller hospitals. If they highlight problems, these should be addressed as far as possible. The Deputy mentioned Roscommon County Hospital, which will be discussed later in another question. Roscommon hospital is faced with a number of difficulties at the moment. One is a shortage of...

Hospital Services (30 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: The answer to the Deputy's question is that the reports will not be used - I will not stand over them being used - to close hospitals or reduce services where they can be provided safely. I will return to this in the later question on Roscommon hospital, with the Ceann Comhairle's permission.

Hospital Staff (30 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: I am working with the HSE and other stakeholders to ensure the filling of as many as possible of some 475 non-consultant hospital doctor posts which are due to be filled from 11 July. I can confirm that as of 27 June, 221 of these posts have been filled, which leaves 254 vacancies. The HSE conducted an extensive recruitment drive in India and Pakistan in recent months and succeeded in...

Hospital Staff (30 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: The last part of Deputy Ó Caoláin's question is the easiest to answer. Whether we have the full complement by 11 July, we will still continue to recruit over the course of the next six months to ensure we do not face this problem again. It should be borne in mind that legislation will be introduced which will allow for temporary registration for two years. This will mean these doctors...

Hospital Staff (30 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: I know this is a great concern to many people who value highly their local and regional hospitals. Bad and all as the health service became over the past several years, people know that when they can access it, they get excellent service and care. I am doing everything in my power to ensure we have the required number of doctors and that we continue to recruit to ensure we do not face this...

Hospital Staff (30 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: If it is of value, I am happy to revisit the matter when we come to other oral questions.

Private Health Insurance (30 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: The Government is committed to reviewing costs generally across all sectors, including the private health insurance market and scrutinising where savings can be made for the Exchequer and the consumer. I am not satisfied that any consultant should be paid €1 million in a single year. This level of remuneration is grossly out of step with most ordinary people's expectations. The...

Private Health Insurance (30 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: I thank Deputy Tom Fleming for raising this important matter. I am deeply concerned about the current position and I am extremely unhappy that it has been accepted, as a matter of course, that the rate of medical inflation is 9%. Why is that the case? We need to examine the position. Has anyone carried out a unit-based cost analysis in respect of what is paid for each procedure? The...

Hospital Services (30 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: I announced the establishment of the special delivery unit, SDU, on 1 June. This has been one of my key priorities since becoming Minister for Health because I am determined to tackle the delays in access to hospital services whether that is for emergency or elective care. The SDU is also a critical building block in the Government's plans to reform radically the health system in Ireland,...

Hospital Services (30 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: People know my view on the National Treatment Purchase Fund. I must seriously contest the Deputy's contention that it provides value for money and works very well. The fund has delivered a certain level of relief to the system. However, we must consider the fact that €300 million was spent by the National Treatment Purchase Fund over three years. Last year it spent a total of €90...

Diabetes Services (30 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: The HSE's national clinical programme for diabetes, which includes the care of children and adolescents with diabetes, has estimated that there are between 3,000 and 4,000 children and young adults with diabetes in this country. It was established by the HSE in 2010 with the express aim of defining the way diabetic clinical services should be delivered, resourced and measured. One of the...

Diabetes Services (30 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and I hear her concerns loud and clear. Many people have the same concern. In my response I indicated that in the next couple of weeks a meeting will be held between the clinical leads for diabetes and paediatrics to assess the current services across the country and, most importantly, to agree a standard model of care. Without going into too much...

HSE Rental Property (30 Jun 2011)

James Reilly: I presume that the premises referred to is located at Shamrock Plaza, Carlow. If so, then there appears to be considerable confusion with regard to the use of the premises and the services to be provided. The facilities at the nearby Sacred Heart District Hospital and St Dympna's Hospital are not suitable for the provision of primary care services. The new primary care centre for Carlow...