Results 8,341-8,360 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The first vaccine for the prevention of human papilloma virus (HPV) has recently been licensed for use in Ireland and may be prescribed. A decision about the availability of the vaccine to both public and private patients as part of a public vaccination programme is under consideration by my Department. The major public health benefit claimed for HPV vaccine is the prevention of cervical...

Written Answers — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: Testing for Radon levels was carried out at the General Register Office, Roscommon in 2005. The results were analysed by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and all the measurements were below the national reference level. To date no further tests have been carried out in any other building under the control of my Department. The situation is however kept under continuous...

Written Answers — Compensation Scheme: Compensation Scheme (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The issue of the feasibility of introducing a no-fault a compensation scheme for those damaged by vaccination is being considered by my Department. A steering group with specific terms of reference is now being established and it will be asked to furnish its report as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The issue of 'undue delay' in respect of meeting the need for medical inpatient treatment was raised before the European Court of Justice in the Watts Case (a UK resident who sought reimbursement for hospital treatment received abroad). The Court in this case left the issue of 'undue delay' to be determined by the UK Court. My main objective and that of the Government continues to be the...

Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 281 to 283, inclusive, together. Inter-hospital air ambulance transport services are currently provided by the Air Corps on a request and availability basis. The Air Corps provides the service subject to the availability of suitable aircraft and flying crews. The provision of the service also depends on prevailing weather conditions. A Service Level...

Written Answers — Assisted Human Reproduction: Assisted Human Reproduction (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction (CAHR) was established in March 2000. Its terms of reference were: 'To prepare a report on the possible approaches to the regulation of all aspects of assisted human reproduction and the social, ethical and legal factors to be taken into account in determining public policy in this area.' The Commission conducted an intensive and analytical...

Written Answers — Forum on Fluoridation: Forum on Fluoridation (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The Forum on Fluoridation website has been reactivated for information purposes. The address of the website is www.fluoridationforum.ie. The Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health (Expert Body) was set up on the recommendation of the Forum. Its website address is www.fluoridesandhealth.ie. This website provides ongoing information on the work and progress of the Expert Body, including...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The information requested by the Deputy is set out below. The details refer to the period from January 2006 to October 2006. Department's Headquarters Quantity Cost Supplier € Electricity 1,173,354KWh 144,895 ESB/Energia Gas 836,985KWh 32,280 An Bord Gáis Heating Oil 6,000 litres 3,260 Texaco Ireland General Register Office, Roscommon Quantity Cost Supplier € ...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The information requested by the Deputy is set out below. Department's Headquarters Quantity Cost Supplier Tap Water 5,579CUm €7,971 Dublin City Council (1st May 2005 to 30th April 2006) Bottled Water 31,311litres 14,135 Glenpatrick Watercoolers Ltd. (January to October 2006) General Register Office, Roscommon Quantity Cost Supplier € Bottled Water 2,812 litres 1,554...

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services has been assigned to the Health Service Executive. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this case investigated and to have a reply...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: Medical cards are made available to persons and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of General Practitioner (GP) services. In 2005 the GP visit card was introduced as a graduated benefit so that people on lower incomes, particularly parents of young children, who do not qualify for a medical card, would not be deterred on cost grounds from...

Written Answers — Nursing Home Charges: Nursing Home Charges (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: I take it the question refers to the charging of people in long stay care. The Health (Charges for In-Patient Services) Regulations 2005 in keeping with Section 53 of the Health Act, 1970, as amended, have provided for two different classes of persons on whom charges can be levied. Class 1 refers to people in receipt of in-patient services on premises where nursing care is provided on a...

Written Answers — Drugs Payment Scheme: Drugs Payment Scheme (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The monthly threshold for the Drugs Payment Scheme is €85 per individual or family. It is not my intention of increasing this threshold for 2007.

Written Answers — Hospital Charges: Hospital Charges (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The statutory inpatient and outpatient charges will remain unchanged in 2007. In-patient charges will remain at €60 per day up to a maximum of 10 days [€600] payment in any 12-month period. The outpatient charge will remain at €60 for any visit to a designated accident and emergency facility if attendance is not accompanied by a letter of referral from a GP. I am considering the level...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 306 together. The assessment guidelines used by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in respect of applications for medical cards and GP visit cards are subject to review by the Executive and my Department from time to time, having regard to the need to ensure that persons intended to benefit under these arrangements can do so. Such reviews have regard...

Written Answers — Care of the Elderly: Care of the Elderly (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: An additional €55 million (full year cost) was allocated in Budget 2006 for the provision of home care packages. €30m of this additional funding was to provide 2,000 extra packages by the end of 2006. The HSE has advised that 3,095 extra packages were provided up to the end of September 2006. The remaining €25 million was included in the 2007 Estimates and the number of packages...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The Deputy's question relates to operational matters within the area of responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE). As a result I have not issued guidelines to the HSE on the method it should use for valuing savings or investments in the means test for medical cards. Nevertheless, I understand that the HSE has established detailed operational guidelines for the assessment of medical...

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services has been assigned to the Health Service Executive. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this case investigated and to have a reply...