Results 9,201-9,220 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance Cost (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: The Health Insurance Authority (HIA) is the statutory regulator of the private health insurance market in Ireland and provides information to consumers regarding their rights and health insurance plans and benefits. As previously outlined to the Deputy in June, the HIA does not compile figures by county on the number of customers who have left the private health insurance market. In...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Proposed Legislation (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1567, 1568 and 1569 together. The Department has received advice from the Attorney General relating to a number of provisions in the Health Act 1970, which are currently being examined by the Department from a policy perspective.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: HIQA requires the National Ambulance Service (NAS) to collate and publish response times data on a national basis only. NAS does have this information available (June 2012) by its three operational areas which are set out below: NAS Area ECHO First Response within 8 minutes (Target 75%) DELTA First Response within 8 minutes (Target 75%) ECHO Transporting Vehicle within 19 minutes (Target...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Tobacco Control Measures (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: The last available Slán Survey data from 2007 indicates that 29% of people report being current smokers (31% men and 27% women). The Survey does state, however, that comparisons across the years are reported with caution because of the different survey methods utilised. Data from a survey undertaken in 2010 by the National Office of Tobacco Control in the HSE indicates a prevalence...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: The development of primary care is central to this Government's objective to deliver a high quality, integrated and cost effective health system. The Programme for Government states that primary care will be an immediate priority area. The development of primary care centres, through a combination of public and private investment, will facilitate the delivery of multi-disciplinary primary...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance Community Rating (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: I am concerned that private health insurance is becoming harder to afford, especially for older people, as insurers increasingly tailor their insurance plans towards younger, healthier customers. I am strongly committed to protecting community rating, whereby older and less healthy customers should pay the same amount for the same cover as younger and healthier people. Community...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1578 and 1583 together. As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: I can confirm that to date there have been no changes to the waiting list data capture categorisation since the patient treatment register (PTR) was established in 2005. As you are aware a new target of 9 month maximum waiting time for daycase and inpatient surgery has been implemented. The challenge for 2012 is firstly to maintain the 12 month maximum waiting time target for in patient...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: The NTPF only uses the median in its calculation of waiting list times as this is the international standard for presentation. National medians waiting times for the dates requested by the Deputy are as follows: Date Length of time March 2011 3 .0 months July 2011 3.0 months June 2012 2.8 months The NTPF has not fully assumed responsibility for measuring outpatient waiting times....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: The overall figures for inpatient waiting lists requested by the deputy is set out in the table below; I have asked the HSE to reply to the deputy directly regarding outpatient waiting lists. National Waiting List Analysis by hospital > 3 months as at 24th March 2011   3 - 6 mths 6 -9 mths 9 - 12 mths 12 - 24 mths 24 mths plus Totals Beaumont Hospital Dublin 1,822 537 249 208 24...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has advised that the longest waiter was placed on the waiting list for surgery on 5th August 2009. The patient is unsuitable for treatment in another hospital and therefore could not be referred to the NTPF. The patient previously declined one offer of a surgery date and is now scheduled for surgery on the 19th September 2012. It would be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staff Remuneration (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Universal Health Insurance Provision (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled in September 2011 that the VHI can no longer enjoy a derogation from the requirement to be authorised by the Central Bank. Having given consideration to this judgement, the Government decided on 6 December 2011 that the Minister should proceed with all necessary steps to bring the VHI to the point of authorisation, including proceeding with a formal...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Closures (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: The organisation of hospital services locally, regionally and nationally will be informed by the ongoing development of the HSE Clinical Programmes, the work of the Strategic Board on the formation of Hospital Groups and the publication of the Small Hospitals Framework, in order to improve patient access, quality clinical outcomes and the provision of patient care in a setting which is most...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Issues (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: The Working Time Directive provides for a maximum average working week of 48 hours. The Directive and related case law from the European Court of Justice define working time as time spent at a place determined by the employer while performing duties on behalf of the employer. This can be summarised as time spent working or on-call on-site. Time spent on-call off-site does not count as...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Public Sector Reform Review (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1594 and 1698 together. The Government is committed, in line with the Programme for Government, to reducing numbers in the Public Service in the period to 2015, while protecting front-line services as far as possible. It will continue to examine all areas where savings and numbers reductions might be achieved. While the option of offering voluntary...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance Cost (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: Following Budget 2012, I met with representatives of the country's main health insurance companies. At this meeting we discussed a range of issues including addressing the issue of driving down costs related to health insurance. The outcome of the meeting was the agreement to establish a Health Insurance Consultative Forum to engage on issues of mutual concern. In February of this year...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Charges (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: As part of Budget 2012, I outlined savings of €143m to be generated through a combination of increased charges for private patients, improved collection of income and changes to bed designation legislation. This figure was determined as part of the normal budgetary process and, therefore, was not subject to discussions with insurance companies. From 1 January 2012, the charges for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1603 and 1634 together. I am aware of the concerns raised by the Irish Haemochromatosis Association and I agree that a model of care needs to be established for haemochromatosis patients that would provide equal access in the most cost-effective manner possible. In this regard the HSE's National Clinical Programme for Blood Transfusion has reviewed services...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Translation Services (18 Sep 2012)

James Reilly: The total cost of translation services provided to my Department during the period concerned was €59,532. Expenditure on translation services by agencies under my Department's remit is an operational matter for the agencies themselves. In the case of expenditure on translation services for my Department, the majority of expenditure is incurred by the translation of statutory...