Results 9,701-9,720 of 45,736 for speaker:Simon Harris
- Other Questions: Hospitals Funding (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: -----the work started already to be done. I agree that there should be a published plan. I will not stand up here and suggest on the record of the Dáil that there is a funded plan for Cashel because there is not. However, there is a review, as the Deputy knows, of capital planning and there are further opportunities to include additional capital projects.
- Other Questions: Hospitals Funding (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: That is possible. Current and capital may be required. The Deputy used a very good example of a network in Dundalk and Drogheda, and there are other hospitals in this regard. The whole idea of hospital groups is that different things are done in different hospitals and different hospitals have different strengths. The decision was made in 2007 not to classify Our Lady's Hospital Cashel as...
- Other Questions: Hospitals Funding (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: -----as we speak. I hope there is a decision soon too.
- Other Questions: HSE Expenditure (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: If I do not have adequate information here for the Deputy, I will revert to Deputies O'Reilly and Crowe. The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high-quality, integrated and cost-effective health service. The programme for Government, as Deputy O'Reilly knows, commits to this decisive shift within the health service towards primary care in...
- Other Questions: HSE Expenditure (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: The short answer is "I will". I know the Deputy's views on this, and we have had an opportunity to discuss them a little before. I refer to the question as to who employs the staff within primary care as it is developed. I will be influenced by the views of the cross-party group in this regard and the report of that group. The Deputy obviously recognises, as must I, that we currently...
- Other Questions: HSE Expenditure (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: As I stated, I will reflect on the Deputy's comments and the views of the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Health Care because getting this right is very important in terms of the development of primary care. I had the opportunity to address the annual conference of practice nurses recently and I heard from them some concerns about anomalies. They felt colleagues in most other settings...
- Other Questions: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: I thank Deputy O'Loughlin for raising this important matter. The long-term illness or LTI scheme was established under section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 and regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI scheme. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered under the scheme. For people who are not eligible to join the LTI scheme,...
- Other Questions: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: Yes.
- Other Questions: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: I am very much aware of the plight of people with Crohn's disease in Ireland as I suffer from the illness. I can understand how debilitating it can be to so many people in this country. I understand the financial pressures for families on low and middle incomes in meeting costs of medication. I make the point to the Deputy that in considering how we can better support people with Crohn's...
- Other Questions: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: I wish a happy St. Brigid's Day to the Deputy as well. The Deputy makes a number of very important points. This condition seems to be rising in prevalence among the population, with an impact on people at a younger age. The Deputy mentioned statistics concerning children and that huge increase is quite revealing in that regard. It is not for me to give medical advice to people but there...
- Other Questions: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: Does Deputy O'Reilly have permission to take Deputy Louise Mitchell's question?
- Other Questions: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: What is the question on?
- Other Questions: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: Yes, I have the reply to that question.
- Other Questions: Health Services Data (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: I thank Deputy O'Reilly for giving me a chance to find the question and I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for making sure we are all awake. I thank Deputy O'Reilly for her question and fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled. Cancellation of elective procedures can occur for a variety of exceptional reasons,...
- Other Questions: Health Services Data (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: There is a plan to reduce the waiting lists. I have outlined that plan and have also outlined the very specific target of getting the waiting times back to no longer than 15 months for outpatient, inpatient or day case appointments by the end of October. That is about as specific as I can be. The aim then is to enhance the target times further into 2018, recognising that we have €50...
- Other Questions: Health Services Data (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: It is not done yet.
- Other Questions: Health Services Data (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: There are far too many people waiting far too long for a procedure in Ireland. We all agree on that but what are we going to do about it? Just because Deputy O'Reilly keeps saying that I do not have a plan does not actually make it true. I have a plan. I have outlined that plan. It is funded to the tune of €20 million in 2017, with a further €50 million of funding for 2018....
- Other Questions: Health Services Data (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: I intend to brief members of the Oireachtas Committee on Health, including Deputy O'Reilly, on the review in the coming weeks and I would welcome her input.
- Other Questions: National Children's Hospital Location (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Lawless for his question on this very important project and I accept the legitimate and strong feelings a number of people, including parents, have expressed about it. The project to develop the new children’s hospital is an extraordinary opportunity to enhance paediatric services for children. The granting of planning permission in April 2016 for the hospital,...
- Other Questions: National Children's Hospital Location (1 Feb 2017)
Simon Harris: I note the Deputy's reference to a letter from his party leader. I understand the Fianna Fáil Party is supportive of the location selected and, like me and many others, wants us to get on with building it. I will try to answer the questions the Deputy raised. On the issue of parking, the design of the hospital has recognised the need of most parents to access the hospital by car. For...