Results 11,641-11,660 of 45,789 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Expenditure (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: Within the total funding available to the HSE in 2017 a sum of €36.5m is being held by my Department in respect of specific service initiatives. This funding will be released to the HSE on approval of implementation plans and commencement of specific developments. Funding is being held to support the following: - Primary Care - €18.5m for service developments including reduced...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: Ireland's first National Maternity Strategy - Creating A Better Future Together 2016 - 2026 - will be implemented on a phased basis. Implementation will be led by the newly established National Women & Infants Health Programme; the Programme is drawing up a detailed action plan to inform this process. This work includes the identification of both capital and revenue funding...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: My Department and the HSE are committed to securing and developing the role of Portlaoise Hospital within the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group. Reports on Portlaoise Hospital in recent years point to the need for reconfiguration of some services to ensure that patients are treated in the most appropriate setting by specialist staff that can safely meet their needs. The HSE has submitted...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: I wish to thank the Deputy for the matter raised. Given that this is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the NMBI. I have referred the Deputy's question to the NMBI for attention and direct reply within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Procedures (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: In relation to the query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme Data (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 609 to 611, inclusive, together. A public health alert was received from the World Health Organisation (WHO) on 24 April 2009 indicating that human cases of influenza type A (H1N1) virus infection had been identified in the US and in Mexico. The Department of Health activated the National Plan for pandemic influenza. The plan was accompanied by guidance...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: The HSE Service Plan included additional funding of €2.5 million for the expansion of the Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme in 2016. Two changes were made to the schedule which came into effect on 1 December, 2016 with the introduction of Men B and Rotavirus for all babies born on or after 1 October, 2016. All vaccines administered through the Primary Childhood Immunisation...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance Data (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: Our community-rated health insurance market means that the cost of health insurance is shared across all members of the market. In general, everyone, with certain exceptions, can buy the same policy at the same price. There are 2.152 million people holding private health insurance in Ireland, or 46% of the population (end-December 2016), which represents an increase of over 30,000 members in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Air Navigation Orders (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: In accordance with the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland rests with my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade. I cannot comment on any reports concerning national security matters or responses that might be taken in the event of an attack on Ireland or a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Data (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: As of 1 April 2017, there are 2,482 GPs who hold GMS and GP Visit Card contracts with the HSE for the provision of general practitioner services to medical card holders and GP visit card holders. As the numbers of GPs with GMS contracts available to take on medical card and GP visit card patients in Dublin 7 is not routinely collected by my Department, I have arranged for the question to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Services Provision (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 616 and 617 together. The infrastructure and equipment required for proton beam therapy is hugely expensive and provision of such a facility in Ireland for the number of patients involved is not practical at this time. In 2015, a total of 22 patients were referred for proton beam therapy in treatment centres abroad under the Treatment Abroad Scheme. This...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Services Provision (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: Proton beam therapy is a form of radiotherapy which is only used for treating certain specific cancer types. It is a relatively new form of treatment with narrow indications for use and therefore the evidence base is limited. Decisions relating to appropriate treatment, including radiotherapy, for individual patients with cancer are a matter for clinicians (cancer specialists) in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Organ Donation (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: At present the next-of-kin of organ donors are consulted prior to removing any organ and their express consent for organ donation is sought. Work on scoping the parameters of legislation for a Human Tissue Bill is currently being undertaken in my Department. It is envisaged that this Bill will provide for an opt-out system of consent for organ donation. Under the proposed system, consent...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Organ Donation (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: My Department is working closely with HSE's Organ Donation Transplantation Ireland (ODTI) to support initiatives aimed at increasing the levels of organ donation and transplantation. This has included the allocation of increased funding in recent years. Additional staff have been recruited to foster a culture of organ donation, to optimise conversion rates and to ultimately increase the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The scheduling...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. With regard to Orkambi for the treatment of cystic fibrosis patients aged 12 and older, an application to the HSE from the manufacturer was received in March 2016. The application was considered and not recommended for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018. In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF to dedicate €5m to a daycase waiting list initiative with the aim of ensuring that no patient will be waiting more than 18...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: I fully support the goals of Our Children's Voice in offering support to the families of children with disabilities in County Donegal and I understand the challenges parents face in accessing appropriate services in some parts of the country. I would be happy to meet again with Our Children's Voice and to involve Finian McGrath, Minister for People with Disabilities and the HSE. I will ask...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The scheduling...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Workplace Relations Commission (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Harris: I am not aware of any adjudications or findings of the Workplace Relations Commission in respect of public bodies in each of the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 to date, that have not been accepted by this department having consulted with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.