Results 13,161-13,180 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: Ireland supports the ongoing cooperation between Member States in response to COVID-19. Ireland is currently involved in an EU Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission on behalf of member states to procure a portfolio of suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19. Both my Department and the HSE have actively engaged in meetings of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: The Government is committed to the timely implementation of a COVID-19 immunisation programme, as soon as one or more vaccines in the EU portfolio are approved for use.  In this regard a High-Level Taskforce was established to support and oversee the development and implementation of the programme. The Taskforce is supporting my Department and the HSE in developing national COVID-19...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Food Safety Authority of Ireland (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is the competent authority with overall responsibility for the enforcement of food safety legislation in Ireland.  Responsibility for enforcement of food legislation is managed through service contracts between the FSAI and a number of competent authorities, also known as ‘Official Agencies’.  These official agencies include...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: An agreement reached at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in October 2018 provided for pay restoration in relation to 50 pilot organisations in the first instance. Pay restoration for these bodies commenced in April 2019 with further payments due in October 2020 and October 2021 as appropriate. The agreement recognised that some of the remaining Section 39 organisations were also...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ophthalmology Services (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Paediatric Services (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for Rheumatology treatment, and I am conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families.  Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has advised my Department that during the initial phases of COVID-19, all face to face hospital outpatient reviews and most of the planned diagnostic tests, including MRI, were...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Services (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: The Health Service Executive has adopted RNA PCR as the gold standard test for diagnosing Covid-19 cases, as part of the HSE test and trace strategy, consistent with international best practice, and approved by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). This platform is deployed in acute hospitals, the NVRL and HSE’s commercial partners. Given the volumes required, these...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by Department officials and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. 

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Medical Services Scheme (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: Under the General Medical Service contract, the HSE may assign an eligible person, a person who holds a medical card or GP visit card, to a GP’s panel where that person has unsuccessfully applied to at least three GMS GPs in their local area, or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area. Assignments may be reviewed on request from the GP concerned after a period of six months from the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 which was published by the Government, sets out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19 in a range of areas over the next 6 - 9 months. This Plan outlines our medium-term strategy for COVID-19 and sets out a Framework of 5 Levels which outline the broad measures which will apply depending on the level of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: An options appraisal for a Model 4 hospital in Galway was completed late last year. Since then, the Elective Hospitals Oversight Group has completed a Catchment Area Analysis in Dublin, Cork and Galway, within a national capacity context.  The Group is now working on the development of  high-level facilities spatial briefs, which will be considered in the context of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to defer most scheduled care activity in March, April, and May of this year. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. 

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 410 and 411 together. The Government appreciates that there are many aspects of normal life that have been altered by the emergence of COVID-19, and the response that has been required. It also recognises that these changes are difficult for many people. However, it is the case at present that many of the things which we have previously taken for granted are...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Policy (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: Valproate-containing medicines (also known as sodium valproate or valproic acid) are approved in Ireland under the brand name Epilim, for the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder. Based on the totality of available scientific data on this drug, it is known that children exposed in utero are at a high risk of serious developmental disorders (in up to 30-40% of cases) and congenital...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Paediatric Services (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.