Results 15,721-15,740 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (1 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy may wish to note that the National Ambulance Service (NAS) operates its fleet in line with the requirements of CEN 1789, the European Union standard for ambulances. The NAS has a fleet of over 520 vehicles which travel over twenty million km each year. Fleet management policies in place, minimise, as far as possible, the potential for vehicle failure. Daily vehicle inspections...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (1 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: 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. In relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (1 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Prices (1 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together. Officials in the Department of Health are working with their colleagues in the HSE, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement to ensure that the State achieves the best possible deal in terms of value for money regarding the pricing and supply of medicines. In this context, I...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Recruitment (1 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (1 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Registration of Nurses (1 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 to 173, inclusive, together. 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. If you have not received a reply from the NMBI within 15 working days, please contact my...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Legislative Measures (1 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The General Scheme of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill was approved by Government on the 3 February 2015. The Scheme includes provisions for minimum unit pricing, health labelling on products that contain alcohol, restrictions on the advertising and marketing of alcohol and the regulation of sports sponsorship. The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill will also provide for the making of regulations...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (1 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Improving waiting times for scheduled care for patients is a key priority for the Government. In January, taking into account current pressures on acute hospital services, the Minister for Health put in place maximum permissible waiting times for inpatient and day case treatment and outpatient appointments of 18 months by 30 June and 15 months by year end. The HSE was provided with additional...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (1 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Improving waiting times for scheduled care for patients is a key priority for the Government. In January, taking into account current pressures on acute hospital services, the Minister for Health put in place maximum permissible waiting times for inpatient and day case treatment and outpatient appointments of 18 months by 30 June and 15 months by year end. The HSE was provided with additional...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Accommodation Provision (1 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (1 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I am supportive, in principle, of follow up research into this important issue. However, I am not in a position to contribute to the funding of this study. My Department's policy role in relation to sexual abuse and violence has been much reduced since the original study was undertaken. The setting up of the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (1 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: 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: Health Services Provision (1 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The provision of services to prevent and treat addiction to alcohol is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and as such, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (1 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: 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 National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (1 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy may wish to note that the National Ambulance Service (NAS) operates its fleet in line with the requirements of CEN 1789, the European Union standard for ambulances. The NAS has a fleet of over 520 vehicles which travel over twenty million km each year. Fleet management policies in place, minimise, as far as possible, the potential for vehicle failure. Daily vehicle inspections...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (6 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: 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: Nursing Education (6 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised by the Deputy is primarily a matter for the Department of Education and Skills. However, I would like to advise the Deputy that Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI ) was established in 2012 as a new integrated quality assurance agency replacing FETAC and a number of other agencies. QQI makes awards based on standards it has developed or has inherited from the former...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (6 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: With a recovering economy, the Health Service Executive is now in a position to offer a wide range of challenging career opportunities for nurses and midwives. There are many initiatives currently underway to improve nursing staff levels throughout the country. These include the retention of 2015 degree programme graduates, offering full time permanent contracts, and an international...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance (6 Oct 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Since my appointment as Minister for Health, keeping the health insurance market stable and increasing the numbers taking out health insurance has been one of my key priorities. An increase in the numbers taking out health insurance helps to control premium inflation, thereby keeping health insurance affordable for all. From May of this year, Lifetime Community Rating and reduced...