Results 19,641-19,660 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (15 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (15 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (15 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive is finalising its plans to offer everyone in the state pandemic vaccine. The vaccine is arriving in small quantities initially and total delivery will be spread over a 12 month period and therefore we need an ordered sequence of giving the vaccine to the people most in need first. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee and the Pandemic Influenza Advisory...

Written Answers — Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme: Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme (15 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (15 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: The information requested is being collated in my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (15 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: As part of the overall approved employment control ceiling for 2009, my Department has provided written confirmation to the HSE that the general moratorium on recruitment, promotion and the payment of acting up allowances does not apply to specific designated grades, including social worker grades. This moratorium exemption provides for vacancies in existing posts in these grades to continue...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: The Community Audiology Service of the HSE provides hearing aids to eligible adults with medical cards. As the HSE has the operational and funding responsibility for the Community Audiology Service, it is the appropriate body to consider the particular matters raised by the Deputy. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have...

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: I have considered all the relevant advice available to me in relation to the potential public health benefits of HPV vaccination in the prevention of cervical cancer and the wider policy implications for its possible introduction into the National Immunisation Programme. I accept the consensus view of the relevant expert bodies that the introduction of a universal high uptake vaccination...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: There has been a small decrease in the number of people covered under a private health insurance contract in the first six months of 2009. It is not clear at this time the extent to which this is due to individuals ceasing to hold private health insurance or to individuals not taking out private health insurance for the first time. In the case of individuals who may have ceased to hold...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: Responding to the information needs of the Oireachtas and the public is a priority for my Department and is a regular agenda item at meetings between myself and the Chief Executive Officer of the Health Service Executive. The operation of the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the HSE (PAD) allows for the centralised receipt, assignment and tracking of Parliamentary Questions within the HSE's...

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 258 together. The annual HSE National Service Plan, which sets out the quantum of services to be provided in any financial year by the HSE for the resources allocated to it, is the primary vehicle through which my Department monitors and evaluates the performance of the Executive. Significant progress was made in the National Service Plan 2009 in...

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: I understand that the Health Service Executive (HSE) replied directly to the Deputy on 7 October 2009 in response to the previous parliamentary question referred to. As the further matter raised is a service issue it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: The Government has demonstrated its commitment to people with disabilities. Even in 2009, a very difficult year, it provided additional funding of €10 million for the provision of 125 additional therapy posts (speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and social workers) in disability and mental health services targeted at children with disabilities of...

Written Answers — Medicinal Products: Medicinal Products (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: Thimerosal is a compound that has played an important role either as a preservative or in the initial stages of the manufacture of some vaccines for over 60 years. It is included in the pandemic vaccine, Pandemrix, in order to prevent bacterial and fungal contamination of the vaccine when the multidose vial is opened. The mercury content of thimerosal has led to concerns that it may affect...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: There are three routes by which a person aged 70 or over may qualify for a medical card. Firstly, under the Health Act 2008, a single person will qualify if his/her gross income is €700 per week or less. The figure for a couple is €1,400 per week or less. The 2008 Act does not allow any discretion to the Health Service Executive (HSE) to grant medical cards to persons who are in excess...

Written Answers — Community Care: Community Care (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: In line with Government Policy the Health Service Executive is refocusing its services to give people direct access in the community to multi-disciplinary teams including general practitioners, nurses, health care assistants, home helps and occupational therapists. This policy is designed not only to maintain and support people in their own homes and communities for as long as possible, but...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: The matter raised by the Deputy relates to the provision of health care services and accordingly, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on the matters.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: As this is a service issue it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Harney: To date, eight officials at Principal Officer or higher level, representing 7.5 whole equivalents, have applied and been approved for the Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement in my Department. This represents 1.5% of the total number employed as of 30 September 2009. The final closing date for applications for the scheme has recently been extended by the Department of Finance to 23rd...