Results 23,941-23,960 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Health Board Services: Health Board Services (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: There is no statutory obligation on health boards to provide chiropody services to medical card holders. I understand that health boards make arrangements for the provision of such services. The nature of the arrangements and the level of chiropody services provided are a matter for the individual boards. As regards dental services, the Deputy will be aware that primary dental care for adult...

Written Answers — Health Board Services: Health Board Services (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of health services in counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the Western Health Board. My Department has, therefore, asked the chief executive of the board to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply direct to him as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: I propose to takes Questions Nos. 211 to 214, inclusive, together. I have agreed to a request from SIPTU on behalf of their members in Dublin Fire Brigade to discuss issues in relation to the provision of emergency ambulance services in the Dublin area following the establishment of the Health Services Executive. I do not consider that it would be appropriate to make any further comment in...

Written Answers — Accident and Emergency Services: Accident and Emergency Services (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: Many of the difficulties and delays experienced in emergency medicine departments reflect system-wide issues. It is, therefore, necessary to take a whole-system approach involving primary care, acute care and sub-acute and community care in tackling the problems in emergency medicine departments. This Government has already during the past few years, introduced initiatives aimed at improving...

Written Answers — Long-Term Illness Scheme: Long-Term Illness Scheme (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: Under the Health Act 1970, a health board may arrange for the supply, without charge, of drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances to people with a specified condition, for the treatment of that condition under the long-term illness, LTI, scheme. The conditions are mental handicap, mental illness for people under 16 only, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida,...

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: I understand from the Western Health Board that a reply, dated 1 November 2004, has issued to the Deputy.

Written Answers — General Practitioner Co-Operatives: General Practitioner Co-Operatives (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: The funding provided for out of hours co-operatives in the Southern Health Board to date is over €10 million. The funding provided for general practitioner out of hours co-operatives between 2000 and 2003 totalled €46.5 million. The total funding available in 2004 amounts to in excess of €26 million. This dedicated funding does not include fees paid to participating general...

Written Answers — Medicinal Products: Medicinal Products (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: Restrictions on the sale of medicinal products containing paracetamol are set out in regulations 13 to 16 of the Medicinal Product (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003, SI 540 of 2003. In summary, these regulations establish maximum pack sizes for such products depending on the size of the pack and whether the packs concerned are sold in pharmacies or in other outlets. All...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: The day-to-day spend of the non-administrative budget element of the Health and Children Vote is the responsibility, in the first instance, of the health boards and health authority. The functions referred to by the Deputy are performed by a number of areas within my Department. The non-capital element of the Health and Children Vote is assessed and monitored on an ongoing basis by the...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: An examination of the GMS register has identified, at the end of February 2004, overpayments of €8.468 million to general practitioners. During the course of consultation with the Irish Medical Organisation on the issue, my Department agreed to examine alleged underpayments in respect of certain categories of GMS patients. This matter is being examined. While no repayments have, as yet,...

Written Answers — Departmental Records: Departmental Records (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: In recent years, my Department has implemented a policy of enterprise-wide systems in relation to the development of all new information systems, thus providing for the compatibility and interoperability of systems on a health service-wide basis. Major enterprise-wide systems implementations are ongoing in a number of areas. A major system is currently being rolled out throughout the service...

Written Answers — Cancer Research: Cancer Research (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: I am advised the factors that are generally recognised as predisposing women to breast cancer include lifestyle, diet, obesity in post menopausal women, alcohol and hereditary factors. Genetic factors contribute to approximately 5% of breast cancers and mutations in specific genes are probably accountable for the majority of genetically determined breast cancers. Significant international...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: Referral of patients to a private treatment facility is in the first instance, a clinical matter. Factors which are relevant to such a decision include assessment of patient need, existing service availability, indemnity and quality assured service delivery. The Western Health Board has informed my Department that it has agreed to work with the private clinic in Galway to develop protocols or...

Written Answers — Accident and Emergency Services: Accident and Emergency Services (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 and 230 together. My Department has been aware since 2002 of a proposal to develop new accident and emergency infrastructure at Tralee General Hospital. It has not been possible for my Department in the intervening period to commit to this proposal, in the light of competing demands generally on the health capital programme and given the significant...

Written Answers — Health Board Services: Health Board Services (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: The Southern Health Board, SHB, has submitted to my Department a public private partnership, PPP, proposal for eight community nursing units, CNUs, which will provide an additional 400 beds for respite, convalescence, long stay and rehabilitation services, to elderly patients in its catchment area. One of the proposed CNUs will be located at Sarsfield Court Hospital, Glanmire. It has been...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: The Forum on Water Fluoridation in Ireland was established to carry out a review of the fluoridation of public water supplies in Ireland. The forum produced a comprehensive and conclusive report which it presented in 2002. In its report the forum set out a number of conclusions and made a number of recommendations with respect to the fluoridation of public piped water supplies in Ireland. The...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: The provision of hospital services at Ennis General Hospital is the responsibility of the Mid-Western Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the position in relation to the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: My Department accepts the need for an additional 19 inpatient beds at Wexford General Hospital. It is hoped to progress this development in the context of the health capital investment framework 2004 to 2008 in line with overall funding resources available under the framework.

Written Answers — General Register Office: General Register Office (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: The administration of the registration system for births, stillbirths, deaths and marriages is statutorily a matter for an tArd-Chláraitheoir or Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, and for the superintendent registrars and registrars who operate under his general direction. An tArd-Chláraitheoir has advised me that there is a dedicated section within the General Register...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: The provision of hospital services for people living in County Mayo is a matter for the Western Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the position with regard to this case and to reply directly to the Deputy.