Results 26,841-26,860 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes Policy (25 Feb 2015)

Leo Varadkar: A core objective of the National Drugs Strategy is the development of a national integrated treatment and rehabilitation service that provides drug free and harm reduction approaches for problem substance users. Harm reduction interventions, such as needle exchange services and methadone maintenance treatment, are an important component of the response to problem substance use as such...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (25 Feb 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced priority areas for action in 2015 including one which is to modernise the HSE ICT infrastructure. Two significant areas in that regard are to issue the first health identifiers and to increase investment in ICT and eHealth generally. In late 2013 the Government published its eHealth strategy, An eHealth strategy for Ireland, along with the Health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance (25 Feb 2015)

Leo Varadkar: VHI submitted its application to the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) on 16 May 2014. Consideration of the VHI's application for authorisation is a matter for the CBI in its role as independent financial regulator and I cannot anticipate how long that process will take, or its outcome. However, I expect that VHI will be authorised at the earliest opportunity, if approved by the Central Bank.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (25 Feb 2015)

Leo Varadkar: In 2015, a €5.4m budget increase has been provided to the National Ambulance Service to help address service gaps and provision has been made for 50 paramedic posts in the West. Some of these posts will be used to staff ambulance stations at Tuam and Mulranny. Others will assist in the move from on-call to on-duty rostering. On-call rostering means paramedics remain at home waiting...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (25 Feb 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Planning for the age extension of BreastCheck to 65 - 69 year olds is under way and screening of the extended cohort will commence in Quarter 4 of 2015. The additional eligible population is approximately 100,000 and, when fully implemented, 540,000 women will be included in the BreastCheck Programme. Due to the number of people who will be added to the breast screening process, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (25 Feb 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: Constitutional Amendments (25 Feb 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy is aware Article 40.3.3 of the Irish Constitution states that: 'The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.' A referendum would be required to amend the Constitution so that terminations in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (25 Feb 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: Medicinal Products Prices (25 Feb 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The Government has introduced a series of reforms in recent years to reduce the prices of drugs and medicines which are paid for by the HSE. This has resulted in reductions in the price of thousands of medicines. Price reductions of the order of 30% per item reimbursed have been achieved between 2009 and 2013; the average cost per items reimbursed is now running at 2001/2002 levels. A...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Organ Donation (25 Feb 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The national renal transplant team in Beaumont Hospital carries out all kidney transplants in Ireland. My Department, the HSE and Beaumont Hospital are working together to ensure that available organs are used for transplantation to patients in Ireland. The export of kidneys that become available for transplant is not envisaged. All Transplant Surgeons at Beaumont Hospital also work as...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments (25 Feb 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: National Drugs Strategy Implementation (25 Feb 2015)

Leo Varadkar: My Department's policy in relation to addiction is informed by the work of a number of key committees set up under the National Drugs Strategy. The Oversight Forum on Drugs (OFD), which I chair, is responsible for considering developments in drugs policies and in dealing with problem drug use generally, at EU and international level. It will oversee the development of a new National Drugs...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments (25 Feb 2015)

Leo Varadkar: ED overcrowding is a key priority issue for me and for the Government and I acknowledge the difficulties which the current surge in ED activity is causing for patients, their families and the staff who are doing their utmost to provide safe, quality care in very challenging circumstances. All hospitals have escalation plans to manage not only patient flow but also patient safety in a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (25 Feb 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I am pleased that agreement has been reached between hospital management and the INMO concerning nursing and midwifery staffing levels at the Midland Regional Hospital. I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the details. 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: Ambulance Service Provision (25 Feb 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: Universal Health Insurance Provision (25 Feb 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The Government has embarked on a major reform programme for the health system, the aim of which is to deliver a single-tier health service, supported by universal health insurance (UHI), where access is based on need, not income. The White Paper on Universal Health Insurancewas published on 2nd April 2014 and provides detailed information on the UHI model for Ireland. The model set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Investigations (25 Feb 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The HSE has a National Safety Incident Management Policy which sets out the steps to be taken when an investigation is required. In addition, the HSE has a range of processes in place which provide guidance on these matters including, the National Policy for Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse, Trust in Care etc. The HSE’s National Safety Incident Management Policy...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Equipment (25 Feb 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: Hospital Waiting Lists (25 Feb 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The HSE has advised that all patients from the 2013 waiting list initiative who have not been seen, diagnosed, treated and discharged back to their GP have all been accepted back to Letterkenny General Hospital on their appropriate waiting list. This includes the surgical pre assessment, day surgery and in-patient surgical waiting lists. These patients will be treated within the hospital's...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Misuse of Drugs (25 Feb 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Methadone maintenance treatment is a critical stabilising treatment that enables the individuals involved to counter their drug problem use and to rebuild their lives. This treatment, in conjunction with other services and supports, such as counselling, training, rehabilitation and after-care, provides a pathway to recovery for the individual affected by substance misuse. Retention in...