Results 27,061-27,080 of 46,081 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Administration (19 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (19 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.   As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory power or function in relation to the reimbursement of medicines. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines. In line with the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Contracts (19 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: Officials from the Department of Health have been working with their counterparts in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE to ensure that the planned engagement with general practitioner representatives is fully focused on the priorities of the Government’s health reform agenda and measures to better address the strategic challenges facing the service. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (19 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory power or function in relation to the reimbursement of medicines. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines. In line with the 2013 Act, if a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments (19 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: Against a background of growing demand for unscheduled care and high acute hospital occupancy rates, Government provided €30 million in 2017 and a further €40 million in 2018 for measures to increase acute hospital capacity and alleviate overcrowding in Emergency Departments.  Almost 50% of this funding was used to deliver home support packages and transitional care...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Data (19 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Reform (19 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: The Committee on the Future of Healthcare published its report, Sláintecare, last year. This report makes a number of recommendations in relation to improving governance and accountability in the health service, including the establishment of a governing board for the HSE and the establishment of regional bodies to support the delivery of integrated care. As the Deputy is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Data (19 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (19 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 264, 265 and 268 together. The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has a statutory role to collect, collate and validate information in relation to persons waiting for hospital treatment and to put in place information systems and procedures for that purpose. The NTPF is under the governance (aegis) of the Department of Health and my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Data (19 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: General Practitioners play an important role in the primary care system.  The number of General Practitioners on the specialist register continues to increase – up from 2,270 in 2010 to 3,637 at the end of 2017 and the number of GPs contracted by the HSE under the GMS scheme has also risen from 2,098 in 2008 to 2,485 as of 1 April 2018. The 2018 Health Service Capacity Review...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Prices (19 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: Officials in my Department have sought further clarification from the Deputy in relation to this PQ. 

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (19 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy. 

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (19 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (19 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: The Programme for Government commits to reducing waiting times for procedures in hospitals and to increase funding to the National Treatment Purchase Fund to deliver on this commitment. In the Budget and Estimates 2018, funding for the NTPF to treat public patients was increased to €50 million. The Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan is a joint initiative between the HSE, the NTPF...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Funding (19 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: The 2018 National Service Plan set out a budget of over €14.5 billion for the HSE, the highest budget ever allocated. The Health budget was increased by over €600 million on 2017, a substantial additional level of funding. The amount allocated follows an extensive process of engagement between my Department and the HSE, which considers both the funding requirements as submitted...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (19 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: The need to increase the numbers of consultants, medical staff, nurses and midwives in the public health service is a priority for this Government. It has been the focus of attention since 2014 as additional resources have become available and will continue to be this year and in the years ahead. The capacity challenges across acute, primary and social care that we must prepare for, and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists (19 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Commencement of Legislation (18 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: A number of technical drafting issues have come to light in relation to Parts 2 & 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. The implications of these issues are being explored by officials in my Department and the Office of the Attorney General and clarification on whether primary legislation is required to resolve these issues is being sought. In the event that primary...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (18 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 to 139, inclusive, together. As these questions relate to operational matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (18 Apr 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the 2013 Act. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines. The 2013 Act does not give the Minister for Health any powers in this regard.  The HSE does not require approval or consent from the Minister or Government when making a reimbursement...