Results 28,401-28,420 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Remuneration (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: As with other health professionals, General Practitioners were subject to fee reductions under FEMP. I acknowledge the contribution made by GPs and other health professionals who provide services under contract on behalf of the HSE, through reductions in the fees in respect of these services, to addressing the unprecedented economic crisis which the State faced over recent years. I...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Products (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies the criteria to be applied in the making of reimbursement decisions which include the clinical and cost effectiveness of the product, the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Charges (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all people ordinarily resident in Ireland are entitled, subject to certain charges, to public in-patient hospital services including consultant services and to public out-patient hospital services. Under Section 52 of the Health Act 1970, as amended by Section 12 of the Health (Amendment) Act 2013, a person who has been referred to a hospital for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: In line with health strategy a decisive shift towards primary care is required to meet growing demands for health and social care services. The construction programme for primary care centres will continue throughout the National Development Plan 2018 – 2027 with a combination of direct building by the Health Service Executive, by working with the private sector using an...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. Each year in Ireland around 300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 90 die from the disease. All cervical cancers are linked to high risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types. In 2009 the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommended HPV vaccination for all 12 year old girls to reduce their risk of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Products Regulatory Authority (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: The information that the Deputy seeks with regard to polysorbate 80 is not readily available. Therefore, I have asked the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) to investigate the matter and reply directly to the Deputy. It is important to reiterate that the HPRA and the European Medicines Agency continually monitor adverse events to vaccination. HPV is one of the most closely...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Staff Data (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 394 and 395 together. There is no panel for communications officers in my Department. The Communications Office was established in 2008 headed by an Assistant Principal. The current role holder was appointed in June 2016. The Communications Unit incorporates the Press office. The name and functions were extended to include "communications" to reflect more...

Order of Business (6 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: I will respond to some of the procedural questions on the process. We have set out a very clearly defined process. We have had the Citizens' Assembly. An Oireachtas committee scrutinised the issue. We had a special Cabinet meeting on 29 January, which published draft wording. We took a decision that we would await the adjudication of the Supreme Court, which is entirely independent in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists Data (6 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families. Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018. October's Budget announced a total 2018...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cross-Border Health Initiatives (6 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: As the HSE has responsibility for the administration of the Cross Border Directive, I have asked the HSE to examine the issue raised and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Prescriptions Charges (6 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drugs Payment Scheme Data (6 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Charges (6 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: In 2017 inpatient charges of €27.5m were reported by the Health Service Executive.  This is the approximate cost to the health system of abolishing the inpatient charges.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Data (6 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: As of 1 February 2018 there are 1,609,183 (33.6% of the population) Medical Cards in circulation.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance Data (6 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: According to the latest information from the Health Insurance Authority, as of end-December 2017 there were 2,174,430 people (45.1% of the population) holding private health insurance.  The HIA regularly publishes updated information, including the number and percentage of the population that are insured, on their website www.hia.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Data (6 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive (HSE) operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. According to the most recent statistics provided by the HSE for 1 February 2018, 33.6% of the population or 1,609,183 people hold medical cards. Regarding private health insurance, according to the most recent statistics...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Medical Services Scheme Data (6 Mar 2018)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Grant Payments (6 Mar 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: Hospital Appointments Status (6 Mar 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 National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Data (6 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.