Results 28,421-28,440 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (14 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 to 217, inclusive, together. My Department has raised these issues with the Health Service Executive. The policy of the HSE on the matter of waiting lists is clear. All hospital managers are expected to efficiently manage waiting lists in chronological order, except where clinical need dictates that a patient needs to be prioritised. The HSE does not...

Topical Issue Debate: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The situation is far from satisfactory and I will not pretend otherwise. There are roughly 700 delayed discharges in acute hospitals at the moment. Most of these are elderly patients who have been discharged by a consultant and are ready either to go home or to go to a nursing home but cannot do so. More than half the 700 delayed discharges are in Dublin city. There will always be...

Topical Issue Debate: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Cowen for raising this important issue. The nursing homes support scheme, a fair deal, is a system of financial support for individuals who require long-term nursing home care. Anyone who is ordinarily resident in the State and who may need nursing home care, regardless of age, can apply for the scheme. The total budget for long-term residential care in 2014 is €939...

Topical Issue Debate: Nuclear Plants (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Costello for raising this important issue. I am taking this debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, who is on Government business. The European Commission announced yesterday that is has found revised United Kingdom plans to subsidise the construction and operation of a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in...

Topical Issue Debate: Nuclear Plants (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I reiterate that while the decision has been announced, it has not yet been published. I imagine the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will want to see the detail of it before making a decision on how to act. On the specific question of joining Austria in its legal action, I am advised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that it is not necessarily the case that we can...

Topical Issue Debate: Nuclear Plants (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The same goes for peat. Gas, coal and oil are not. I will make the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, aware of Deputy Costello's comments on this. I am sure the Minister will want to talk to him about it again.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Tobacco Control Measures (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 to 110, inclusive, and 135 together. As the Deputy will be aware, Government approval was received on 19 November 2013 to proceed with drafting the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013. The legislation has now been passed by the Seanad and Second Stage of the Bill concluded in the Dáil last week. As the Deputy will also be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Tobacco Control Measures (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 112 and 136 together. I am fully aware that there will be a range of interests which will oppose the introduction of the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill. However, as the Deputy will be aware, Government approval was received on 19 November 2013 to proceed with drafting the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Administration (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Procedures (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Rehabilitation Clinics (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together. In line with the National Drugs Strategy, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has developed a national treatment and rehabilitation service that provides drug free and harm reduction approaches for problem substance users. The HSE provide a variety of drug treatment interventions to reduce drug-related harm and which encourage problem...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 128 together. The Deputy's questions relate to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Breast cancer diagnostic and surgical services are carried out in the eight designated cancer centres (plus an outreach service in Letterkenny General Hospital). Breast cancer patients may have immediate breast reconstruction carried out at the time of breast cancer surgery and for these patients there is no significant waiting time. For other patients, it may be necessary to carry out...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (9 Oct 2014)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ministerial Meetings (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The allocations to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces in 2015 will be determined in the context of the Estimates process, taking into account the need to protect frontline service provision as far as possible. In line with the National Drugs Strategy, I plan to arrange a meeting with the chairs and coordinators of the Task Forces in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance Cover (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Similar to other non-life insurance contracts, health insurance contracts generally have a duration of twelve months. I understand that current market practice for the health insurers is to apply a cancellation charge equal to the stamp duty levy to customers who cancel policies or opt to change provider mid-contract. An administration fee may also be charged. It is a matter for the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Delays (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Bed Data (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The HSE commissioned Prospectus management consultancy in 2008 to undertake an independent review of the existing adult critical care provision and an assessment of the future requirements to the year 2020 thus enabling planning for a future model of critical care based on evidence. This review placed significant emphasis on international best practice and the application of these practices...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (9 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Ambulance services in the Dublin area are provided by Dublin Fire Brigade under an agreement between Dublin City Council and the HSE. Distribution of resources within the city is a matter, in the first instance, for Dublin Fire Brigade. The Deputy may wish to note that an independent review of emergency ambulance services in Dublin is currently under way to determine the best model of...