Results 28,961-28,980 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services Provision (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Demand for access to Occupational Therapy (OT) and Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) services is challenging as evidenced by the volume of clients being treated in 2017 and the number of referrals to the services. Over 335,000 OT clients were seen and almost 90,000 referrals were made to the service. Over 279,000 SLT clients were seen in 2017 with just over 52,000 referrals made to the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Air Ambulance Service Provision (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The Programme for a Partnership Governmentcommitted to the expansion of the Emergency Aeromedical Services. In that context, the Department is engaging with the National Ambulance Service and a charity that delivers pre-hospital emergency care with a view to the establishment of a community based, charitably funded Helicopter Emergency Medical Service in the South. Over recent months there...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The Galway City Ambulance Base has been situated on a temporary site on the grounds of Merlin Park Hospital since the summer of 2014, to facilitate the construction of a car park on the grounds of the University College Hospital Galway. The relocation initially was to be of temporary duration of 6 – 8 months. However, due to other developments at University College Hospital Galway in...

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

Simon Harris: As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Data (8 Feb 2018)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Funding (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: In 2017, we achieved much in relation to the provision of mental health services, helped in no small part by the substantial increase in mental funding over the last few years. Since 2012, the Government has increased the Mental Health Budget by almost €200 million, or 28%, to over €910 million today. Budget 2018 made allowance for an additional €57.5 million for...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 39, 46 and 81 together. In Ireland the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) an independent committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland which comprises experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics, and public health makes recommendation on vaccination policy in Ireland. Their recommendations are...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Overcrowding (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 52 and 54 together. Tackling overcrowding in Emergency Departments (EDs) is a key commitment of the Government. Accordingly, €30 million in additional funding in 2017, and a further €40 million in 2018, has been made available to manage the expected peak in demand for our health services over the winter period and to strengthen capacity...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The most recent NTPF figures published for December 2017 show that there was a total of 41,678 people on the Outpatient waiting list for hospitals in the Children's Hospital Group. 65% of these children (26,958) are waiting up to 12 months and 35% (14,720) are waiting over 12 months for a first Outpatient appointment. The HSE has confirmed there have been challenges in addressing the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (8 Feb 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: Departmental Legal Cases (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: This matter is the subject of litigation in which plaintiffs allege personal injury in which they claim the development of narcolepsy (cataplexy) resulted from the administration of the H1N1 pandemic vaccine. As Deputies would be aware, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on individual cases or matters that are the subject of litigation. However, I can provide background information...

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

Simon Harris: As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments Services (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Tackling overcrowding in Emergency Departments (EDs) is a key commitment of the Government. As such, €30 million in additional funding in 2017, and €40 million in 2018, was made available as part of the Budget 2018 to manage the expected peak in demand for our health services over this winter period and strengthen capacity moving forward. As part of the package of measures...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Industrial Disputes (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 60, 61, 74 and 243 together. Under section 39 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE provides financial assistance to organisations by means of a grant. Section 39 legally underpins the provision of services similar or supplementary to a service that the HSE may provide. In 2017, the HSE provided funding of approximately€800 million to over 2,200 of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 85 together. Tackling overcrowding in Emergency Departments (EDs) is a key commitment of the Government. Accordingly, €30 million in additional funding was provided in 2017, and a further €40 million is being made available in 2018, to manage the expected peak in demand for our health services over the winter period and to strengthen...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Citizens Assembly (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: My Department is examining the ancillary recommendations in the Joint Committee's report. This includes consideration of the nature and scope of a free contraception service and of what the introduction of such a service would involve. Officials in my Department, under the chairmanship of the Chief Medical Officer, have established a group to address the recommendations and formulate an...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Accommodation Provision (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Tackling overcrowding in Emergency Departments (EDs) is a key commitment of the Government. Accordingly, €30 million in additional funding was provided in 2017, and a further €40 million is being made available in 2018, to manage the expected peak in demand for our health services over the winter period and to strengthen capacity moving forward. Since the start of this winter,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Treatment Abroad Scheme (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE operates the Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland under EU Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004, as per the procedures set out in EU Regulations (EC) No. 987/2009, and in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines. As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Legislative Programme (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has put in place a process to examine possible changes to Article 40.3.3 of the constitution. The Government established a Citizen’s Assembly, in line with its Programme for Partnership Government commitment, to consider a number of matters including constitutional reform. The Assembly first considered the Eighth Amendment of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Notwithstanding significant recruitment and retention challenges, including global shortages, considerable progress has been made in the past four years in growing the numbers of front line staff working in the public health services, including doctors and nurses, as additional resources have become available. The number of consultants has increased by 109 in the 12 months ending...