Results 3,381-3,400 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: I understand the Deputy to be referring to the provision of primary care centres through the Exchequer funded Capital Programme. The building or extension, refurbishment and fitting out of primary care facilities in deprived urban areas and in small rural towns continues to be funded through the Exchequer funded Capital Programme. New centres completed in 2008 and 2009 include Pearse Street...

Written Answers — Private Health Insurance: Private Health Insurance (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: Following the Supreme Court decision of July 2008, which found the Irish Risk Equalisation Scheme to be ultra vires, the Government decided to introduce an interim scheme of loss compensation. This was provided for under the Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, covering the period 2009 to early 2012. In any community rated health insurance market, a comprehensive risk...

Written Answers — Organ Transplants: Organ Transplants (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: I believe that there is a need for a national approach to the organ transplant programmes in Ireland. In this context, I have agreed with the Health Service Executive, as part of its 2010 Service Plan, that it will establish an organ donation and transplantation unit within its existing national structures and resources. This unit will provide a national focal point for reporting,...

Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 73 and 85 together. The most recent information on bed closures in the acute hospital system refers to the week ended 17 January 2010. At that time, 689 inpatient beds and 37 day beds were closed for reasons of cost-containment, infection control, refurbishment and seasonal closure of facilities. Due to industrial action involving members of IMPACT, my...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive, with my full support, has decided to centralise the processing of all medical card and GP visit card applications and renewals at its Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) in Dublin. The process commenced in January 2009 when the PCRS took over the processing of all medical card applications for persons aged 70 or over. The second phase commenced in...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 80 together. At present, medical cards are granted primarily on the basis of means and individual circumstances. Under the Health Act, 2004, determination of eligibility for medical cards is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. The HSE has discretion, in cases of exceptional need, to provide assistance to individuals where undue hardship...

Written Answers — Legal Services: Legal Services (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: The HSE currently outsources all its legal services. The Executive is now setting up a small legal office but will continue to outsource appropriate aspects of its legal services. The HSE expects this change to result in significant annual savings.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: Approximately 77 million laboratory tests are undertaken annually across 44 public hospitals. At present the annual cost of this service is approximately €470 million. The workload comprises both urgent and non-urgent tests and a significant proportion of the activity originates in the primary care setting. An external review of laboratory services was conducted for the HSE by Teamwork...

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board was established in May 2007. Its primary function is to plan, design, build, furnish and equip the new National Paediatric Hospital. The framework brief was published in 2007. In 2008, the officers of the NPH Development Board were recruited. Business Management and Project Management Consultants were appointed in 2008/2009. The design...

Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: Each hospital funded by the HSE is required to deliver services within the financial allocation provided. In common with all hospitals, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin is faced with the challenge of delivering a high quality service to its patients, while remaining within budget. The priority of the HSE and hospital management at Our Lady's Children's Hospital is to ensure that...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: There are 12 GP specialist training programmes currently in operation, which are all of four years duration, two of which are spent in hospital posts, under the supervision of hospital consultants, and two years in an approved general practice at registrar level, under the supervision of a general practice trainer. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has reported to my Department that the...

Written Answers — Accident and Emergency Services: Accident and Emergency Services (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: The recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, which I welcomed, highlighted a number of important ways in which services to patients at Emergency Departments can be improved. Many of the findings are being addressed by the HSE in the context of its National Service Plan 2010. The actions include improving access to diagnostics, proactive discharge planning, improving average...

Written Answers — Hospital Facilities: Hospital Facilities (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. Due to industrial action in the public service by members of IMPACT, the HSE may not be in a position to provide a response within the normal timeframe.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive's Service Plan for 2010 shows the projected cost in 2010 of the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme, which includes the medical card and GP visit card benefits, as €2.032 billion. The Service Plan also projects increases in medical card and GP visit card numbers of 144,000 and 16,111 respectively for 2010. These targets are based on trends in the last...

Written Answers — Primary Care Services: Primary Care Services (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 90 together. I welcome the recent publication of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children Report on Primary Medical Care in the Community. The Report contains a wide range of recommendations in relation to the further development and the role of Primary Care Teams and Centres. My Department will consider the Report's recommendations in...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: The HSE and my Department are monitoring the evolving situation regarding this industrial action carefully, in close co-operation with the Department of Finance. The action, which is underway across the public service, has the potential to cause serious disruption in the health sector, depending on its scope and scale. My main concern is to ensure that the effect of the dispute on patient...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has the operational responsibility for the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme, which includes the medical card and GP visit card benefits. The HSE has informed my Department that when a medical card comes up for review, the current circumstances of the medical card holder are evaluated to ensure that they continue to hold eligibility, and that this...

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: It remains the intention of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to proceed with the development of the North East Regional Hospital as resources permit. I am advised by the HSE that alternative funding mechanisms such as Public Private Partnerships are currently being explored. In the interim the focus is on restructuring acute hospital services in the area concerned in line with its...

Written Answers — Organ Transplants: Organ Transplants (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 144 together. Heart and lung transplantation operations take place in the Mater Hospital Dublin. Eleven heart transplantation procedures were carried out in 2009; this compares with 4 heart transplants in 2008. Five lung transplantation procedures were carried out in 2009; this compares with 4 lung transplants in 2008. I am encouraged that the total...

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: The matter raised by the Deputy relates to the provision of healthcare services and accordingly, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond directly to the Deputy.