Results 36,501-36,520 of 46,197 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: European Fund for Strategic Infrastructure (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) is a joint initiative of the EIB Group and the European Commission, aimed at mobilising private financing for strategic investments, mainly through loan funding. In Ireland's case, the main potential beneficiaries of EFSI are commercial investment projects (including PPPs), as there is little scope to use EFSI for increased investment by...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Delays (1 Feb 2017)

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 scheduling...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The National Ambulance Service has undergone a programme of modernisation in recent years and a number of significant service innovations and developments have taken place. These include the establishment of the National Emergency Operations Centre, a state of the art facility from which all call taking and resource dispatch is now undertaken. There has been substantial investment in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Capital Programme (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 290 together. Future investment in hospitals must be considered within the overall acute hospital sector infrastructure programme, the prioritised needs of the hospital groups and within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. The HSE will continue to apply the available funding for infrastructure development in the most...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The previous Government's decision to locate the new children's hospital at the St James's campus was based on the over-riding priority of best clinical outcomes for our children and, in particular, the sickest of these. That decision is unequivocally supported by this Government and by me as Minister. The planned new facilities will provide us with the means to deliver on improved health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to a decisive shift towards primary care so that better care close to home can be provided for communities around the country. The development of Primary Care Centres to accommodate Primary Care Teams and, where possible, GPs in the one location is a key enabler for the delivery of primary care services. Primary Care Centres facilitate...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Prices (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The 2016 Framework Agreement on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines provides for a new and more robust process for the reimbursement of medicines offering greater certainty to manufacturers regarding the reimbursement process. The revised process now requires that each product seeking reimbursement under the Community Drugs Schemes will undergo an assessment process by the National Centre...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Services Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning is the top-level body which coordinates and oversees the emergency management activities of all Government Departments and Public Authorities. Ireland has adopted the “Lead Department” principle which means that the Government Department having responsibility for a particular area of public life (transport, energy, health etc.)...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together. The Government is committed to the continued development of GP capacity to ensure that patients across the country continue to have access to GP services. The Programme for Partnership Government commits to increasing the number of GP training places to 259 places annually. In July 2016, the GP training intake increased from 157 to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The development of health services in Ireland is subject to on-going enhancement and improvement processes and initiatives to ensure the delivery of high quality care in the most effective and efficient manner. As a general principle, these processes and initiatives are informed by national and international best practice. As the Deputy will appreciate, there are a range of initiatives...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Commissions of Investigation (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: Under the Commission of Investigation Act 2004, the Commission to examine matters relating to the management, operation and supervision of Leas Cross Nursing Home was established by the Government in April 2007. Final costs were €2,104,749. There have been no further Commissions of Investigation in this Department.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commencement of Legislation (31 Jan 2017)

Simon Harris: The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, which provides a modern statutory framework to support decision-making by adults with capacity difficulties, is the responsibility of the Department of Justice and Equality and commencement of that Act is largely a matter for that Department. The commencement of Part 8 of the Act, which provides a legislative framework for advance...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (31 Jan 2017)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (31 Jan 2017)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (31 Jan 2017)

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: Hospital Appointments Status (31 Jan 2017)

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 scheduling...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (31 Jan 2017)

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: Medical Card Administration (31 Jan 2017)

Simon Harris: My Department recently received permission from Government to draft the new Bill. This new legislation will effectively mean that all children in respect of whom a DCA payment is made will automatically qualify for a medical card and, therefore, no longer be subject to the medical card means test at any point in the future while in receipt of DCA. The legislation is currently being prepared...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (31 Jan 2017)

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: Dental Services (31 Jan 2017)

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