Results 3,921-3,940 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (15 Jan 2014)

Alex White: There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Long Term Illness scheme. Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines. In addition, people who...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Provision (15 Jan 2014)

Alex White: The HSE has commissioned an independent national review of orthodontic services; no specific review of orthodontic services provided in Navan Hospital has been commissioned. The HSE has been asked to investigate what progress has been made in resolving the specific difficulties pertinent to Navan Hospital and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (15 Jan 2014)

Alex White: 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 to...

Topical Issues Debate: Rural Broadband Scheme (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The Deputy raises an important issue and I will relay his comments to the Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte. I know from discussing the issue with him that he is prioritising these matters. In addition to the State-led investment which will facilitate the widespread availability of reliable and guaranteed high-speed broadband, the national broadband plan also commits to a range of actions that...

Topical Issues Debate: Mental Health Services Provision (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: As the Deputy correctly said, chapter 12 of A Vision for Change addresses the issue he raised, which is the needs of people with severe and enduring mental illness in the context of rehabilitation and recovery, and the document envisaged a consultant-led team per 100,000 of population. He listed the professionals who would be associated with the team and the work that would be required of...

Topical Issues Debate: Rural Broadband Scheme (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and I thank the Deputy for raising it. Ireland's telecommunications market has been liberalised since 1999 and has developed into a well regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators providing services over a diverse...

Topical Issues Debate: Mental Health Services Provision (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Positive mental health is an essential component of the Government's strategy to enhance the overall health and well-being of our population. While mental health problems are, unfortunately, increasing throughout society, emerging awareness and associated debate surrounding these issues can only be welcomed. A corresponding development of policies...

Topical Issues Debate: Speech and Language Therapy (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I understand this follows on from a query raised by a speech and language therapist in respect of the circumstances surrounding an appointment that was not made. Waterford community services' speech and language therapy department provides services to adults and children in Waterford city and county, including to St. Patrick's rehabilitation unit...

Topical Issues Debate: Speech and Language Therapy (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I cannot disagree with anything the Deputy has said in respect of the need for care and support in the community. She is right that I have been and remain an advocate of that approach to our health care services, frankly because I do not think there is any possibility of our ever being able to fund and manage these health services in the future, to say nothing about the immediate need the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The adjustment to the over-70s medical cards, to which the Deputy refers, is not a tax related adjustment and does not relate to any allowance or tax credit. Assessment for eligibility for an over-70s medical card is based on a gross income basis and there are no standard deductions allowable (for example, for income tax). Pensions, earnings, interest from capital and all other sources of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disease Management (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The HSE is engaged in an ongoing process to develop chronic disease management programmes across the spectrum of services from prevention to sustaining services, including specific additional investment in diabetes services for the promotion of integrated care. The National Clinical Programme for Chronic Disease Prevention has been established to ensure all national clinical programmes,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: 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 to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Appeals (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: 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 to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 337 and 338 together. The reduction in size of the public service has been an essential component of the approach to addressing the State’s fiscal difficulties. This has been combined with a firm focus on improving public service efficiency and effectiveness. The Haddington Road Agreement provides for some five million additional working hours...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The HSE has confirmed that, at that time referred to by the Deputy, discretion has been exercised in a positive way on more than 20,000 occasions in granting medical card eligibility.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Data (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 343, 344, 346 and 349 together. The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, I have asked the Health Service Executive to supply this information to me and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Drugs (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: Medical card holders are required to pay a €2.50 charge per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €25 per month for each person or family. These new rates are effective from 1 December 2013. Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the HSE or to methadone supplied to patients...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Provision (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I wish to assure the Deputy that there is no ongoing risk to the public in relation to this case. This matter is receiving urgent attention in the HSE and I expect a report early in the New Year.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Expenditure (19 Dec 2013)

Alex White: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.