Results 4,601-4,620 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — National Treatment Purchase Fund: National Treatment Purchase Fund (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: The recommendation from the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Programmes was based on the findings of a 2004 Comptroller and Auditor General's report. That report found that, of a sample of cases, 44% were undertaken in public hospitals and 36% were in the public hospital on whose waiting-list the patient had been. However, this does not represent the current position. There is a...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: Grants to health agencies and similar organisations are provided annually by my Department through voted expenditure as set out in the table below. Subhead € 2005 B2 3,722,000 2006 B2 3,815,000 2007 B2 3,903,000 2008 B2 3,985,000 2009 B2 2,984,261 (to date) Since 2005, the total allocation for subheads which had formerly been funded entirely from the proceeds of the National...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: The cost to date in 2009 of the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal is €45.236m. The cost per annum to end 2008 is as follows: Year €m 1996 31.981 1997 77.047 1998 149.475 1999 63.808 2000 55.709 2001 68.220 2002 49.397 2003 50.039 2004 64.870 2005 67.723 2006 74.734 2007 81.906 2008 62.744 The amount paid by my Department in respect of Tribunals of Inquiry are set...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 160 together. The Performance Related Awards Scheme was introduced following a decision by the Government on the implementation of recommendations of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector. The primary function of the Review Body is to advise the Government from time to time on the general levels of remuneration appropriate to...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 163 together. Details of the number of medical card holders and GP visit card holders are provided to my Department each month by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The figures are provided on a net basis, showing the balance after new cards have been issued and other cards, as appropriate, have been deleted from the Executive's database, e.g....

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: As I indicated in my reply to the Deputy regarding Parliamentary Question 21860/09, the Health Service Executive's (HSE) National Service Plan for 2009 gives the annual average cost of a medical card as €1,650 approximately. This figure does not take account of any reductions in professional fees and allowances introduced under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: The full income guidelines as of 1st January 2009 that apply to applicants for a medical card or a GP visit card are set out in the following table. Medical Card Income Thresholds for Applicants aged 70 & Over (Effective from 01-01-2009) Medical Card Gross Weekly Rate 2009 â'¬ Single Person Aged 70 or over 700.00 Married Couple or Persons Living Together as Husband and Wife Aged...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: My Department is currently reviewing the eligibility criteria for the assessment of medical cards in the context of financial and medical need in line with the commitment in Towards 2016 to clarify entitlement to a medical card and having regard to the following: The policy objectives underpinning the medical card/GP visit card. Income assessment guidelines. The need or otherwise to retain...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: Under the Health Service Executive's Medical Card / GP Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines for 2009, persons in receipt of either the Job Seekers Allowance or the Job Seekers Benefit for a period of 12 months or more are entitled to retain their medical card for 3 years on taking up employment. The other information sought by the Deputy is not provided by the HSE to my Department as a...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: The Government announced, in its Statement on Transforming Public Services on 27 November 2008, that the Minister for Finance was establishing a Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes to examine the current expenditure programmes in each Government Department and to make recommendations for reducing public service numbers so as to ensure a return to sustainable...

Written Answers — Drugs Payment Scheme: Drugs Payment Scheme (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together. The increases to the Drugs Payment Scheme thresholds since 2005 are outlined in the table below. In each year the changes were notified to the Health Service Executive and the Irish Pharmacy Union. The Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes and its recommendations are being considered by all...

Written Answers — Hospital Charges: Hospital Charges (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: I have referred the matter to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Hospital Charges: Hospital Charges (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together. I have included the information for the Deputy in relation to any changes made to hospital accident and emergency charges and changes made to the charge for private facilities in public hospitals since 2005. In each case these changes were announced on Budget Day and took effect from the 1st of January of the following year....

Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: Emergency ambulance services in Dublin have been provided by Dublin Fire Brigade for many years on behalf of the Health Service Executive. It is important to ensure that all of our pre-hospital emergency services, including the service provided by the Dublin Fire Brigade, function as a high quality, integrated health service. The advice of the Health Information and Quality Authority on...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: Consideration of the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, and decisions on all of issues arising, are ultimately matters for the Government. The recommendations contained in the report are being considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010. The Deputy will be aware that talks have taken place at a national level with the...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together. The Adoption Bill, 2009, which is designed to give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption, has passed through the Seanad and I am actively seeking time for its progression in the current Dáil session. As I have stated on many previous occasions, under the...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (11 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: The report of the Working Group established by the HSE on Services for People with Cystic Fibrosis was recently published on the HSE's website. Amongst its recommendations was that a neonatal screening programme should be established. A Steering Group was established in June 2009, under the Chairmanship of Professor Gerry Loftus, Professor of Paediatrics, Galway. The Steering Group has...