Results 50,981-51,000 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Health Board Funding: Health Board Funding (10 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 354 and 355 together. The additional moneys, €857,000, allocated to the Southern Health Board in 2003 arose out of consideration of revised proposals from that board earlier in the year. This decision was taken after careful consideration of the applications from all boards for the available funding under this heading. The allocation sought and granted...

Written Answers — Health Board Services: Health Board Services (10 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: Responsibility for the provision of orthodontic treatment to eligible persons in County Mayo rests with the Western Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officer to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (10 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: Responsibility for the provision of a medical card is, by legislation, a matter for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board or authority. My Department has, therefore, asked the CEO of the South Eastern Health Board to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.

Written Answers — Health Board Services: Health Board Services (10 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: The current waiting time in the North Western Health Board region in respect of cervical smears is four weeks for priority smears and 16 weeks for routine smears. The North Western Health Board will continue to make efforts to reduce the waiting times further.

Written Answers — Health Board Services: Health Board Services (10 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: The provision of orthodontic services is the statutory responsibility of the health boards or authority in the first instance. The aim of my Department is to develop the treatment capacity of orthodontics, both nationally and in the North Western Health Board or NWHB, in a sustainable way over the longer term. Given the potential level of demand for orthodontic services, the provision of...

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (10 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: The national roll-out of BreastCheck, which I announced last year, requires detailed planning to include essential infrastructure. The BreastCheck clinical unit in the western area will be at University College Hospital, Galway, with two associated mobile units. The area of coverage is counties Galway, Sligo, Roscommon, Donegal, Mayo, Leitrim, Clare and Tipperary North Riding. A capital...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (10 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: At my request, Comhairle na nOspidéal established a committee to examine existing arrangements for the provision of consultant level neurology and neurophysiology services nationally and to make recommendations on the future organisation and development of those services. Comhairle na nOspidéal has now published its report and, having considered it, I am happy to endorse its recommendations...

Written Answers — Smoking Ban: Smoking Ban (10 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: Environmental health officers from the health boards and staff from the Office of Tobacco Control authorised under the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002 will be monitoring compliance with the smoke-free workplace regulations when made. The Health and Safety Authority, which is the statutory body with responsibility for health and safety in the workplace, will also be involved with monitoring...

Written Answers — Health Board Services: Health Board Services (10 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: The provision of orthodontic services is a matter for the health boards in the first instance. I have taken a number of measures to improve orthodontic services on a national basis. The grade of specialist in orthodontics has been created in the health board orthodontic service. In 2003, my Department and the health boards funded 13 dentists from various health boards for specialist in...

Written Answers — Health Board Services: Health Board Services (10 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: According to figures made available to my Department by the health boards, there are ten consultant orthodontists employed in the health boards and authority public orthodontic service. In addition, my Department funded 13 dentists from various health boards to obtain specialist in orthodontics qualifications at training programmes in Ireland and at three separate universities in the United...

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (10 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: Decisions regarding the work of the acute hospitals review group are a matter for its independent chairperson. I understand that the first meeting of the group has been scheduled for 19 February. It will be a matter for the chairperson to decide whether this meeting will proceed. In the meantime, the analytical and research work for the group, which is provided by a secretariat from my...

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (10 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: The Government approved the publication of the report of the national task force on medical staffing, or the Hanly report, in October 2003 and is committed in principle to the implementation of its recommendations. Those recommendations include a number of measures which, far from precipitating mass emigration, are expected to improve significantly the retention in Ireland of the doctors who...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available at present. I am having the information collated and will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mahon Tribunal: Statements. (10 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: If they can get one.

Health Centres. (3 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to speak on this important matter. The provision of health centres to meet the needs of local communities within its functional area is a matter for the relevant health board or the Eastern Regional Health Authority. In the case of Ballymun that responsibility rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the Northern Area Health Board. The...

Irish Blood Transfusion Service. (3 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is inspected twice yearly by the Irish Medicines Board, which is the regulatory authority for the service. The Irish Medicines Board identified a number of deficiencies following an inspection of the service's Cork centre between 3 and 5 December 2003. A presentation on the board's findings was made by the IMB's acting chief executive officer at the IBTS...

Hospital Inquiry. (3 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for raising these issues on the Adjournment. I take this opportunity to offer my deepest sympathy to the Sheridan family on the death of Frances. I do not propose to comment on the specific circumstances of the case in respect of the family's privacy at this time. In addition, the State pathologist has conducted a post mortem, the results of which are awaited. This...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (3 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: Entitlement to health services in Ireland is primarily based on residency and means rather than income. Any person, regardless of nationality, who is accepted by the health boards as being ordinarily resident in Ireland is entitled to either full eligibility, category 1 — medical card holders, or limited eligibility, category 2, for health services. Health boards normally regard a person as...

Written Answers — Long-Term Illness Scheme: Long-Term Illness Scheme (3 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: Under the Health Act 1970, a health board may make arrangements for the supply without charge of drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances to people suffering from any of the following conditions, who are not already medical card holders, for the treatment of that condition under the long-term illness, LTI, scheme: mental handicap; mental illness, for persons under 16 years only;...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (3 Feb 2004)

Micheál Martin: Responsibility for the provision of hospital services to residents of Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has therefore asked the regional chief executive of the authority to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to her directly.