Results 701-720 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Cancer Incidence: Cancer Incidence (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: The National Cancer Registry of Ireland is the principal source of information on cancer incidence, treatment and survival for the population of Ireland. In 2009, the Registry published An Atlas of Cancer in Ireland 1994-2003. That report described variations in cancer risk (incidence) at electoral district level in Ireland, with the objectives of investigating geographical variation;...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 179 together. As this are service matters, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: Details of the number of medical cards 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. following a review of a person's circumstances. The most recent figures provided to my...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: Under the National Plan for Radiation Oncology (NPRO), there will be a network of four radiotherapy centres and two satellite radiotherapy centres in Ireland by 2014. This development of radiotherapy services nationally is being achieved on a phased basis. Under Phase 1, new facilities at St. James's Hospital and Beaumont Hospital are almost ready with fit-out to be completed by year-end....

Hospitals Building Programme (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: The new national paediatric hospital is a priority for the Government. The capital spending on it will be protected over the full lifetime of the project. The total estimated cost of the development, including the ambulatory and urgent care centre at Tallaght, is €650 million. This is €100 million less than a previous estimate because of the fall in building prices. Of the total...

Hospitals Building Programme (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: I detect the negative tone of the Deputy in the questions. The philanthropic contribution is highly achievable. The new person has a terrific track record in philanthropy. A foundation has been established and has received charitable status from the Revenue Commissioners. The year before last Toronto hospital raised $78 million. I visited the Starship Children's Hospital in New Zealand...

Hospitals Building Programme (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: It is engaging with An Bord Pleanála and expects to be in a position, subject to it approving it as a strategic infrastructure project, to apply for planning permission in the first or second month of next year.

Hospitals Building Programme (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: If it is a strategic infrastructure project the purpose of the legislation was to reduce the timeframe for getting planning permission. The idea is that the construction of the project would begin at the end of next year.

Hospitals Building Programme (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: Yes, and I have been strongly advised that consultants' private rooms and so on will also be involved. It is realistic. I remember answering questions in this House a year ago about whether the funding arrangement we put in place for the cystic fibrosis unit in St. Vincent's Hospital was realistic; of course it was and it was bankable. Manchester spent 40 years bickering about a site. It...

Hospital Staff (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: Since 2005 there has been a 34% increase in the numbers of consultant radiologists, from 183 to 245. Ireland now has a ratio of one consultant radiologist per 17,959 of population, which is similar to the UK at one per 18,040 of population. There are currently 5.54 adult consultant radiologists and two paediatric consultant radiologists at Tallaght Hospital. An additional two locum...

Hospital Staff (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: As Deputy Reilly has acknowledged, the report draws a number of conclusions. First, on the formation and governance of the hospital, there are lessons we need to learn when we are bringing hospitals together. The Tallaght model is not the way to do it. While I understand it happened in the way it did for ethos and other reasons at the time, the hospital, from a board structure, remained an...

Hospital Staff (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: Tallaght hospital has had six CEOs since it was formed. I knew the first CEO, who came from Canada, well. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle was a Minister for Health during some of his tenure. He was a highly impressive individual but for some reason he did not stay very long. I think there is a lesson to be learned from the fact that there has been such a rapid turnover of CEOs; six in ten years...

Hospital Staff (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: The national audit is very close to completion and it is intended that Dr. White will publish its outcome very soon, I believe before Christmas.

Health Services Staff (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: I announced last week that the Government had decided to fund a special voluntary early retirement and severance package in the health sector. The scheme is aimed at management and administrative staff and support grades. There is general acceptance of the need to reduce the numbers of management and administrative staff in the health service and I have referred to this on many occasions....

Health Services Staff (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: To be fair, when people talk about the Department they need to realise they are speaking about organisations such as the Adoption Board, which has 29 employees. They are not all in Hawkins House. While I accept issues were raised around the organisation and management in the Department and perspectives of staff, I believe that the management team in the Department is implementing the change...

Health Services Staff (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: They are part of the staff in the Department. That is the point I was making.

Health Services Staff (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: No, I am simply stating that my Department has reduced its staff by approximately 25%. The Deputy may know, because the Department is dealing with him on his Private Members' Bill, that a very small number of people are in each division of responsibility. This plan is not open to the Civil Service; it is open only to the HSE. The incentivised early retirement scheme is open to public...

General Practitioner Services (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: I strongly support the view that access to General Medical Services, GMS, contracts should be opened up to all qualified and vocationally trained GPs who meet general suitability criteria. The Irish Medical Organisation, the HSE and my Department are parties to the terms of the GMS contract. A consultation group representing all parties to the contract have been reviewing the provisions...

General Practitioner Services (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: I agree with the Deputy's point about the marking system. Changes in that marking system are at an advanced stage in order that preference is not given to the individuals as she suggested, and that is only fair. I have been informed there could be 400 or 500 GPs. The data suggest it is probably close to 500. There are a total of 2,600 GPs in active practice, 300 doctors are working in a...

General Practitioner Services (11 Nov 2010)

Mary Harney: I welcome the Deputy's comments regarding opening up the GMS scheme to all GPs. He is correct that there is a shortage of GPs. We have increased the number of training places this year from 120 to 157. We have also greatly increased the number of medical students. The big challenge will be to keep those students of medicine in Ireland or in medicine anywhere because a fair number of...