Results 9,321-9,340 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Accident and Emergency Services: Accident and Emergency Services (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 to 255, inclusive, together. Improving the delivery of Accident and Emergency services continues to be a high priority for this Government. The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments designed to further improve the delivery of Accident & Emergency services. These are to: Increase the number of A & E consultants available around the...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 to 260, inclusive, together. Tackling all Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) continues to be a priority for the Government and the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE launched a National Infection Control Action Plan in March 2007. An Infection Control Steering Group is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the plan. Over the next...

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 263 together. BreastCheck commenced roll-out in the Western Region in May 2007 and in the Southern region last October. I officially opened the BreastCheck clinical static units in Galway and Cork last December. The expansion of the BreastCheck programme to the Southern region covers counties Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Waterford and Tipperary South...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: It is my objective and that of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to see the earliest delivery of the National Plan for Radiation Oncology (NPRO). Considerable progress is being made in implementing the Plan which is a key deliverable of the HSE National Cancer Control Programme. Additional revenue funding of €3.25m was allocated in 2007 and a further €5m in 2008 to support delivery of...

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: I have received reports and recommendations from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and the National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) on the public health value and cost effectiveness of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine. I will consider all of the advice now available to me to ensure that a policy decision is taken which...

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: To qualify as a clinical psychologist, a post-graduate qualification in clinical psychology must be completed after an initial undergraduate degree in psychology. Post-graduate students are sponsored by health agencies and spend time over three years in clinical placements in different specialties; course work and a thesis must be also satisfactorily completed. For some years the Health...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: In September last year, I established a Cardiovascular Health Policy Group to advise on how to prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular disease and stroke and improve services for individuals affected by these conditions. The National Audit of Stroke Care which was recently published by the Irish Heart Foundation with the support of my Department, has highlighted a number of areas where...

Written Answers — Care of the Elderly: Care of the Elderly (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: The present standards for nursing homes are set out in the 1993 Care and Welfare Regulations and the HSE inspects private nursing homes on the basis of these standards. In January 2007, Minister Harney published Draft National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People. The standards were developed by a working group chaired by DoHC and included the Health Service Executive,...

Written Answers — Health Service Reform: Health Service Reform (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 372 together. The HSE is making progress in the integration of a large number of health sector agencies, in setting and implementing consistent performance standards, and in improving patient care across many different service areas. The HSE endeavours to make constant and continuous improvement. To this end, I meet with the Chairman and CEO of the...

Written Answers — Nursing Education: Nursing Education (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: The further development of the nursing profession has been progressed in several different ways under this Government. The 2007-2012 Programme for Government's commitment to further the development of the nursing profession sought to increase both the status of nurses and midwives and the number of nursing and midwifery posts. It also gave a commitment to keeping the Benchmarking process open...

Written Answers — General Medical Services Scheme: General Medical Services Scheme (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: Under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme general practitioners hold one of two contract types, i.e. the Fee per Item contract (first introduced in 1972) or the Capitation contract (effective from 1989). These contracts reflect the agreed outcome of negotiations between my Department and the GP representative body, the Irish Medical Organisation. Both contract types contain provisions...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: I wish to advise the Deputy that employment in the public health service between 1997 and March 2008, in the Medical/Dental, Nursing, and Health & Social Care Professionals categories, has increased as follows: Grade Category December 1997 March 2008 Change between December 1997 and March 2008 % Change between December 1997 and March 2008 Medical/Dental 4,976 8,007 3,031 +60.91% Nursing...

Written Answers — Health Insurance: Health Insurance (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: Significant progress has been made in relation to the commitment through implementation of the recommendations contained in the market reports of the Competition Authority, the Health Insurance Authority and the Barrington Group that the Government decided would be appropriate to implement. Matters addressed include the removal of the 3 year exemption from risk equalisation, enactment of VHI...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: The areas of health cooperation covered by the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements are being taken forward through the North South Ministerial Council. These include cooperation on Accident & Emergency, Emergency Planning, High Technology, Cancer Research and Health Promotion. Other areas which are currently the subject of cooperation include Suicide, Child Protection and Food Safety. ...

Written Answers — Alcohol and Drug Misuse: Alcohol and Drug Misuse (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: The Government is taking a twin-track approach to tackling alcohol related harm, involving policies and interventions targeted at vulnerable populations and policies targeted at the population at large to reduce the overall level of alcohol misuse in society. Strengthened voluntary codes on advertising and sponsorship which were developed between my Department and representatives of the...

Written Answers — Water Fluoridation: Water Fluoridation (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: The Expert Body on Fluorides and Health has recently awarded a contract to University College Cork to carry out a baseline study to monitor specific effects of the reduction in the level of fluoride in water supplies in Ireland which occurred in July 2007. This baseline study, which will be carried out with the assistance of the HSE, will facilitate the undertaking of the study which is...

Written Answers — Complementary Therapies: Complementary Therapies (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 and 303 together. The Report of the National Working Group on the Regulation of Complementary Therapists in 2006 made recommendations on strengthening the regulatory environment for complementary therapists including voluntary self-regulation for the majority of therapists and statutory regulation for Acupuncturists, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: In December, 2007 I received, from the Dental Council, a draft scheme for the establishment of a class of auxiliary dental worker to be known as Clinical Dental Technician. The Dental Council will establish and maintain the register of Clinical Dental Technicians in Ireland. The scheme sets down the training, qualifications and necessary knowledge for an individual to qualify for inclusion on...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular question raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the...

Written Answers — Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme: Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme (8 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive has responsibility for administering the Repayment Scheme and the information sought by the Deputy relates to matters within the area of responsibility of the Executive. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy.