Results 11,861-11,880 of 45,563 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Access (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) Regulations 2020 (SI No. 121 of 2020) were signed by the Minister for Health on 7 April 2020. Schedule 2 of the Regulations sets out essential services that are exempted from the restrictions and therefore can continue to be provided. This includes (at 15(b)) podiatry services as these services are provided...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: As the HSE has responsibility, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The HSE provides dental care to children under 16 and special needs patients through its dental clinics.  Independent dental practitioners provide care to medical card holders through the Dental Treatment Services Scheme; to the self-employed and retired people who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions through the Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme; and to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: As the HSE has responsibility, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge that it is critically important for the Irish health service to develop the capability and capacity to project its health and social care workforce requirements to enable more effective and efficient planning. Work is well underway in relation to implementing the actions stemming from the National Strategic Framework on Health and Social Care Workforce Planning, including...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The Government published its Action Plan in Response to Covid-19, on March 16 2020. In anticipation of the projected surge in Covid-19 cases and the expected impact on the health care system, a major part of the Action Plan was to urgently ramp up capacity for acute hospital care facilities.  A critical element of the strategy was to put in place an arrangement with the private hospitals...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Maternity Hospital (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I welcome the announcement by the Religious Sisters of Charity that the Vatican has approved the transfer of the Sister's shareholding in St Vincent's Healthcare Group (SVHG) to a new company, St Vincent’s Holdings CLG.  This development will remove any remaining concerns that religious influence might be brought to bear on the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH).  It also...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Data (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The Government published the National Action Plan in Response to Covid-19, on March 16 2020. In anticipation of the projected surge in Covid-19 cases and the expected impact on the health care system, a major part of the Action Plan was to urgently ramp up capacity for acute hospital care facilities. A critical element of the strategy was to put in place an arrangement with the private...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Under the Infectious Diseases Regulations 1981, and subsequent amendments, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre is authorised by law to collect information from doctors and laboratories, via Medical Officers of Health, about diagnoses of certain infectious diseases in Ireland. These diseases are referred to as notifiable diseases. The most recent amendment to the Regulations is the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business, published on 1 May 2020, sets out an indicative path to the easing of COVID 19 restrictions and other actions in order to facilitate the reopening Ireland’s society and economy in a phased manner. The Roadmap specifies that decisions in relation to which actions will be taken and which public health measures...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Reducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for Government. In recent years, my Department has worked with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and made considerable improvements to improve access for patients waiting for high volume procedures, including cataracts. At the end of July 2017, the number of people waiting for a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: As the HSE has responsibility, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The modification of public health measures approved by Government on 15 May include allowing the phased return of outdoor workers from 18 May with social distancing requirements continuing to apply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: A major part of the Government’s Action Plan in Response to Covid-19 was to urgently ramp up capacity for acute care facilities. A critical element of the strategy was to put in place an arrangement with the private hospitals to use their facilities as part of the public system, to provide essential acute hospital services for the duration of the emergency. Following negotiations...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Contracts (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The Department of Health spent approximately €1.3 million on external consultants in 2019. It should be noted that not all invoices included hourly/daily rates, of those that did, the average hourly rate was €95 ex VAT. Where daily rates were quoted, a calculation was made based on a 7.5 hour working day. The estimate for consultancy expenditure is set as part of the annual...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I will do my very best. First, I congratulate the Deputy on his election as chair of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response-----

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: -----and look forward to any co-operation my Department can provide him with in discharging his duties. It will be an important role. I gave figures earlier regarding the enhanced nurse contract. When I was last asked about this in this House last month, just over 3,000 staff nurses had been appointed to the new scale. That was up from 700 in February. I believe the number is...