Results 12,061-12,080 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (13 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 to 109, inclusive, together. In order to provide the Deputy with the estimates of cost requested, it is necessary to obtain detailed current cost information from the Health Service Executive (HSE). My Department has requested the relevant information from the HSE and on receipt of this will be in a position to prepare the cost estimates sought and to...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (13 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together. Details of the numbers of medical card and GP visit card holders are provided to my Department each month by the Health Service Executive. 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...

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (13 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: The numbers of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals employed in the public health system have increased significantly in recent years, in tandem with the high level of investment in the development in new services. In December 2006, a revised employment ceiling for the health service of 108,000 expressed in whole time equivalents was sanctioned, representing an increase of...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (13 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address this matter and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — General Medical Services Scheme: General Medical Services Scheme (13 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: I wish to advise the Deputy that the product named by him is in fact available under the GMS and community drugs schemes.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (13 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra) and Cialis are licensed in Ireland and reimbursable under the GMS and community drugs schemes. In order to ensure availability for genuine need, but to reduce the possibility of inappropriate usage, the maximum reimbursable level for Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra) under all schemes is four tablets per month. This is in accordance with the findings of the Expert...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy will be aware my Department is not one of the Departments scheduled for decentralisation under the Government's Decentralisation Programme. The Health Information and Quality Authority which was formally established this year is encompassed by the Decentralisation Programme. Its headquarters are located in Cork.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (13 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: My Department has not made any payment in advance for works or services that will not be commenced before the end of 2007. The position in relation to agencies is a matter for the agencies themselves.

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (13 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: I take it the Deputy is referring to the co-location initiative. The initiative is designed to ensure that private beds in public hospitals are freed up for the use of public patients by having co-located private hospital beds built on public hospital sites. Successful bidders for 6 co-location sites have been selected and University College Hospital Galway is not among these sites....

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (13 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: As Minister for Health and Children I am responsible for the legislative, policy and resource framework for our system of health and social services. Broadly speaking, in addition to discharging overall responsibilities on behalf of the Government for the resourcing of these services, this involves setting, evaluating and developing policies for the sector. I am supported in the discharge of...

Written Answers — Water Fluoridation: Water Fluoridation (12 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: The effectiveness of water fluoridation in preventing dental decay continues to be endorsed by a comprehensive range of international bodies including the World Health Organization, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Public Health Service and the United States Surgeon General, the FDI World Dental Federation and the International Association for Dental Research....

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (12 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: The review of mammograms at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise is complete. A report on the review will be published by the HSE after any individual identified in it has been offered the opportunity to comment, as is the normal legal requirement. A separate clinical review of ultrasounds at Portlaoise was completed last week and no cancers were detected in this review. A report on...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (12 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 120 together. 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, including the payment of travel allowances to eligible personnel, has been provided as part of its overall vote. The Executive is the...

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (12 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: I have had enquiries made of the Irish Medicines Board, which is the expert authority in Ireland regarding medicinal products, and I am advised that paediatric vaccines, including the DTP vaccine, do not contain mercury or mercury compounds.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (12 Dec 2007)

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 case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (12 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together. Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (12 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The Executive...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (12 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: Medical cards are made available to persons and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of General Practitioner (GP) services. In 2005 the GP visit card was introduced as a graduated benefit so that people on moderate and lower incomes, particularly parents of young children, who do not qualify for a medical card would not be deterred on cost...

Written Answers — Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme: Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme (12 Dec 2007)

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.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (12 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: Medical cards are made available to persons and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of General Practitioner (GP) services. In 2005 the GP visit card was introduced as a graduated benefit so that people on moderate and lower incomes, particularly parents of young children, who do not qualify for a medical card would not be deterred on cost grounds...