Results 13,601-13,620 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: The Government's original intention was to facilitate an inquiry by an Oireachtas Committee into the issues referred to by the Deputy. As this approach has not proved possible, I am examining how best to deal with the issues involved in the case. My Department is currently exploring the options in this regard, including the possibility of a Commission of Investigation under the Commissions...

Written Answers — Medical Research: Medical Research (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 287 together. The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available within my Department. The information sought is extremely broad and detailed in nature, and would require the extensive and costly use of scarce resources. I have asked the Health Research Board to provide the Deputy with a list of the research it is currently funding.

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: Immediately following my appointment as Minister for Health, I set about establishing the Special Delivery Unit, the purpose of which is to unblock access to acute services by improving the flow of patients through the system. The problems in our emergency departments are complex and they did not arise overnight and they will take time to resolve but they are being tackled in a systematic...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: My Department does not collate information in relation to numbers employed in the private health sector. The numbers employed in the public health service in the Management/Administrative grade category (by grade group), as at December 2011 (latest data), are as follows: Numbers employed in the Management/Administrative grade category Grade Group Total WTE excl. Career Break General...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: Immediately following my appointment I set about establishing the Special Delivery Unit to unblock access to acute services by improving the flow of patients through the system. The SDU was established in June last year and quickly began work with the HSE to put in place a systematic approach to eliminate excessive waiting in emergency departments. The SDU is establishing an infrastructure...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: My Department is currently preparing its Programme for the Irish Presidency of the EU Council from January to June 2013. As you will appreciate, discussions are ongoing with the European Commission on its programme, including legislative proposals in the fields of public health, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, narcotics and foodstuffs, which Ireland will be expected to progress during its...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated within my Department and will be forwarded as soon as it is available.

Private Members' Business. Stroke Services: Statements (Resumed) (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: That is a scurrilous statement. The Deputy should not insult workers.

Hospital Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: I have explained in an earlier reply that reducing public service numbers is an integral part of the Government's drive to reduce public expenditure. Health service employee numbers must be reduced to approximately 102,000 by the end of this year and further reductions will be required over the coming years. The regional service plans are currently being finalised and the exact ceiling for...

Hospital Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: It is not true to say the embargo is failing. The Deputy is right to point out the additional costs that agency staff incur. The agency staff directive, which insists that they be given the same terms and conditions as permanent staff, equally indicates that the base rate for agency staff will have to fall. The reason they were paid more was because they did not have the same rights. They...

Hospital Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: The reliance on agency staff has been reduced considerably by the increased use of non-consultant hospital doctors. Waterford Regional Hospital is working with the National Treatment Purchase Fund and the special delivery unit to focus on the strict chronological management of patients. It successfully reached a 12 month maximum waiting time at the end of 2011 and it is making reasonable...

Hospital Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: The note before me does not indicate how many, if any, beds are going to close but the closure of beds will not necessarily result in a reduction in services.

Hospital Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: I am trying to explain to the Deputy that the hospital can make increased use of existing beds, day case surgeries and theatres. The productive theatre initiative in Cork and elsewhere has resulted in a significant increase in the volume of work that theatres can manage. It saved €2.5 million in one year across five theatres. That is only 2.5% of the total number of theatres. I have...

Patient Redress Scheme (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: I thank Deputy Ó Caoláin and his party leader, who may have gone up to the Gallery, for raising this matter. While we have our issues of dispute, we also have our areas of agreement and this is one area in which we were both involved prior to last year's general election. I am committed to finding a mechanism to compensate those women who were excluded on age grounds alone from the Our...

Patient Redress Scheme (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: The commitment in the programme for Government is very clear and it defines the people concerned who were excluded on age grounds alone. In further meetings with Patient Focus I gave an undertaking to review the other cases and that review is ongoing. The Deputy has asked for some certainty and clarity on how much longer this process will take. Having spoken to officials no more than ten...

Patient Redress Scheme (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: I believe I have made my position clear and in so far as I can offer certainty, the certainty I have offered is that in the coming weeks we will be engaging with those who were excluded on age grounds and that I will bring proposals to Cabinet to bring a very stressful situation for them to an end as soon as is practicably possible. Regarding the people who are outside that, whom the Deputy...

Hospital Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: The HSE's national service plan 2012 commits to significantly reducing the volume of agency staff usage, with a target reduction of up to 50%. The plan also notes that the transposition into Irish law of the temporary agency workers directive will increase the unit cost of agency staffing. The service plan contains a commitment that overtime and agency staffing are not to be used to support...

Hospital Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: I thank the Deputy opposite for raising this and I accept her concerns. However, different areas require different skill mixes. There is some rather bad mismatching of some of our services at the moment. I was examining our situation vis-À-vis nursing ratios to health care assistants in some of our community nursing units. In some cases the ratio is not even 1:1 and there are more nurses...