Results 17,581-17,600 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (19 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: Sight testing, eye examinations and optical appliances are provided to medical card holders by ophthalmologists, optometrists and dispensing opticians through the Community Ophthalmic Services Schemes (COSS). Patients may access these services following a referral by a healthcare professional such as their general practitioner. All children, including those not covered by a medical card,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (19 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: GPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community. Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (19 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. I am aware that a significant number of dentists chose to leave the Scheme during the pandemic, which led to difficulties for medical card patients in accessing dental care in some parts of the country, including in counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly. The numbers of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospice Services (19 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: In December 2021 the Government agreed, subject to the necessary approvals and requirements under the Public Spending Code being met, a new National Elective Ambulatory Care Strategy. We are developing additional capacity will be provided through dedicated, standalone Elective Hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin. The locations chosen will allow for new facilities of a size and scale to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Data (19 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (19 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (19 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the NIAC in order to give each child...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Consultations (19 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The Winter Plan 2022/23 was prepared by the HSE and published on the 11th of October 2022. As Minister for Health, I requested that the HSE consult with a wide variety of stakeholders while developing the plan to ensure that their experience's informed the Plan. As the development of the Winter Plan is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Assisted Human Reproduction (19 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 (“the AHR Bill”) passed Second Stage in the Dáil on March 23rd 2022 and has been referred to the Select Committee on Health for Third Stage.  The focus of this Bill is on the regulation, for the first time in this country, of a wide range of assisted human reproduction (AHR) practices...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Budget 2023 (19 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: A significant fund of up to €100m has been allocated this year to support community based service providers who are such an essential pillar in the provision of Health services across country.  This fund is being made available in recognition of the challenges being faced by the sector in delivering and maintaining key health and social care services against a backdrop of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (19 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: Under the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without undue hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure. The issue of granting medical or GP visit cards...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Regulatory Bodies (18 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: CORU is Ireland's multi-profession health regulator. Its role is to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training and competence through statutory registration of health and social care professionals. CORU will open the Social Care Workers Register on the 30 November 2023. This will begin a 2-year transition period during which existing...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (18 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pension Provisions (18 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (18 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The EU Advisory Committee on Health & Safety have recently recommended the recognition of Covid as an occupational illness in health and social care, however Member States vary in respect of their treatment of Covid in this regard. I am advised by officials from the Department of Social Protection who operate the national Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, that Covid-19 does...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (18 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (18 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement decisions under the community schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (18 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The rollout of the Pandemic Recognition Payment for eligible HSE and Section 38 employees is currently receiving priority. As of Friday 30th of September, 85,463 eligible HSE staff have received payment around the country. This number excludes Section 38 agencies which are estimated to have paid 38,287 staff to date thereby bringing the total number of employees paid to 123,750. The HSE and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (18 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: An independent review of the Radiation Therapist profession has been agreed under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. Discussions are ongoing between the parties to finalise a Terms of Reference and appoint an independent chair. As this is an ongoing Industrial Relations process it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (18 Oct 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: An independent radiation therapist review has been agreed under the auspices of the WRC. Discussions are ongoing between the parties to finalise a Terms of Reference and appoint an independent chair. Outcomes of the review will be given due consideration by the Department of Health. As this is an ongoing Industrial Relations process it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.