Results 17,641-17,660 of 45,789 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital Administration (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: An independent review into the cost escalation associated with the new children’s hospital construction project was commissioned to understand the reasons for the cost escalation, with the primary focus of the review being on the governance and management arrangements in place within and between the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) and Executive, Design Team,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: The LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida;...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Maternity Strategy Implementation (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Ireland’s first National Maternity Strategy was published in 2016 and is currently being implemented on a phased basis by the National Women & Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) in the HSE. Realising the vision articulated in the Strategy requires a fundamental restructuring of maternity service delivery, as well as significant investment over the lifetime of the Strategy. This...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Legislation (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, it is my intention to introduce legislation to ensure safe access to premises in which termination of pregnancy services may be provided. It was originally intended to provide for safe access in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, but a number of legal issues were identified during the drafting process. In order to allow full...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Overcrowding (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: I am committed to tackling the key challenges our health service faces in relation to long waiting times and hospital overcrowding. Improving timely access to care for patients is at the heart of Sláintecare. Building upon the progress made in recent years in this area, the Sláintecare Action Plan 2019 published by my Department, includes a specific work stream on Access and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, the Oireachtas put in place a strong legal framework, in the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, to give full statutory powers to the HSE to assess and make decisions on reimbursement of medicines, taking account of a range of objective factors and expert opinion as appropriate. In the case of Spinraza, following detailed consideration of an...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Regulation (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: My Department and the HSE are engaging in a number of initiatives which will endeavour to lead to better access to medicines for patients, value for the taxpayer and the cost- effective provision of medicines in Ireland. A public consultation on a National Biosimilar Medicines Policy was undertaken by my Department in 2017. The responses to that consultation and other possible policy...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Respiratory disease refers to a wide range of conditions of which there are many underlying contributory factors including genetic factors, early life events, nutritional factors, environmental factors, occupational exposures and smoking . The term respiratory disease includes lung cancer, COPD, asthma, pneumonia, influenza, TB, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, sarcoidosis,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments Services (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: I am conscious that the Outpatient Waiting List remains a significant challenge as demand for acute hospital services continues to grow. Reducing waiting time for patients for hospital appointments and procedures is a key priority for Government and the Sláintecare Action Plan 2019 which was published by my Department, includes a specific workstream on Access and Waiting Lists. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staff Recruitment (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: There is no recruitment embargo in place in the HSE. However, in recent months, officials from my Department have been engaging intensively with the HSE in reaching agreement on a Pay and Numbers Strategy for 2019. The key focus in developing the strategy is to ensure that affordable and appropriate recruitment decisions are made by the HSE and that they need to operate within its pay...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Occupational Therapy Waiting Lists (15 May 2019)

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: National Children's Hospital (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has statutory responsibility for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital. I have referred your question to the NPHDB for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital Expenditure (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: An independent review into the cost escalation associated with the new children’s hospital construction project was commissioned to understand the reasons for the cost escalation. PwC conducted this review. The review Report, "New Children's Hospital Independent Review of escalation in costs", was published on 9 April 2019. The Report found that the Definitive Business Case...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: The 2019 National Service Plan set out a budget of over €16 billion for the HSE, the highest budget ever allocated. The Health budget was increased by €848 million on 2018, a substantial additional level of funding. The amount allocated follows an extensive process of engagement between my Department and the HSE, which considers both the funding requirements as submitted by the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Practitioners (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Where a medical practitioner has been convicted of a criminal offence, it is usual that the practitioner is referred to the Medical Council or the Council takes the initiative when the Council becomes aware that a medical practitioner has been convicted of a criminal offence through another avenue such as a complaint, court report, media, etc. When the Medical Council becomes aware of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: To practice medicine in Ireland a doctor must be registered with the Medical Council. The Medical Council reviews the doctor’s qualifications to ascertain which division on the register the doctor may be registered on as set out in the Medical Practitioners Act 2007. It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure a doctor they are hiring is registered on the correct division of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Consultant Recruitment (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 156 together. As the recruitment of staff is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Consultant Recruitment (15 May 2019)

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