Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 589: To ask the Minister for Health if public funding will be provided to a person (details supplied) in County Galway through the Health Service Executive to enable the person to access treatment in England that cannot be provided here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26950/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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In relation to the case referred to by the Deputy I understand that on 25 July an application was received, on behalf of the person in question, in the offices of HSE West for treatment under the E112 Treatment Abroad Scheme.

A report has been obtained from the HSE on the application for funding, and the subsequent appeal of the initial decision. Unfortunately the decision of the Executive, which the appeals officer has upheld, is that the application does not meet the conditions of the scheme and funding cannot therefore be provided.

I understand that the application was not approved due to the fact that a treatment plan is available locally in Galway and the view of the treating Consultant Psychiatrist is that this treatment plan should be availed of in the first instance. I have been informed that the person in question was admitted to the Psychiatric Unit in her area on 26 August 2011 following self presentation and is now under the care of a Consultant Psychiatrist. It is the Consultant Psychiatrist's view that while the person in question could benefit from admission to the therapeutic service in the UK, there are treatment services available here from which the patient would benefit and these should be used in the first instance. The Consultant Psychiatrist will continue to consider the request for treatment abroad whilst the person in question is under the care of their team.