Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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415. To ask the Minister for Health if there is a specific financial allocation by the Health Service Executive to patients who suffer from Prader-Willi syndrome or if it is part of the mental health care budget in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4426/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Government is fully committed to ensuring the on-going delivery of vital services and supports to people with disabilities within available resources.

The Health Service Executive's (HSE's) 2015 National Service Plan, including its disability services programme for children and adults with disabilities is detailed in the HSE's 2015 Operational Plan.

In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with the HSE.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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417. To ask the Minister for Health if he or his Department is currently examining alternatives models of health care funding to that proposed in the White Paper on Universal Health Insurance published April 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4428/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I have established a three-year Research Programme in Healthcare Reform with the ESRI. The research programme uses economic analysis to explore issues in relation to health services and health spending as well as population health.

The immediate priority of the ESRI research programme is to examine the cost implications of a change to a multi-payer, universal health insurance model, as proposed in the White Paper on Universal Health Insurance. This analysis will include, among other things, a review of evidence of the effects on healthcare spending of alternative systems of financing and of changes in financing methods and entitlements.

This work is a key component of the major UHI costing exercise which is currently under way in my Department in conjunction with the ESRI, the Health Insurance Authority and others. I expect to have the initial results in April. These results will assist the Government in developing a road map on the next steps to UHI.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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418. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department will provide funding to a cardiac first-responder group (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4433/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I would encourage the Deputy, if he has not already done so, to direct the particular Group to the National First Responder Network www.cfr.ie who may be able to assist with relevant information regarding equipment.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.