| Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 10.30 a.m.+   11 o’clock
 12 o’clock  1 o’clock  Priority Questions. Public Sector Reform. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney):  At the request of the Department of Health and Children, a review of the +++++ Deputy Mary Harney: The number of staff in the Department has reduced by 25% since the Health ++++ Deputy Mary Harney: Traditionally, the Department over-concentrated on inputs. As is clear from ++
Hospital Accommodation. Deputy Mary Harney: The most recent information on bed closures in the acute hospital system refers ++++++ Deputy Mary Harney: I wish to explain something to the Deputy because it makes a difference. Many ++ Deputy Mary Harney: The Deputy, if he is being fair, must acknowledge the substantial progress that + Deputy Mary Harney: It has been confirmed by the bed utilisation study and so on. Deputy Mary Harney: I said that “many” of those admitted for less than 48 hours do not require +
Industrial Disputes. Deputy Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive received notice on 22 February from the trade ++ Deputy Mary Harney: To clarify, I have not met with any of the unions. The industrial relations ++ Deputy Mary Harney: Yes, but I must be able to access the information in order to respond +
 3 o’clock Other Questions. Interdepartmental Committees. Deputy Mary Harney: There is increasing recognition that health outcomes are influenced by income, +++++ Deputy Mary Harney: At Cabinet level, it is co-ordinated by what is broadly called the social +++ Deputy Mary Harney: In the current circumstances, the answer to the last question is “No”. The ++ Deputy Mary Harney: I am not certain that proofing every policy would deliver the types of result ++
Health Services. Deputy Mary Harney: As Minister, I am concerned to see that health care is provided in a way that ++++ Deputy Mary Harney: We have been driving down costs. This year we will take €240 million out of +++ Deputy Mary Harney: International evidence supports the opposite. Payment per procedure costs much + Deputy Mary Harney: Doctors who work out of hours are paid a fee per item or per patient. In the +++ Deputy Mary Harney: With regard to Deputy Ó Caoláin’s last question, we now have key performance ++
Cancer Screening Programme. Deputy Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 74 together.++++++ Deputy Mary Harney: All cancer experts would say one must distinguish between urgent and non-urgent, +++ Deputy Mary Harney: We are effectively going to provide a home screening service. The kits will be +++ Deputy Mary Harney: Where somebody requires follow up, either a colonoscopy or treatment, that will +++
Health Service Appointments. Deputy Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 67 together.++++ Deputy Mary Harney: The cost will be €34,000, excluding VAT. I understand the company in question ++ Deputy Mary Harney: Yes. Deputy Mary Harney: Were that the case, it would mean a substantial increase in salary. It is not +
Rare Diseases. Deputy Mary Harney: The term “rare disease” refers to conditions with a low prevalence of no more +++++ Deputy Mary Harney: While I do not have a figure on the numbers involved, it is anticipated that + Deputy Mary Harney: Ireland must produce a national action plan and one is in preparation. +
 4 o’clock  5 o’clock  6 o’clock  7 o’clock  8 o’clock  9 o’clock Written Answers. Health Service Staff. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 79 together.+++++
Private Health Insurance. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Government have been clear in our view that the VHI should achieve +++
Medicinal Products. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 123 together.+++
Health Services. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I understand the Deputy to be referring to the provision of primary care +++++
Private Health Insurance. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): Following the Supreme Court decision of July 2008, which found the Irish Risk +++
Organ Transplants. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I believe that there is a need for a national approach to the organ transplant +
Hospital Accommodation. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 73 and 85 together.++++++
Medical Cards. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Health Service Executive, with my full support, has decided to centralise ++++++ Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 80 together.+++
Legal Services. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The HSE currently outsources all its legal services. The Executive is now +
Hospital Services. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): Approximately 77 million laboratory tests are undertaken annually across 44 +++++
Hospitals Building Programme. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board was established in May 2007. ++
Hospital Accommodation. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): Each hospital funded by the HSE is required to deliver services within the +++
Health Service Staff. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): There are 12 GP specialist training programmes currently in operation, which ++++++++
Accident and Emergency Services. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 120 together.+++++++++ ++++++++
Hospital Facilities. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. +
Medical Cards. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Health Service Executive’s Service Plan for 2010 shows the projected cost +
Primary Care Services. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 90 together. ++
Industrial Relations. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The HSE and my Department are monitoring the evolving situation regarding this +++
Medical Cards. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Health Service Executive (HSE) has the operational responsibility for the +++
Hospitals Building Programme. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): It remains the intention of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to proceed with ++
Organ Transplants. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 144 together.++
Hospital Waiting Lists. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The matter raised by the Deputy relates to the provision of healthcare services +
Cancer Screening Programme. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I take it that the Deputy is referring to a recent Draft Report by the European +++++++
Community Welfare Officers. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The management of the Health Service Executive, the Department of Social and +++
National Drugs Strategy. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 108 together.+++
Proposed Legislation. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As the Deputy will be aware, the current legislation for health and personal ++
Cancer Screening Programme. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The goals of the National Cancer Control Programme are improvements in cancer ++
General Medical Services Scheme. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Minister for Finance announced in the Budget in early December last that ++
Hospital Staff. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 103 together.+++++
General Medical Services Scheme. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Government has approved my proposal to introduce a system of reference ++++
Departmental Staff. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I presume that the Deputy is referring to the Performance Related Awards Scheme +
Hospitals Building Programme. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Renewed Programme for Government re-affirms the Government’s commitment to ++++++
Cancer Screening Programme. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I requested the HSE to initiate a tendering process for the procurement of a ++
Health Services. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. +
Hospital Services. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I wish to advise the Deputy that, due to public service industrial action +++++
Hospital Services. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service +
Departmental Staff. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): Staffing levels for my Department over the coming years are currently the +
Organ Transplants. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. +
Hospital Services. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The latest information from the Health Service Executive (5 February 2010) ++++++++++ ++++++++++ ++++++++++ ++
School Curriculum. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) is embedded in the Social, Personal ++
Medical Cards. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I wrote to all Oireachtas members on 19th January 2010 regarding the Health ++++
Public Sector Reform. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): At the request of the Department of Health and Children, a review of the ++++++++++
Health Services. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service + Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. I +
Medical Cards. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service +
Health Service Staff. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service +
Controlled Substances. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): Benzylpiperazine -1(BZP-1), which had been on sale in so-called ‘head shops’, +
Health Services. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. +
Hospital Waiting Lists. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The management of waiting lists generally is a matter for the HSE and the +
Health Services. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service +
Health Services. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. +
Hospital Acquired Infections. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 160 together.+
Hospital Services. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. + Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I have no function in relation to the day-to-day operation of private hospitals, ++
Hospital Charges. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Information regarding private hospitals activity is not available to my +++
Health Service Staff. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service +
Nursing Education. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The current number of undergraduate nursing degree places, each year, across ++++++++++ +
Hospital Hygiene Audits. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The HSE commissioned national hygiene audits in 2005 and 2006. They continue ++
Hospital Accommodation. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. +
Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Health Service Executive has responsibility for administering the Health ++
Ambulance Service. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. +
Accident and Emergency Services. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service issue, it has been referred to the Health Service ++
Health Services. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service ++ Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I have referred this matter to the HSE for direct reply. I wish to advise the + Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. I +
Health Service Staff. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): To qualify as a clinical psychologist, a post-graduate qualification in ++
Health Services. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As the Deputy’s question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the +
Health Service Staff. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive +
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