191. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners suitably qualified and currently engaged by the Health Service Executive to administer the methadone maintenance programme; if he will provide a breakdown of the location and number of each such general practitioner by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26474/15]
190. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a detailed breakdown, in tabular form, of the amounts spent on the methadone maintenance programme, including medicine costs, general practitioner fees, pharmacy fees and the costs of other ancillary and-or related services in each of the years from 2009 to 2014; the estimated spend for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26473/15]
178. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the issue of the diversion of methadone provided under the methadone maintenance programme to the illicit drugs trade; if his Department has tracked or analysed the extent of the problem; if he will provide an estimate of the cost to the Exchequer as a result of this diversion; the measures his Department has implemented to tackle this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26485/15]
177. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a new misuse of drugs Bill will be enacted; the measures that will be included in this legislation to combat the illicit drug trade and facilitate addiction treatment services; if he is satisfied with the time being taken to introduce this legislation; if he is in a position to fast-track this legislation to ensure it is enacted by the end of 2015, in view of the urgency needed to combat drug-related criminality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26484/15]
176. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of times since the current Government took office that he has met the Minister of State with responsibility in the area of drugs to discuss the national drugs strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26483/15]
148. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of times since the current Government took office that she has met directly the Minister for Health to discuss the national drugs strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26483/15]
147. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a breakdown of the total value of the illicit drugs market; if she will provide a further breakdown of value by each drug type; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26482/15]
146. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total amount spent by her Department on tackling drug-related crime in each of the years 2009 to 2014; the estimated spend in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26481/15]
471. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason Tallaght hospital, Letterkenny General Hospital, the South Infirmary - Victoria University Hospital Cork, Cork University Hospital, Waterford regional hospital, the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Mallow General Hospital, the Midland Regional Hospital at Tullamore, Portiuncula Hospital, the Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar, Kerry General Hospital, the Mercy University Hospital, Cork, the Mater hospital Dublin, the Midland Regional Hospital at Portlaoise and University Hospital Limerick recorded more persons waiting more than two years for an outpatient appointment in December 2014 than were waiting one year for an outpatient appointment in December 2013; if such a disparity undermines public confidence in hospital waiting list data; and if he will instigate an inquiry into this matter. [26319/15]
439. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of public or voluntary hospitals that carry out endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; the number of persons waiting as of 22 June 2015 or the nearest available date for such a procedure at each of the hospitals in the following waiting periods: less than three months; between three months and six months; between six months and nine months; between nine months and 12 months; and more than 12 months. [26023/15]
438. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of public or voluntary hospitals that carry out electroencephalograms; the number of persons waiting as of 22 June 2015 or the nearest available date for such a procedure at each of the hospitals in the following waiting periods: less than three months; three months to six months; six months to nine months; nine months to 12 months; and more than 12 months. [26022/15]
437. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of public or voluntary hospitals that carry out angiograms; the number of persons waiting as of 22 June 2015 or the nearest available date for such a procedure at each of the hospitals in the following waiting periods: less than three months; three months to six months; six months to nine months; nine months to 12 months; and more than 12 months. [26021/15]
436. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of public or voluntary hospitals that carry out bone scans; and the number of persons waiting as of 22 June 2015 or the nearest available date for such a procedure at each of the hospitals in the following waiting periods: less than three months; between three months and six months; between six months and nine months; between nine months and 12 months; and more than 12 months. [26020/15]
435. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of public or voluntary hospitals that carry out computed tomography, CT; and the number of persons waiting as of 22 June 2015 or the nearest available date for such a procedure at each of the hospitals in the following waiting periods: less than three months; between three months and six months; between six months and nine months; between nine months and 12 months; and more than 12 months. [26019/15]
434. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of public or voluntary hospitals that carry out magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, scans; and the number of persons waiting as of 22 June 2015 or the nearest available date for such a procedure at each of the hospitals in the following waiting periods: less than three months; between three months and six months; between six months and nine months; between nine months and 12 months; and more than 12 months. [26018/15]
429. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of ambulance attendances at each emergency department in March 2015; the number of cases where ambulances waited longer than 20 minutes, 40 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 120 minutes and 180 minutes to hand over patients, get their trolleys back and return to responding to calls. [25996/15]
427. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a residential place will be made available for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16 who has been on a waiting list since 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25992/15]
424. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update and timeframe as to when a person (details supplied) in County Dublin will receive a refund of a prescription charge for which the person applied in October 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25962/15]
416. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form for April 2014 and April 2015 for each local health area the number of medical cards in circulation generally and for those over 70 years of age; and if he will provide for each of these the number which were issued on a discretionary basis [25874/15]
402. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards and general practitioner visit cards as of 1 June 2015; and the number for each type of card issued on a discretionary basis on that date. [25688/15]
287. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the processes or procedures in place to monitor the number of civil servants or public servants who are directly related, that is, a child or a sibling, to current or former civil servants or public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26305/15]
274. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the procedures in place and the processes that should be followed by persons wishing to bring a complaint against the Office of the Ombudsman. [26072/15]
166. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form by county, the number of persons being impacted on by the changes being introduced to the one-parent family payment on 1 July 2015. [25883/15]
205. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health with regard to the European working time directive, and the April 2015 Health Service Executive performance report which states that compliance with a maximum 48-hour week was at 70%, as of end April 2015, and given that the rate of improvement in this area since the start of 2014 slowed significantly in September 2014, and given the general assumption that further meaningful improvements are dependent on acute service reconfiguration, if he will outline the acute service reconfiguration that is envisaged to improve compliance. [25652/15]
179. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason that the number of intensive home care packages was almost two thirds under target in April 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25567/15]
177. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his views on claims that one in three of the persons currently in nursing homes could live at home if they were supported to do so; that the number of Ireland's older generation in nursing homes is 35% greater than the average in the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25565/15]
158. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of symposiums and conferences organised by officials in his Department since 9 March 2011, with regard to the proposed introduction of universal health insurance; the details of same; and the costs and expenses incurred in each. [25443/15]
157. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of overseas study visits undertaken by officials of his Department since 9 March 2011 with regard to the proposed introduction of universal health insurance; the details and destinations for each; and the costs and expenses incurred in each. [25442/15]
198. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 18 June 2015, if it is the case that the reconfiguration of the 33 acute surgical beds in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9 will result in an immediate loss of ten high-observation beds that the Hardwicke ward currently provides, as well as five single rooms that are used to nurse surgical patients who may require isolation for specific reasons, and that the three other surgical wards that Beaumont has stated will be ring-fenced for surgical patients will not be in any position to increase their high-observation bed capacity at the present time due to the current staffing levels. [25398/15]
187. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in his Department assigned to the universal health insurance unit at the end of 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, and the number currently assigned to it. [25212/15]
494. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently being treated by podiatrists at the centre in Grattan Street in Cork; his plans to replace the two podiatrists who have left the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25149/15]
493. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if funds will be provided to upgrade facilities at Cuan Dara in Cherry Orchard Hospital in Dublin 10, to make them wheelchair friendly and accessible, to cater for the needs of patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25148/15]
489. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if a primary care centre is planned for Cobh in County Cork; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25118/15]
476. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the costs incurred by his Department since April 2014 in commissioning external expertise and advice on the development of a universal health insurance model. [24983/15]
449. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of home help hours provided in each local health office area, for every month in 2015 to date; and, for every month and each local health office, the way it compares against target. [24858/15]
448. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the grant scheme put in place to remove lead water pipes; if he has concerns regarding the health of the general public who are exposed to lead pipes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24823/15]
406. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when Voluntary Health Insurance will publish its annual reports and accounts for 2014. [24541/15]
405. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he expects Voluntary Health Insurance to acquire the necessary fund for reserves to make an application for authorisation by the Central Bank of Ireland by 30 June 2015. [24540/15]
402. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health in view of the revised costs for free general practitioner care for those under six years of age, his Department's current estimate of the full year cost of providing free general practitioner care to the population as a whole. [24483/15]
401. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the Health Service Executive’s financial position; the net current deficit of the executive against profile at the end of May 2015; the latest projection for the overall deficit in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24480/15]
345. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel who are directly related, for example, a child or sibling of other serving members of the Defence Forces; and the number of Defence Forces personnel who are directly related, as above, to former members of the Defence Forces. [24922/15]
237. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the State is failing to accommodate special needs children in pre-school year with a special needs assistant, resulting in special needs children not being able to avail of the free pre-school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24331/15]
219. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital consultants taking legal action against the State over breach of contract. [24380/15]
218. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide a permanent computerised axial tomography, CAT, scan laboratory facility at Sligo Hospital. [24377/15]
217. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the amount the Health Service Executive spent on agency staff in May 2015; the proportion of the executive’s anticipated agency staff expenditure for 2015 that was incurred in May 2015; the way the May 2015 expenditure on agency staff compares to May 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24358/15]
216. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the amount the Health Service Executive spent on agency staff in April 2015; the proportion of the executive’s anticipated agency staff expenditure for 2015 that was incurred in April 2015; the way the April 2015 expenditure on agency staff compares to April 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24357/15]
204. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, has made a decision to re-assign a surgical ward (details supplied) into a long-term care of the elderly ward; if he will ascertain the assessment of the impact of the loss of 34 surgical beds on patient outcomes that has been undertaken by Beaumont Hospital; the way such a move may improve the situation for the 6,162 persons on the day case / in patient waiting lists in the hospital, which is the second highest number in the country, and an increase of more than 1,000 over the past twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24234/15]
201. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Dublin will be admitted to Saint James Hospital for a hernia repair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24226/15]
194. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason the State is failing to accommodate special needs children in preschool year with a special needs assistant, resulting in special needs children not being able to avail of the free preschool year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24332/15]
52. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the estimated full year cost of restoring the respite grant to the level it was prior to the 2013 budget. [24397/15]