Health service funding and priorities
Micheál Martin asks about health overspending, Alzheimer’s and dementia strategy, and BreastCheck expansion; the Taoiseach cannot provide full details but agrees to correspond with him.
With regard to the funding of the health service and the commitment on page 6 of the programme for Government to ensure significant cost control, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has highlighted concerns about further overspending by the Department of Health. Will the Taoiseach clarify the position?
I refer to health priorities in the programme for Government. When will the national Alzheimer's disease and dementia strategy be introduced? Where is it now? Will the Taoiseach indicate progress on the extension of BreastCheck to 65 to 69 year old women? Where is the Government in regard to discussions with the Irish Thalidomide Association on further compensation for the victims of thalidomide? There is also a commitment in the programme for Government to legislate to clarify the law surrounding assisted human reproduction, including the law relating to parental relationships arising from assisted human reproduction. Where is that Bill? The programme for Government further states: "We will legislate to regulate stem cell research". Where is that Bill?
Comment on this
The Deputy asked a series of specific questions. I am sorry, but I cannot give him precise information on them. The Minister for Health has had discussions with the thalidomide personnel and I understand good progress has been made in that regard. I am not yet sure of the conclusion.
The profile of spending by the HSE and the Department of Health is much better this year than it has been for some time. The Department and the HSE attend before the Cabinet sub-committee on health. The next meeting is in two weeks when we will have an up-to-date profile of spending. The Minister for Health has been involved in the Presidency and a number of other health matters for some time.
I will have to get the Deputy an update on the Alzheimer's disease legislation, the extension of BreastCheck to women aged between 65 and 69 years, assisted human reproduction and stem cell research. I will send the information to him.
Comment on this
Will the Taoiseach correspond with me on these issues?