Cathal Crowe
Ceist:686. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if a social prescribers programme is operating in Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18030/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth Promotion
Ceisteanna (686)
Freagraí scríofa
Evidence shows that social isolation is a significant issue for population health, with links to a multiple of chronic health conditions. The pandemic was a major contributory factor to increases in social isolation and the 2021 Healthy Ireland Survey, carried out while significant restrictions were still in place, found a significant increase in isolation and a decrease in the proportion of the population reporting positive mental health. Mental health measures had improved somewhat, when measured again in the 2023 Healthy Ireland Survey, but were still lower than when measured before the pandemic, in 2016.
Social prescribing is a key means of linking patients, through primary care, with community-based supports, including arts and creativity, physical activity, group supports, green activity and computerised therapy. It has been shown to result in positive emotional, cognitive and social outcomes, and to reduce social exclusion for disadvantaged, isolated, lonely and vulnerable people, many of whom live with depression and anxiety.
In 2021, following pilots in a number of regions of the country, the HSE published its Social Prescribing Framework to set out a common approach to the mainstreaming, integration and delivery of social prescribing across the organisation. Social Prescribing is a key part of health service provision and is being integrated across Community Healthcare Networks in line with the HSE Social Prescribing Framework and is also identified as a priority in the HSE Mental Health Promotion Plan Stronger Together.
Social prescribing is now receiving very significant annual funding and supports from this Government and is delivered by the HSE and community partners. It received a total allocation of €2.68 million in 2023, increasing the number of link workers to 40 across the country. 20 of these link workers are located within the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme areas.
Sláintecare Healthy Communities (SHC) is a cross-Government initiative that delivers health and wellbeing services and supports to 20 community areas of greatest need across Ireland. Social prescribing is integrated into the SHC programme and is being provided in each community via local development companies and family resource centres.
Social Prescribing Link Workers in each SHC area empower individuals to access local services to improve their mental health and wellbeing. To enable this, the link workers establish strong relationships with a range of health services locally, including primary care, mental health, community dieticians, self-management support programmes etc. At present. across the 20 areas, there are approximately 500 new open social prescribing cases per quarter.
The HSE Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons (ICPOP) programme have set up and will provide a specialist service to older people, similar to services provided by Social Prescribing Link Workers – known as a Community Connector. This is a specialist service for a specific cohort of older patients upon discharge from ICPOP and is being piloted across the HSE (one per CHO).
HSE Health & Wellbeing are putting multiple supports in place for standardised and nationwide implementation of social prescribing, including establishing an HSE Social Prescribing Advisory Group and developing an e-learning module for health professionals and an Outcomes Framework on social prescribing.
All social prescribing services are delivered by community and voluntary organisations in partnership with the HSE. For a list of HSE funded social prescribing services see: allirelandsocialprescribing.ie/members-map/
Further information on social prescribing and how to access it, including via self-referral, is available on the HSE website, under social prescribing.
As the details of local provision and service planning in Co. Clare are matters for the HSE, I have asked them to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (687)
Aindrias Moynihan
Ceist:687. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he can provide details of the current levels of staffing for Cork University Hospital's paediatric epilepsy services; the number of positions which are currently vacant; the number of recruitment processes which are underway (if any) to fill these vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18031/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (688)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:688. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will outline plans his Department has to recruit dentists into the HSE dental service so that the huge backlog of children awaiting dental treatment in CHO3 can be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18032/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Health Service Executive
Ceisteanna (689)
Robert Troy
Ceist:689. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health to arrange for a proper boundary wall to be erected between Lakepoint housing estate and the HSE building in Lakepoint, Mullingar, as there is currently a timber fence at this location but a proper wall needs to be built to discourage people climbing over the timber fence. [18047/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
Health Services
Ceisteanna (690)
Joe McHugh
Ceist:690. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with representatives of a group (details supplied) in Donegal to address the current crisis in the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18075/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Diabetes is a complex condition that can require management across the entire spectrum of healthcare delivery, including self-management support as well as care delivered through general practice, community specialist care and hospital inpatient specialist care.
I am aware of the needs of the diabetes community and the challenges faced by those living with the condition. Officials in my Department are engaging with the HSE Diabetes clinical team in consideration of the future development of diabetes related services.
With respect to Diabetes services in Donegal, as this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
Medical Internships
Ceisteanna (691)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:691. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the current anomaly whereby Irish medical students who studied in Northern Ireland are classed as a tier-two applicant for the internship programme in the HSE; if he will commit to reviewing the current process for internship placement allocation so this is no longer the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18089/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Irish medical students who graduate from Northern Ireland are eligible to apply for internship in the Republic of Ireland. Under the current application process, all eligible CAO and non-CAO EEA work permit exempt applicants have been allocated an intern post each year since 2016.
All eligible EU citizens and UK citizens who have applied for internship in Ireland have received an offer of internship. This allows Irish graduates from other medical schools the opportunity to return to the State as doctors and, following successful completion of internship, continue specialty training in Ireland.
The number of internship posts has been permanently increased since 2021 with the establishment of 145 new intern places. Since 2021 every eligible applicant, both EEA and Non-EEA, who has applied has received an offer of an internship. In 2022 and 2023, despite all eligible candidates receiving an offer of internship, there were vacancies remaining in the intern programme.
The Department and the HSE will continue to keep the current policy on intern allocation under review to ensure that the policy continues to support the development and growth of the medical workforce.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (692)
Ciarán Cannon
Ceist:692. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Health for an update on the planned disposal of the St. Brigid’s Hospital Campus in Ballinasloe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18117/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (693)
Ciarán Cannon
Ceist:693. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Health for details of the staffing required for the new 50-bed ward block at Portiuncula University Hospital; whether such requirements will be met when the new ward block is complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18118/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Period Poverty
Ceisteanna (694)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:694. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will increase the €200 thousand share of funding for Naughton + Smyth framework for the provision of period products to higher-education institutions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18090/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Allocation of funding under the Naughton and Smyth framework does not fall under the remit of my department. This funding was allocated under the Department of Health.
The provision of period products in publicly funded educational settings is a Programme for Government commitment.
My Department has been involved in a number of initiatives to ensure that no students are disadvantaged in their education by period indignity. These include the following:
• worked collaboratively with the Department of Health and the OGP on the development of a drawdown contract for the provision of period products in education establishments and other public institutions.
• in conjunction with the ETBs, development of a pilot called ‘Worryfree’ which was rolled out to nine further education and training colleges across six Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The pilot delivered free, sustainable period products and dispensers for students in participating ETBs.
• active participation on the Period Poverty Implementation Group chaired by the Department of Health
As the Deputy may be aware, Higher Education Institutions have also been working to ensure free period products are available on campus, such as ‘Code Red’ in MTU, ‘Any time of the month’ in University Limerick (UL), Brigit’s Basket in the National College of Ireland (NCI). The End Period Poverty campaign in UCD. DCU & Mary Immaculate College (MIC) also have similar initiatives currently running. DCU have also devised a postal service for students who are unable to access the products on campus.
I expect to be making an announcement on this matter shortly.
Third Level Education
Ceisteanna (695, 696)
Patrick Costello
Ceist:695. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on Trinity College’s policy (details supplied) which prevents any external tour guides from using the campus and/or Book of Kells for guiding purposes. [17314/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraPatrick Costello
Ceist:696. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on Trinity College’s policy (details supplied) which prevents any external tour guides from using the campus and/or Book of Kells for guiding purposes. [17315/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 695 and 696 together.
Under legislation, public sector Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous bodies and are funded in a variety of ways including state grants; competitive funding; tuition fees and commercial/private income streams
As the Deputy may be aware, through the HEA my Department allocates a range of funding supports to HEIs including recurrent grant funding (allocations provided towards operating costs each year) and funding for specific measures or activities, for example Capital Grants.
HEIs manage their own affairs including internal policies relating to activities on their campus. Neither I nor my Department have a role in forming these internal policies.
Question No. 696 answered with Question No. 695.