Written Answers Nos. 487-508
487. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the payment of clinical placement allowances to undergraduate supernumerary nursing and midwifery students, as set out in Circular 4/2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49321/23]
View answer599. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 671 of 4 July 2023, the date at which the first payment of the travel and subsistence scheme grant will be paid to student nurses and midwives, given that it is due this month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49942/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 599 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, following approval by Government on 13th December 2022, I was pleased to announce €9 million in additional supports for student nurses and midwives, €5.4m of which has been allocated to the HSE to introduce an enhanced Travel and Subsistence Scheme for eligible students while attending their supernumerary clinical practice placements.
The HSE have informed me that they issued a circular to give effect to the payments on 6th September 2023 and a further memo providing clarifications to queries raised by Student Allocation Liaison Officers issued on 1st November 2023. Payment of allowances to eligible students is a priority for me and my Department continue to engage regularly with the HSE on this matter. I am pleased to note that the HSE have now informed me that payments have commenced in a number of areas.
My Department has requested that the HSE provide regular updates on the progress of payments.
488. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the professional independence of clinical dental technicians; if he accepts that they are a growing cohort of practitioners across the country, in line with the Government's expressed wish in Smile agus Sláinte for an increase in the scope and number of CDTs; if he will acknowledge that they are fulfilling a significant and ever-growing service to the denture-needing community and to the highest level of patient safety and satisfaction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49335/23]
View answerClinical dental technicians (CDTs) are a profession who work predominantly in dental laboratories in making dental appliances. CDTs provide complete or partial dentures directly to patients who are over the age of 18 and other dental devices if requested by a dentist. CDTs refer patients to a dentist if they are concerned about a patient’s oral health or if the patient has not seen a dentist in the recent past. CDTs also make dental devices, including dentures, crowns, bridges and orthodontic appliances, to a prescription from a dentist. When fitting dentures CDTs follow infection control standards to ensure the patient's safety and satisfaction with their services.
CDTs can provide services to the public and therefore the Dental Council maintains a register of Clinical Dental Technicians under the provisions of Section 53 of the Dentists Act 1985.
CDTs are an important and valued part of the oral healthcare workforce and one of the priority actions in the National Oral Health Policy is to evaluate the training, focus and scope of practice of dental auxiliary workers including CDTs. In that context, my Department is currently conducting a workforce census of the oral healthcare sector, which will include all dental auxiliaries, including CDTs, to prepare for the skills assessment of the sector. Part of this work will consider the scopes of practice of the dental workforce in their entirety and in the context of a full dental team.
In line with the National Oral Health policy, my Department is also commencing a scoping exercise to establish the viability of a mid-level professional grade in oral healthcare. This will look at expanding the capacity of the oral healthcare workforce through dental auxiliaries such as CDTs through the introduction of a new substantive dental auxiliary grade. It is anticipated that this will help in meeting the growing demand for dentures for patients who may need them.
489. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49337/23]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, there may be a delay in the Deputy receiving a response from the HSE.
490. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for an operation in Cavan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49348/23]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, there may be a delay in the Deputy receiving a response from the HSE.
491. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that the HSE has no remit to assist in sourcing GP care for children under 18 years who have no medical or GP-visit card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49349/23]
View answerUnder the GMS scheme and in line with the relevant provisions of Section 58 of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended), the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Certain groups, including all those under 8 years of age and those over 70 years of age, are automatically entitled to a GP visit card.
Where a GMS patient, a patient that holds a medical card or GP visit card, experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept them as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area) can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign a GMS patient to a GP's GMS patient list. Likewise, a parent on behalf of a child GMS patient who experiences difficulty in finding a GP that will accept their child as a patient can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit also.
Neither myself or the HSE have any role in assigning patients who do not hold a medical card or a GP visit card to a GP's patient list, as these patients access GP services on a private basis. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients.
492. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) cannot get an appointment in Cavan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49353/23]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, there may be a delay in the Deputy receiving a response from the HSE.
493. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the current status of the atropine 0.01% eye drops, under trial since prior to 2021; to confirm if the trial will be concluded in January 2024, as outlined in a letter to a person (details supplied) from the Head of Pharmacy Function, HSE, as these drops have proven very effective for the daughter of the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49365/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
494. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an appointment; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49374/23]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, there may be a delay in the Deputy receiving a response from the HSE.
495. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will conduct an investigation into the rising costs of mobility aids, including wheelchairs, mobility aids, silicone socks and prosthetic limbs as the cost of prosthetic limbs for both upper and lower limb amputees has increased 50% since Brexit and silicone socks used by amputees now cost over €1,000, which equates to five weeks income for many people dependant on social protection payments; if he will further put plans in place to support people with physical impairments to ensure that all those who require such supports can access them in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49379/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
496. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health to comment on the significant structural problems that were identified by HIQA in the Sycamore and Willow Unit within Cherry Orchard Hospital, in May 2023; to outline the extent of these structural problems and when they will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49387/23]
View answerAs 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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
497. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of medical doctors and former general practitioners who are employed either in the Department or by the HSE in policy, advisory or other internal administrative or human resources roles, but who do not see patients from the general public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49402/23]
View answerThere a currently 2 roles, Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Chief Medical officer in the Department of Health that require the holders to have a primary medical qualification and possess registration or be entitled to such registration on the Specialist Register of the Medical Council of Ireland in Public Health Medicine. At the present time there are 3 individuals employed in these roles in the Department of Health.
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on the aspect of the Deputy's question that relates to their employees, however, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action.
It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.
498. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting to be seen by child and adolescent mental health services by CHO and LHO, in tabular form; and the length of time that persons are waiting to be seen. [49410/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
499. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of funding allocated to social inclusion groups in Budget 2024. [49418/23]
View answerA factsheet outlining the Budget 2024 allocation for the National Drugs Strategy and Inclusion Health, which can be found here - assets.gov.ie/273589/d7b2c043-f672-4098-b55b-18f5fc0f6f0d.pdf
500. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health under the HSE budget allocated to University Hospital Waterford as part of the Herity Protocol to engage 24 wholetime equivalates to UHW cardiac service, this money did not allow for additional equipment or hours to cover weekend CAT Lab emergency access 8 am to 8 pm, if he will confirm that as part of supplementary estimates he is making available such monies as required to allow seven day Cat Lab access at UHW; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49430/23]
View answerFollowing the announcement of the budget allocation for my Department, I will shortly be issuing a Letter of Determination to the HSE outlining my priorities and funding levels for 2024. This will be the basis on which the HSE will draw up its National Service Plan (NSP) for 2024. It is not until the conclusion of this process that a detailed breakdown of ELS expenditure will be available.
The government is committed to the ongoing development of University Hospital Waterford. Significant additional resources have been allocated to the hospital in recent years to meet the needs of patients. Staffing at the hospital is now approx. 2,660 WTE (July 2023), an increase of 36.5% since December 2019. The hospital’s budget has increased by 30% since 2019 to €261.7 million, a significant increase in funding in this time period.
The Programme for Government committed to the delivery of a second Cath Lab in University Hospital Waterford (UHW) and funding was allocated in the 2019 Capital Plan for this, I am pleased to confirm that the HSE has advised that the 2nd Cath Lab opened on 4th of September 2023. The 2nd Cath lab operates 5 days per week Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm. The hospital uses a combination of day beds and recovery spaces to support the second Cath Lab. The existing Cath Lab is open from 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays), the opening hours for which were extended in Sept 2022.
The HSE has advised that future cardiac developments at the hospital will be guided by the publication of the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services (NRCS) and its findings. The aim of the Cardiac Services Review is to recommend configuration for a national adult cardiac service to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive. This aligns with the Sláintecare reform programme. In terms of scope, the National Review covers scheduled and unscheduled hospital-based services for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease in adults.
501. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an appointment can be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49434/23]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
502. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health what the HSE intends to use a site for (details supplied). [49435/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
503. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Health if he has an estimated date for when the health technology assessment on the herpes zoster vaccine, which protects against shingles, will be completed. [49446/23]
View answerThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.Shingles vaccination is not currently provided as part of the national immunisation programme. Further information is available here: www2.hse.ie/conditions/shingles/It is open to any individual who is aged 50 years and older and who wishes to receive the vaccine to consult with their GP or pharmacist. As the Deputy is aware, the Health Information and Quality Authority are currently carrying out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology. The information can cover a range of fields, including clinical effectiveness and safety, cost-effectiveness and budget impact, organisational and social aspects, and ethical and legal issues. The information is collected and presented in a systematic, unbiased and transparent manner.The outcome of the HTA, once it is complete, will inform future decision making on this matter in relation to whether or not any amendments are required to the National Immunisation Programme. The HTA is expected to be completed in the second half of 2024.
504. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of dentists in County Kerry providing services for medical card holders under the dental treatment services scheme (details supplied); and the number of dentists who recommenced the scheme since the scheme was expanded. [49450/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
505. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 542 of 14 February 2023, if he will confirm when the promised resource for the Drogheda area, by way of provision for a full-time staff post on the drug-related intimidation and violence engagement (DRIVE) programme, as provided for in Budget 2023, will be delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49456/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
506. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the publication of the National Action Plan on Traveller and Roma Mental Health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49457/23]
View answerThe Traveller Health Action Plan was launched in November 2022. The Department of Health and the HSE are committed to developing priorities, strategies and actions on Traveller mental health within the framework of the National Traveller Health Action Plan. These will respond to acknowledged needs in Traveller mental health and address the social determinants of Traveller mental health through targeted and mainstreaming measures. The Action Plan is a landmark document that recognises the right of Travellers to the highest attainable standard of health as is the norm in Irish society. It includes mental and physical health, which are intricately linked.
As a first step, the Traveller Health Action Plan contains of six actions on Traveller mental health. These are being delivered through the HSE national service plan for 2023, supported by an additional ring-fenced budget of €300,000. This will enable the employment of 7 community support workers within the Traveller projects to focus on engaging the community with existing mental health supports, identifying gaps and consulting on future service developments. The actions reflect the priority status of Travellers in the Government mental health policies - Sharing the Vision and Connecting for Life, and will be reported upon as part of the Sharing the Vision Implementation Plan 2022 - 2024. Progress will also be monitored under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy.The Department and the HSE will also engage with the Traveller community to further develop and expand the actions as part of a mental health priority plan, within the framework of the Traveller health action plan. The newly established HSE steering group on Traveller mental health will consult with Traveller organisations and representatives on this task. Traveller representatives have also been invited to be part of the group.
I welcome the increased focus in the area of Traveller mental health and I look forward to the progression of this workstream. Budget 2024 provided new funding to enhance Suicide Prevention and Postvention Services through the expansion of Suicide Bereavement Liaison Service; and for the Traveller Counselling Service, which will have national coverage for the first time. The details of this are the subject of on-going discussions in the context of agreeing the the HSE Service Plan overall for next year, including for Mental Health.
507. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the reason that a team (details supplied) has been excluded from the Building Momentum pay increases, cost-of-living pay increases, and the reduction in the working week for nurses to 37.5 hours; the action he is taking to ensure Caredoc nurses receive equal terms and conditions to that of HSE and Section 38 staff; and the reason these workers were also not eligible for the pandemic bonus payment, although they were fully operational throughout this period. [49458/23]
View answerFirstly, I would like to express my gratitude to all Caredoc employees for providing valuable healthcare right around country.
Caredoc is a private company, not a public service organisation and, as such, staff employed by Caredoc do not fall under the current Public Service Agreement, Building Momentum. Building Momentum was agreed between public sector unions and the State and the agreement set out matters such as reform measures, industrial relations processes and pay rises for public servants. Only public service staff encompassed by the agreement benefitted from the pay rises.
The Independent Body Examining Additional Working Hours (HRA) in the Public Service was established under the Building Momentum public service agreement. The Independent Body recommended that working time be restored to pre-Haddington Road agreement (HRA) levels for virtually all civil servants, public servants and non-commercial State agency staff in grades where working hours were increased in 2013. Again, it is important to note that this recommendation was for public service staff only.
Caredoc is privately owned and run and the terms and conditions of employment of their staff, once in line with employment legislation, is strictly between the employer and the employee. Caredoc is not and have not been party to the Public Service Agreements.
In relation to the Pandemic Recognition Payment, eligibility criteria for the payment were set following significant consideration and consultation. I can confirm that in order to receive the recognition payment, staff must have:
• Been in COVID vaccination cohorts 1 or 2, and
• Worked ordinarily onsite in a COVID-19 exposed healthcare environment, and
• Worked for at least 4 weeks in the 1/3/2020 – 30/6/2021 period, and
• Worked in a HSE/Section 38 organisation, or one of the following:
1. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary,Section 39 etc.);
2. Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities, working on-site;
3. Agency roles working in the HSE;
4. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
5. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedic staff employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
Only those staff who met all of the above eligibility criteria were covered for this payment. I appreciate that many other workers, volunteers, and other citizens including those working in Caredoc provided important services during this most difficult time. It was a hard task to set out the eligibility criteria for this payment but the Government based its decision on certain aspects of all the different roles within the health sector and certain risks which eligible frontline workers faced. Undoubtedly immense efforts have been made by all healthcare staff since the onset of the pandemic which has not gone unrecognised.
508. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for CAMHS services in County Wicklow; the number of children on the waiting list broken down by wait times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49473/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
