Written Answers Nos. 1803-1816
1803. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if he can confirm that all neurological services at Naas General Hospital are fully open, functioning to optimum level and are staffed appropriately including with any locum appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1952/24]
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.
1804. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 51 of 9 November 2023, the details of any recruitment process underway to increase staffing levels in the Áras Mhic Dara community nursing unit in Carraroe to facilitate the use of all available beds in the unit; the number of beds currently operational in the unit; the number of beds currently closed in the unit; the number of beds currently in use in the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1959/24]
View answerAs this is an operational 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, 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
1805. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 72 of 9 November 2023, if the SAR/PBC for the new emergency department, women and children’s block at University Hospital Galway has been approved by the HSE to-date; the expected timeline for it to proceed to pre-tender stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1960/24]
View answerThe Emergency Department (ED), Women & Children’s Block at University Hospital Galway is one of several significant capital investment proposals for the University Hospital Galway (UHG) campus.
Given the scale and ambition of these projects, a Capital Programme Oversight Board has been established by Saolta to support the phased delivery of capital investment at UHG, as part of an integrated masterplan.
The Department of Health carried out a review of the Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) for the New Emergency Department, Women and Children’s Block at University Hospital Galway only, and returned it with feedback to the HSE in June 2023.
The findings of this review were incorporated into a SAR/Preliminary Business Case (PBC) which was approved and then submitted to the Department of Health by the HSE for review in November 2023.
In line with the requirements of the new Infrastructure Guidelines which have replaced the Public Spending Code, this SAR/PBC must be subject to a Departmental review (which is currently ongoing), an external assurance process, and presentation to D/PENDPDR’s Major Project Advisory Group. The timeframe for this process is dictated by outcome of the findings from each review, alongside consideration of the project within the integrated masterplan under development.
1806. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been brought to a report (details supplied); his plans to address regional inequalities in access to long-term residential care; the details of any analysis carried out by his Department into the impact of the increase in private equity financed operators in Ireland’s long-term residential care sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1961/24]
View answerAs Minister for Mental Health and Older People, I welcome the ESRI report: Long-term Residential Care in Ireland: Developments since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The report brings into focus the challenges facing the long-term residential care sector in Ireland which the Government continues to address to provide short-term stability and long-term growth to this sector.
Long-term residential care is provided by the private, voluntary (not-for-profit) and public (HSE) sectors. The Government subsidises nursing home care for older people through the Nursing Home Support Scheme (Fair Deal). Some other types of residential care for older people are also supported through Section 39 grant agreements.
Year-on-year funding for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme continues and will reach €1.5 billion this year. Nursing homes that renegotiated their Deed of Agreement with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) in 2023 are seeing an average uplift of 6-7%.
The Government has provided substantial support to the private and voluntary nursing home sector over the course of the pandemic. Over €151 million of financial support was provided to private and voluntary nursing homes through the Covid-19 Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS). The provision of free PPE and oxygen to private nursing homes continues, costing approximately €77 million to date. A €10 million scheme (TIPS) was established to support private and voluntary nursing homes with increases in energy costs, covering 75% of year-on-year cost increases up to a monthly cap of €5,250 per nursing home. This scheme was extended for a second time to the end of June 2023.
A new €10 million scheme has also been established for 2024, designed to target and support structural improvements in nursing homes to assist with meeting HIQA compliance obligations in respect of protection against infection and fire precautions. This scheme is active from 1 January 2024 and can be backdated for eligible works to 1 January 2020.
Long-term residential care is a crucial part of the overall continuum of care and public Community Nursing Units (CNU) play a vital role in the provision of long-term care across the country. The Government is committed to continued investment in healthcare infrastructure which supports the highest quality care for our older population and provides equitable access to this care in every region.
This investment includes the CNU programme, which was launched to ensure that up to 90 of our public Community Nursing Units would be refurbished or replaced to ensure the best quality environments for our older people. As of Q3 2023, 47 projects have reached construction completion. Construction is under way on several more facilities, while the remainder are at various stages of review, appraisal, design, and tender.
In Q4 2022, I announced the awarding of the contract to deliver 7 CNU’s through Public Private Partnership (PPP). The CNU PPP Project will deliver 530 beds in total, comprising both short and long stay beds for older persons at seven CNU facilities across the country.
A clear indication of the Government’s desire to plan appropriately for the future, in the context of an ageing population, is the update of the 2018 Health Service Capacity Review, which is currently being progressed. This is particularly important given changes in the health and wider operating environment since the original 2018 review was undertaken. This work will forecast future capacity requirements in acute care, primary care, and in social care services for older persons (residential and homecare services) up to 2040.
Government has also approved the creation of Regional Health Areas, requiring significant restructuring of health and social care organisation in Ireland, underpinned by regional population-based planning and resource allocation models. A national framework for health and social care capacity planning, creating the tools and infrastructure to support consistent, data driven, regional planning will be a critical success factor for this work.
High-quality design, planning, and construction is vital in creating safe environments that enable high quality residential care for older people. I have therefore committed to creating new design standards for long-term residential care settings for older people (public, private, and voluntary).
On the 19 December 2023, I announced a public consultation on a Design Guide for Long-Term Residential Care Settings for Older People. The Department of Health, in conjunction with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), is currently seeking the views of the public on a draft Design Guide for Long-Term Residential Care Settings for Older People and the feedback received will inform the final version of the design guide.
It is acknowledged that the nursing home sector has evolved over the last 30 years from a predominantly State led service to a situation today where approximately 80% of nursing home services are provided by the private sector. I am aware of the investment trends in the Irish residential care market, the growing consolidation of the sector, and the complex investment and ownership structures that now exist. I am also aware of the potential risks and unintended consequences associated with the level of care services currently being provided by the private sector. It is therefore important that all aspects of the nursing home sector are scrutinised over the coming years, and I am committed to ensuring that service delivery and configuration in the sector meet the needs of service users in a sustainable and safe manner.
1807. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 504 of 14 December 2023, the breakdown of the additional 1,125 acute hospital beds opened since 2020, by hospital, in tabular form. [1963/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I referred this question to the HSE for answer. Additionally, 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.
1808. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the primary care wait lists in Meath in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, by area in, tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1996/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
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.
1809. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2009/24]
View answerThe health service has policies and procedures in place that provide a pathway and guidance for employees who wish to formally raise matters such as those that the Deputy is referencing. As the question being raised by the Deputy is in respect of a specific individual, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on the matter. However members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE are unlikely to be 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.
1810. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, to establish a social prescribing service in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2042/24]
View answerEvidence 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 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. All of these 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/.
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 Healthy Communities 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.
Post-pandemic, with vaccines and sensible precautions, and as reconnecting with others has numerous physical and mental health benefits, Healthy Ireland developed a nationwide media campaign, launched on 1 March 2023, aimed at older people to encourage them to rebuild their social connections and re-integrate into their communities. The campaign supports older people to reconnect with the world, to say “Hello Again World”, make up for lost time and re-establish important connections with their community.
Social prescribing is a key element of that reconnection process - 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 are matters for the HSE, I have asked them to respond to the Deputy directly regarding provision in Drumcondra and Glasnevin
1811. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on adequate services and resources for genetic testing services in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin. [2074/24]
View answerThe Government and I are fully committed to improving genetics services in Ireland. One of the key ambitions of the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland, launched in December 2022, is to build a strong national genetics service. This will be a patient and family-centred service that can be accessed equitably across the country and across the lifespan of patients. In 2023, the Government allocated €2.7 million to the implementation of this Strategy. This allocation included the establishment of a National Office of Genetics and Genomics and the appointment of frontline staff. To ensure frontline staff posts are allocated in line with the Sláintecare vision of providing an equitable national service, these initial appointments have been allocated across the HSE Health Regions in areas of immediate need.
2023 Allocation of Frontline Staff
Last year, the following genetics/genomics posts were allocated to deliver services in CHI, Crumlin:
• 2 genomic resource associates
• 1 genetic counsellor
In addition to these CHI Crumlin allocations, the following posts have been allocated:
• 1 genetic counsellor to each of the following locations:
• HSE Dublin and North-East - Beaumont Hospital
• HSE West and North-West - Galway University Hospital
• HSE Dublin and Midlands and HSE Dublin and South-East - St. James Hospital / St. Vincent’s University Hospital
• HSE South-West – via post allocated to CHI to deliver clinical services in Cork
• HSE Mid-West – via post allocated to CHI to deliver clinical services in Limerick
• 1 Consultant Clinical Geneticist to each of the following locations:
• HSE West and North-West - Galway University Hospital
• HSE Mid-West – via post allocated to CHI
The recruitment of genomic resource associate and genetic counsellor posts have been subject to the recent embargo on recruitment as directed by the HSE.
2024 Allocations
One of the key outputs for the National Genetics and Genomics Office is the development of an operating model for genetics and genomics. The operating model will determine where additional posts are required and outline a plan for recruitment. The Interim Director and Interim National Clinical Director will be responsible for progressing this work package.
Training and Development for Genetics and Genomics
As part of the implementation of the National Strategy, there is a plan to build a strong genetic workforce for the future. This will be achieved by not only recruiting new staff, but training and development for a future workforce, and professional development for current staff within the health service. A plan will be developed by the National Genetics and Genomics Office to increase training and development opportunities in genetics and genomics to help support workforce demand. A series of educational webinars and masterclasses have been developed by the National Genetics and Genomics Office in partnership with the RSCI and the RCPI to improve knowledge around genetic and genomic medicine for healthcare professionals.
1812. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the procedures being taken for efficient effective action to tackle the waiting lists for genetic testing services at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin. [2075/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1813. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when increments were last paid to casual workers employed by Donegal ETB at an educational setting (details supplied); the reason no increments have been paid for the past number of years to these workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56334/23]
View answer1814. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when increments will be paid to casual workers employed by Donegal ETB at an educational setting (details supplied); if back-pay will also be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56335/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1813 and 1814 together.
My officials are reviewing the issues raised with Donegal ETB and a response will issue to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1815. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his Department’s processes that consider the value for money question understanding that in 2017 a project build (details supplied) was estimated at less than €50 million, in 2021 it was estimated to cost close to €90 million and today the engineering block build is estimated to be costing over €100 million; if, given that this project cost has moved over €50 million from the last Programme for Government and over €20 million in the lifetime of this Government’s programme, he will outline how the delay process to funding this long-awaited capital programme demonstrates the decision delay has proven ‘beneficial in value’ to the State capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56390/23]
View answerThe new engineering block at South East Technological University (SETU) Waterford Campus is a high priority project for my Department. It is one of five projects in the Higher Education PPP Bundle 2 project, two of which are for SETU; one at the Waterford campus and one at the Carlow campus. The SETU Waterford project is the largest in the Higher Education PPP Programme and will be transformative for SETU and indeed the region.
The Higher Education PPP Bundle 2 procurement process is ongoing and currently at tender stage. Construction price inflation and volatility in the construction market is presenting challenges, however, my Department, the National Development Finance Agency and the Higher Education Authority are working within the parameters of the procurement process to manage these challenges. Due to the commercially sensitive nature of the tender process, the Department is unable to comment on the financial details.
1816. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider a review of the requirement for certain apprenticeship applicants to pass the Ishihara colour vision test without the use of corrective lenses, in view of the fact that corrective lenses are available and could be used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56481/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for his question.
Currently, 58 of the 73 statutory apprenticeship programmes have no qualifying criteria associated in regards to colour blindness. More generally, to support apprentices, information is sought at the point of registration on any additional supports that may be needed. Education and training providers offer learning and other supports to apprentices during their training and many employers also provide accommodations in the workplace to apprentices with disabilities. Approximately 3% of the apprentice population has declared one or more disabilities and are receiving additional supports. A majority of these identified as having dyslexia or other disabilities related to learning.
For a small number of professions, trichromacy (i.e. normal colour vision) is a critical requirement. For apprenticeships, this impacts on the participation requirements for 15 programmes. Specifically, for these programmes apprenticeship applicants must pass the Ishihara colour vision test without the use of corrective lenses.
The list of apprenticeships that this applies to is set out below:
• Aircraft Mechanics
• Electrical
• Electrical Instrumentation
• Instrumentation
• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
• Electronic Security Systems
• Floor and Wall Tiling
• Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) Engineer
• Painting and Decorating
• Agricultural Mechanics
• Construction Plant Fitting
• Heavy Vehicle Mechanics
• Vehicle Body Repairs
• Motor Mechanics
• Plumbing
SOLAS are continually reviewing the existing apprenticeship programmes and the matter of colour vision testing is included in the agenda of the PAB (Programme Advisory Board) for this process. In terms of the review of colour vision requirements for apprenticeship programmes, this was discussed at recent PAB meetings for several apprenticeship programmes where colour vision is currently a requirement:
Tues 28 November 2023– Electrical
Tues 28 November 2023 – Heavy Vehicle Mechanics
Wed 29 November 2023 – Plumbing
The matter was considered by PAB attendees, and the outcome of this agenda item discussion was that no changes were considered as necessary for the existing requirements. That is, prospective apprentices for these programmes are still required to complete the colour vision test without the use of corrective lenses, in the programmes identified.
Given the potential for medical and technological advancements, SOLAS are committed to ensuring that this matter is kept under review as part of the PAB process on an ongoing basis. Where the potential for a change to existing requirements is identified by a PAB, SOLAS will seek input from specialists to inform future formal reviews.
I know that there is a lot of interest in this particular topic and so I am happy to clarify for the Deputy that whilst the matter does not undergo a formal review, it is considered by the Programme Advisory Boards on an ongoing basis.
