Written Answers Nos. 468-472
468. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the location of the data centre or centres used by his Department; the reason it was chosen; the distance it is from his Department’s offices; if he will identify the centres used by each agency under his Department’s aegis; and the distance these data centres are to their offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9397/24]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is guided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and by the National Cyber Security Centre on ICT policy, security, and infrastructure matters. The OGCIO implements a multi-layered approach to protecting ICT systems, infrastructures, and services. For operational and security reasons, the NCSC has advised not to disclose details of systems, processes or infrastructure which could in any way compromise those efforts. It is not considered appropriate to disclose information which might assist bad actors to identify potential vulnerabilities in departmental operational arrangements. Therefore, it is not considered appropriate to disclose these arrangements and DCEDIY does not comment on specific operational matters.
469. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when he will reinstate the provision of clothing for people with breast cancer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9329/24]
View answer473. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the reported impact that proposed changes to the allowance and supports made available to women for the provision of post-mastectomy products (details supplied) may have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8644/24]
View answer522. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason for reducing support for women with breast cancer by reducing their allowance to access prosthetic bras following a mastectomy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8892/24]
View answer523. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to detail any changes in available public funding for wigs or hairpieces and post-mastectomy products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8911/24]
View answer565. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if the position of his Department has changed since 2017 with respect to funding supports for post-mastectomy patients; the rationale for cutting the allowance for post-mastectomy products; and if he will review the decision to cut the allowance. [9066/24]
View answer567. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the recently announced cut to funding for post-mastectomy products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9072/24]
View answer575. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health why funding for post-mastectomy products has been cut (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9114/24]
View answer598. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the HSE changes to financial supports to cancer patients for prosthesis costs and mastectomy bra costs; what engagement his Department had with the HSE as regards these changes; if the Minister will seek an immediate reversal of these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9209/24]
View answer623. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to review correspondence regarding the proposed changes to the provision of post-mastectomy products (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9285/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 469, 473, 522, 523, 565, 567, 575, 598 and 623 together.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) provide an extensive range of aids and appliances to individuals living with a wide variety of different medical conditions. These support individuals to continue living within their communities and to enjoy a greater quality of life than would otherwise be the case. The Community Funded Schemes (CFS) is the collective name for the provision of these products and services.
The Community Funded Scheme service improvement programme recently published two new national procedures for the provision of an allowance for cancer treatment in respect of hair loss and post mastectomy products. The HSE advise that the intention of the new procedures was to standardize provision across the country.
I instructed the HSE to ensure that no patient, either currently availing of the scheme or accessing it in the future, should be at any financial loss as a result of the proposed changes.
The HSE has since communicated to each CHO advising them to revert to the pre-existing level of contributions to patients in respect of hair loss and post mastectomy products until such time as the new procedures can be reviewed in terms of the proposed allowances to be provided. CHOs were also instructed to contact any member of the public who received an email/communication advising them of the new procedure to inform them it has been withdrawn. This communication also reiterated that no person should be disadvantaged in any way in the intervening period.
I want to reiterate that progressing Women's Health is a priority within the Programme for Government, and a top priority for me as Minister for Health. I am proud to have overseen unprecedented levels of funding in women's health services over the last few years. I want to ensure that the necessary supports are put in place so that every woman has the same level of access to appropriate healthcare no matter where they live in Ireland.
470. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the HSE recruitment embargo; if concerns of existing staff in HSE settings are being considered as part of negotiations on lifting it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8623/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
471. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the way in which the national stroke strategy is to be funded in 2024; the items of expenditure that will be funded; the funding that is being made available for the stroke strategy in terms of existing levels of service and other measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8637/24]
View answerThe HSE National Stroke Strategy 2022-2027 aims to modernise and reform stroke services in line with Sláintecare policy and address the challenges facing Ireland from population ageing and the predicted increase in the total number of strokes right across Europe, including Ireland.
The government is fully committed to supporting improvements and advances in stroke services and has allocated a total of €7.3m to fund the HSE National Stroke Strategy over the last two Budgets which comprises of:
• 2024 Existing Levels of Service (ELS) recurring funding of €3.7m which was allocated for the extension of the GP contract to include primary care-delivered case finding and treatment strategy for Hypertension in over 45-year olds;
• This was in addition to the €3.6m recurring funding that was allocated in new service developments (NSD) in 2023.
• Separately, but related to this, pay budgets for the recruitment of 24.9 WTEs was provided in 2023, to further the implementation of the strategy. To date 12 WTE’s have been recruited.
The strategy provides a blueprint for required investment in stroke services over the five-year period from 2022-2027.
472. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that there is a serious backlog of unpaid invoices from suppliers to the HSE; if he will confirm the approximate delay time involved in making these payments; if he will give the actual number and value of these invoices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8643/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
