Tuesday, 30 Apr 2024

Written Answers Nos. 635-656

Medical Cards

Questions (635)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

635. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card might issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18793/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Budget 2024

Questions (636)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

636. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health for an itemised list of exactly how the additional €10 million allocated to mental health in Budget 2024 will be spent, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18794/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)

The Deputy will be aware that I announced, through the Revised Estimates process, an additional €10 million funding for mental health services in January.  

The focus of this new 2024 investment funding is in child and youth mental health including Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and online safety for children.

It will specifically support new recruitment into CAMHS services and provide funding for other services for children and young people, with a focus on prevention and early intervention mental health supports. This includes additional posts to expand CAMHS Hubs to provide enhanced intensive brief mental health interventions to young people in times of acute crisis, and extra CAMHS staff at Emergency Departments to assist young people who have presented there to access services. There will also be additional recruitment of staff to further expand specialist mental health services for young people in areas such as ADHD, eating disorders and early intervention in psychosis.

The additional €10 million allocation announced will see the recruitment of further posts across mental health services and comes in addition to Budget 2024 funding for 68 posts for CAMHS and child and youth mental health. Taken together, these 130 new posts for 2024 will strengthen CAMHS teams nationwide, enhance CAMHS Hub teams and develop key clinical care programmes such as early intervention in psychosis, eating disorders, ADHD, and dual diagnosis.

Some key measures that will be advanced through the funding include:

• a new eating disorder team for CHO7 (covering Kildare/West Wicklow, Dublin West, Dublin South City, Dublin South West)

• new annual funding for the Seeking Safety Ireland Programme, which supports women experiencing the dual diagnosis of mental health difficulties and addiction, in addition to domestic and sexual gender-based violence and associated issues. This Programme is receiving recurring funding for the first time, following a successful pilot project

• additional supports for Traveller mental health - particularly for young Travellers - to access counselling, psychotherapy, and related youth work supports

• additional Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurses (SCAN) for CAMHS. SCAN Nurses work with GPs to urgently assess people experiencing a suicidal crisis and identify the key supports they need, working with the person and their family

• additional funding to Jigsaw for early intervention youth mental health services for 12-25 year olds

• posts to reduce the number those waiting for over 12 months for CAMHS services, through the provision of additional ADHD supports. Many young people on CAMHS wait lists are awaiting an assessment for suspected ADHD, and this resource will expedite assessments and access to appropriate interventions

• two pilot sites (CHO2 and CHO9) to trial a new approach to referrals into children’s services including mental health services, primary care and disability services, where referrals will be processed by a single office covering all services, rather than individual referrals being made to each service. Known as the ‘No Wrong Door’ approach, it will help avoid children having multiple referrals and better guide parents to the most appropriate service for their child

• CAMHS Hubs: Additional staff for CAMHS Hubs to further roll-out this innovative service which provides an alternative to hospital admission. CAMHS Hubs provide enhanced intensive brief mental health interventions to young people in times of acute crisis

• CAMHS Emergency Department Posts: Additional staff to assist young people who have presented to Emergency Departments with onward access to appropriate services, including to community CAMHS teams

• Digital Investment: A full electronic health record for all CAMHS teams nationally, a critical piece of infrastructure to enable CAMHS teams to work more efficiently and effectively

• enhancement of key clinical mental health services, including early intervention in psychosis, eating disorders, dual diagnosis, and ADHD services

• new funding for Jigsaw and Foróige to deliver early intervention mental health supports for children and young people

I am also prioritising youth mental health and online safety, with dedicated funding of €1 million for online safety to support the digital literacy and protection of young people online. This includes a new national campaign on online safety and the development of digital resources for parents and young people to increase understanding of online harms and how young people can be better protected.

The focus of the investment is on supporting people to avail of a range of supports and services as close to home as possible, at the level of complexity that corresponds best to their needs and circumstances, across a continuum of mental health services. This means accessing the mental health supports that they need, in the community in the first instance, at the level most appropriate to their needs. This can range from counselling and talk therapies through to support from their community mental health team, or access to more specialist services, up to and including inpatient and residential supports.

Mental Health Services

Questions (637)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

637. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health what percentage of mental health difficulties are addressed at primary care level, secondary care level and tertiary care level, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18795/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Psychological Assessments

Questions (638)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

638. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the current wait time for an appointment with primary care psychology; the number of persons on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18796/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Questions (639)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

639. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels of the child and adolescent mental health services, the adult mental health services and the old age psychiatry services, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18797/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff

Questions (640)

Niall Collins

Question:

640. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health for an update regarding current staffing levels of paediatric epilepsy services at University Hospital Limerick; the number of current vacancies which may exist within the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18803/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Care of the Elderly

Questions (641)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

641. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to provide a day centre for older people in an area (details supplied) where there is currently no suitable centre for public health nurses to make a referral to; if this can be considered to prevent social isolation and assist families in providing care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18809/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (642)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

642. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 327 of 21 March 2024, to provide an update on the status of the proposed vaccine damage scheme; the timeline he is working towards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18818/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Deputy is aware, my department is working to develop a model for a vaccine damage scheme and officials in the department are working through related policy matters. The development of such a model needs detailed consideration to ensure that it is appropriately designed.  Once the model is developed I will bring it to Cabinet for approval.

Broadband Infrastructure

Questions (643)

Denis Naughten

Question:

643. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the total number of copper communication lines within his Department that are currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis, inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18839/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department has no active copper communication lines in place, inclusive of ISDN, PSTN and copper based leased lines.

Departmental Data

Questions (644)

Denis Naughten

Question:

644. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of people in Ireland who currently use telecare systems either in their home, in nursing or care homes and/or in assisted-living facilities to monitor, support or protect the health and well-being of vulnerable people; the annual spend on such devices for each of the past five years from 2019 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18849/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (645)

Patrick Costello

Question:

645. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the concerns of over 100 Irish academics expressed in an open letter (details supplied) about a report on transgender healthcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18880/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Deputy is aware, a new clinical programme for gender healthcare has been initiated by the HSE, and over the next two years an updated clinical model for gender healthcare services will be developed.  The work will be informed by the best evidence based clinical care for individuals who express gender incongruence or dysphoria. Emerging and evolving international evidence, including the recently published Cass report will be reviewed as part of this work. 

There is a clear and well-established approach to the development of this model of care which will incorporate best available clinical evidence and input from healthcare professionals, patient advocates and those with lived experience.

I welcome the development of a model of care which will deliver a high quality seamless and integrated service for people with gender identity issues.

Medicinal Products

Questions (646)

Patrick Costello

Question:

646. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if his Department plans to legislate to stop the dispensing of EU prescriptions for specific marginalised groups as proposed in a recent article (details supplied). [18881/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

As the Deputy is aware, a new clinical programme for gender healthcare has been initiated by the HSE, and over the next two years an updated clinical model for gender healthcare services will be developed. The work will be informed by the best evidence based clinical care for individuals who express gender incongruence or dysphoria. Emerging and evolving international evidence, including the just published Cass report, will be reviewed as part of this work. The HSE aim to provide a wide range of services for all people with gender dysphoria, from care locally in the community to more specialised and complex care and are committed to building a service based on experience and clinical evidence, respect, inclusiveness and compassion.

The role of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) is to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public by regulating pharmacists and pharmacies in line with national and EU legislation, policies, guidelines and compliance with their Code of Professional Conduct. The dispensing of EU prescriptions by Irish pharmacists is provided for under EU law (EU Healthcare Directive) and the national Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003, as amended.

While there are no specific plans to legislate to prohibit the dispensing of EU prescriptions, Department of Health officials are currently exploring the available options to enhance safety standards around online EEA prescriptions.

Regulation 9 of the Regulation of Retail Pharmacy Businesses Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 488 of 2008) sets out the legal requirements for pharmacists on the sale and supply of prescribed medicinal products. The health, wellbeing and safety of their patients is the primary focus of every pharmacist, and it is their responsibility to ensure that medicines are supplied in a safe and effective manner that best meets the needs of the patient. Under Regulation 9, prior to dispensing and prior to the supply of a prescribed medicinal product, a registered pharmacist must review the prescription having regard to the pharmaceutical and therapeutic appropriateness of the medicine therapy for the patient. On completion of this review, the registered pharmacist is required under the regulations to offer to discuss with the patient, or with the carer of such a patient, all such matters as the pharmacist, in the exercise of his/her professional judgement, deems significant. It is also the duty of the registered pharmacist to ensure that each patient has sufficient information and advice for the correct use and storage of the prescribed medicinal product(s).

Gender Equality

Questions (647)

Patrick Costello

Question:

647. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if reports of transgender people being denied blood tests by GPs will be investigated by the HSE clinical lead for transgender services. [18882/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this a service issue I have referred the matter to the HSE for direct reply to the deputy.

Departmental Data

Questions (648)

Patrick Costello

Question:

648. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the number of patients of the National Gender Service who have walked back their gender as mentioned in a recent radio interview (details supplied), by year in tabular form. [18883/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this a service issue I have referred the matter to the HSE for direct reply to the deputy.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (649)

Johnny Mythen

Question:

649. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for blood tests to be taken on a person that present themselves as a suspected spiked victim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18887/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (650)

Johnny Mythen

Question:

650. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if there is a protocol to expedite blood tests for patients who have been spiked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18888/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Departmental Data

Questions (651)

Johnny Mythen

Question:

651. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the total number of cases of spiking that have occurred between 2022, 2023 and 2024, including Wexford General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18889/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Questions (652)

Mark Ward

Question:

652. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses in Palmerstown; the number of vacant positions; if developmental checks are being carried out for children in the Palmerstown area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18893/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Questions (653)

Chris Andrews

Question:

653. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) given their housing situation is tenuous and urgent intervention is needed to ensure take responsibility is taken for their welfare. [18894/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Care of the Elderly

Questions (654)

Ged Nash

Question:

654. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the membership of the reference group of stakeholders that will help inform the work of the Commission on Care for Older People; how persons and interested service providers and representative bodies will feed into the work of the commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18895/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

In fulfilment of the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Government has established an independent Commission on Care for Older People. In Budget 2024 €1.243 million was allocated to the Commission, which is being supported by a secretariat from my Department.  

The Commission is chaired by Professor Alan Barrett (Chief Executive Officer, Economic and Social Research Institute) and is comprised of independent experts. Collectively the members of the Commission provide expertise across the areas of geriatrics, gerontology, health economics, health policy and management, primary care, health ethics, health technologies, and ageing and disability, as well as representation of the community and voluntary sector and of older people.

The Commission is charged with examining the provision of health and social care services and supports for older people and make recommendations to the Government for their strategic development. Subsequently a Cross-Departmental Group will be established under the auspices of the Commission to consider whether the supports for positive ageing across the life course are fit-for-purpose and to develop a costed implementation plan for options to optimise these supports.

The inaugural meeting of the Commission was held on 21st March 2024 and the second meeting was convened on 26th April 2024.

Engagement and collaboration with stakeholders will be a central component of the work of the Commission. In addition, a Reference Group comprised of non-governmental and civil society organisations and other key stakeholders working in the area, including those with lived experience, is being formed. The Reference Group will engage in an advisory capacity with the Commission and subsequently with the Cross-Department Group which will be established under its auspices. The Reference Group will not make recommendations or have any decision-making authority.

At the inaugural meeting of the Commission, Catherine McGuigan (Chief Officer, Age Friendly Ireland) was invited by the Chair to draft terms of reference for the Reference Group. At the second meeting of the Commission, these terms of reference were approved by Commission members subject to minor amendments.

As per the approved terms of reference, the Reference Group will be chaired by Catherine McGuigan and will be supported by a secretariat from Age Friendly Ireland. Participation in the Reference Group will be by invitation only, with invitations to be extended to a range of organisations, including, inter alia, non-governmental organisations, community and voluntary bodies, and representatives of service-providers and carers.

The work of the Reference Group will be advanced through bi-annual national plenary meetings and thematic focus groups. The agendas for the national plenary meetings and thematic focus groups will be developed by the Chair of the Reference Group in consultation with the Chair of the Commission. Written reports on these meetings and focus groups will be submitted to Commission members to inform their deliberations.

Hospital Staff

Questions (655)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

655. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE endocrinologist registrars based in St. James's Hospital in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [18900/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Health Services

Questions (656)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

656. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of house calls visits carried out by doctors in each treatment centre on D-Doc services in each of the past 28 days, in tabular form. [18901/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.