Thursday, 13 Jul 2017

Written Answers Nos. 593-610

Proposed Legislation

Questions (593, 594)

Jack Chambers

Question:

593. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if regulations to allow for the introduction of buprenorphine naloxone and buprenorphine products have been agreed and introduced. [33856/17]

Jack Chambers

Question:

594. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the working group to progress increased access to buprenorphine naloxone and buprenorphine products. [33857/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 593 and 594 together.

Following an Expert Group recommendation that the same regulatory framework which applies to methadone should apply to products containing buprenorphine/naloxone or buprenorphine for opioid substitution treatment (OST), an Opioid Substitution Implementation Group (OSIG) was established by the HSE in 2013. The purpose of this Group was to report on the steps required to introduce, supervise, monitor, and review the wider availability and cost of buprenorphine products.

The Group's Report in 2016 recommended the phased increased access to Buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine products for a cohort of patients in specific circumstances, subject to the required legislation and resourcing.

Drafting of legislation is currently being finalised by my Department with technical support from the HSE. It is expected that this legislation will be finalised in the coming weeks.

In 2017 the HSE received additional funding of €0.75 million to increase access to buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine products as an alternative treatment for the identified cohorts of patients for whom methadone treatment is not suitable.

Health Services Staff Training

Questions (595)

Jack Chambers

Question:

595. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the HSE training programme for addiction staff, level 2 GPs and pharmacists in buprenorphine naloxone and buprenorphine products. [33858/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Questions Nos. 596 to 599, inclusive, answered with Question No. 588.

Drug Treatment Programmes Places

Questions (600)

Jack Chambers

Question:

600. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in receipt of opioid substitution treatment outside prisons. [33863/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The HSE maintains the Central Treatment List, which is a register of all clients in receipt of opioid substitution treatment for problem opiate use in Ireland. As at 31 May 2017, the latest month for which figures are available, 9,638 individuals were in receipt of opioid substitution treatment outside of the prison setting.

Questions Nos. 601 and 602 answered with Question No. 588.

Traveller Projects Funding

Questions (603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

603. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the roll-out of education resource Small Changes - Big Difference and associated health promotion programmes across Traveller health units; if these are now complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33866/17]

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

604. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the training of staff in Traveller health units on Connecting for Life in order that it can be promoted in a culturally appropriate manner to members of the Traveller community; if this training is now complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33867/17]

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

605. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if Traveller health units in Traveller sites have been geomapped and aligned with primary care and mental health catchment areas. [33868/17]

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

606. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if a review of Traveller health unit actions and outcomes in the national standards for safer better healthcare has been commissioned; and the timeframe for its completion and publication. [33869/17]

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

607. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the review of the role of Traveller community health workers and the issues identified in relation to sustainability of this workforce. [33870/17]

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

608. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if a financial audit of Traveller services receiving funding from the HSE has been conducted; the findings and recommendations of this audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33871/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 603 to 608, inclusive, together.

As these are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Health Screening Programmes

Questions (609, 610)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

609. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if a mobile health screening unit to facilitate access to basic health screening, GP and nursing services by marginalised groups, refugees, asylum seekers and Roma communities has been provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33872/17]

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

610. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in each CHO who have received training to date in 2017 on intercultural awareness and practice in health and social care. [33873/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 609 and 610 together.

€2.96 million was made available to the Department of Health from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2016, which included provision of €1.46 million for a Mobile Health Screening Unit and €0.45 million to support an Intercultural Health Project for Refugees.

The objective of the Mobile Health Screening Unit is to provide an accessible, targeted screening and primary care service to a wide range of marginalised service users in settings such as hostels, prisons, Direct Provision Centres and Refugee Reception and Orientation Centres.

The Intercultural Health Project for Refugees aims to support the delivery of a range of health services to meet the emerging needs of the new residents of the Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROCs) established in Clonea, Monasterevin and Ballaghaderreen.

I have asked the HSE to provide an update for the Deputy on these projects.