Written Answers Nos. 467-491
467. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the progress made in implementing each of the recommendations arising from the report of the review of the Irish health services for individuals with autism spectrum disorders in tabular form. [30505/19]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
468. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the action taken to date in 2019 to improve addiction treatment and rehabilitation services in north Dublin east inner city. [30507/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
469. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has undertaken a review of the delivery of relationships and sexuality education in schools in collaboration with the Department of Education and Skills. [30508/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have referred the Deputy's question to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to him.
470. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on the implementation by the HSE of sexual health promotion training for professionals in the youth sector, those working with at risk groups, and for parents. [30509/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have referred the Deputy's question to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to him.
471. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the targeted outreach programmes and campaigns delivered to at risk groups. [30510/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have referred the Deputy's question to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to him.
472. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the way in which the HSE has expanded condom distribution services with initial focus targeting those most at risk. [30511/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have referred the Deputy's question to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to him.
473. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has repeated the indepth general population survey on sexual health and crisis pregnancy to provide up-to-date data to support implementation. [30512/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have referred the Deputy's question to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to him.
474. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the extension of the existing national HPV vaccination programme to boys. [30513/19]
View answerThe National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) made a recommendation that the HPV vaccine should be given to boys. As the HPV vaccine is preventative it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes sexually active, that is, before a person is first exposed to HPV infection. On foot of NIAC’s recommendation, my Department asked the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to undertake a health technology assessment (HTA) in relation to extending the national immunisation schedule to include human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination of boys in first year of secondary school.
HIQA completed the HTA in December 2018, recommending that the HPV immunisation programme be extended to include boys. A policy decision has been made to extend the HPV immunisation programme to include boys starting in September 2019 with the introduction of a 9-valent HPV vaccine. The HSE National Immunisation Office has developed information materials and a communication strategy for a gender neutral HPV programme which will be available for parents and healthcare professionals in advance of the start of the gender neutral programme.
475. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the cybersecurity protocols under the remit of his Department; if it has had a cybersecurity breach in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30589/19]
View answerMy Department implements a multi-layered approach to cyber security and to protecting our ICT systems, data and infrastructure. This includes preventative controls like firewalls, anti-virus and endpoint protection alongside an advanced network intrusion detection system. Software vulnerabilities are managed by maintaining up-to-date versions.
Regular communications are issued to staff, reminding them of their obligations around cyber security and informing them of any emerging threats.
My Department continues to engage with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) based in the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and receives regular updates from the State's national/governmental Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT-IE).
I am advised that there have been no cyber security breaches within the Department in the past 12 months
476. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the number of persons outside prisons in receipt of opioid substitution treatment during the first six months of 2019. [30595/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
477. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the number of service users admitted to homeless emergency accommodation hostels or facilities during the first six months of 2019 whose health needs were assessed within two weeks of admission. [30596/19]
View answerAs the Deputy's question refers to a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply.
478. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that attended pharmacy needle exchanges during the first six months of 2019. [30597/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
479. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if funding can be allocated for orthotics for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30615/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
480. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the average, shortest and longest wait, respectively facing a prisoner awaiting a transfer from the Irish Prison Service to the Central Mental Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30617/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
481. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on taxis by the HSE in the most recent year for which figures exist by each CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30618/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
482. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the level of funding attributed to the school dental assessment programme in County Kildare in each year since it commenced. [30619/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
483. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners licensed to dispense medicines in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in which the 2019 cohort are located; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30624/19]
View answerAs this question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for it to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
484. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the availability of a drug to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30625/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
485. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if additional home help hours will be provided for a person (details supplied). [30630/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
486. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of a drug to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30631/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
487. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the business cases and additional funding applications developed by Letterkenny University Hospital which require additional capital and revenue funding; if the business cases are with the hospital, the Saolta University Healthcare Group and HSE Estates; the status of each such project; the timeline for delivery of each project in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30634/19]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.
488. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of a procedure for a person (details supplied). [30637/19]
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.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
489. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of a national cancer screening registry. [30644/19]
View answerPreliminary work is being undertaken on the establishment of a National Cancer Screening Registry. The National Cancer Registry is working with the HSE, including the National Screening Service, to develop proposals in this regard.
490. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the roll out of the framework for safe nurse staffing and skill mix in general and specialist medical and surgical care settings; the hospitals in which it is operational; and the timeframe for extending it to all acute settings. [30645/19]
View answerThe Framework for safe Nurse staffing and Skill mix in General, Specialist Medical and Surgical care settings in acute Adult hospitals in Ireland which I launched last year sets out for the first time a methodology for calculating the staffing requirement and skill mix needed in our specialist medical and surgical wards in adult hospitals.
The rollout of the Framework has commenced on a phased basis. A procurement process to acquire the ICT infrastructure necessary to support the rollout is under way.
491. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the reason day services at a nursing home (details supplied) were closed from 24 June to 1 July 2019 inclusive without notice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30651/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
