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Tuesday, 17 Dec 2019

Written Answers Nos. 448-467

Medical Card Applications

Questions (448)

Seán Fleming

Question:

448. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the arrangements in place in view of the fact that P60s and P45s and so on are no longer available; the arrangements that will be in place for persons to provide evidence of their income as part of the means test for medical cards; if there are GDPR implications as a result of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53213/19]

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Written answers

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

HSE Funding

Questions (449)

Seán Fleming

Question:

449. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the allocation of funding provided in each of the years 2016 to 2018; the estimated allocation in 2019 and 2020 in respect of the National Breastfeeding Action Plan launched in 2016; the estimated expenditure for the plan from 2016 to 2021; his plans to have a full estimated cost of implementing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53221/19]

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Written answers

As the question relates to service matters, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

HSE Expenditure

Questions (450)

Seán Fleming

Question:

450. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on the procurement of infant formula products in 2018 and 2019 in maternity hospital settings, paediatric hospitals and units of hospitals and community healthcare facilities here; the allocation of funding being provided for infant formula in these locations for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53222/19]

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Written answers

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

Cancer Screening Programmes

Questions (451)

Bríd Smith

Question:

451. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 445 of 10 December 2019, the details of the English study referred to; the location in the study in which the figure of 20% discordance in relation to false negatives compared to high grade abnormalities in view of the fact the study suggests a discordance of 14.9%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53223/19]

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Written answers

The report referred to is the NSHCSP Audit of Invasive Cervical Cancer National Report 2009-2013.

The data the Deputy refers to can be found in Table 20 on page 61 of the report.

The Expert Panel have advised that the ‘almost 20%’ included in the answer to the Deputy's previous question refers to the number 18.9% in the infographic on page 40 of the RCOG Aggregate Report.

The RCOG have advised that this 18.9% is derived by summing the proportion of originally negative slides reviewed in the English audit as various sub classifications of ‘high grade’ as follows: 3.3% moderate dyskaryosis + 10.4% severe dyskaryosis + 0.5%  ?Invasion + 4.7% ?glandular. These figures combined equal 18.9%, ie ‘almost 20%’.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (452)

Seán Haughey

Question:

452. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of parents regarding the HPV gardasil vaccine (details supplied); his views in relation to the concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53224/19]

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Written answers

The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is responsible for monitoring the safety and quality of all medicines including vaccines that are licensed in Ireland.  All HPV vaccines available in the EU are authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). 

Gardasil vaccines were first authorised by the European Commission in 2006 to be placed on the market for use across the European Union (EU).  To be granted authorisation, the company responsible for marketing Gardasil had to provide evidence that the vaccines met clear and predefined standards of quality, safety and efficacy as set out in legislation, guidance documents and the European Pharmacopoeia.  The composition of Gardasil is aimed at enhancing, accelerating and prolonging the specific immune response towards the vaccine antigens.  I am informed by the HPRA that further information regarding the authorisation process, steps taken before and after authorisation and the outcome of ongoing monitoring and other regulatory activities for these vaccines can be found on the EMA website.

Adverse reactions (side effects) known to occur in association with Gardasil are outlined in the authorised product information (Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) and Package Leaflet (PL)).  The SmPC is intended for healthcare professionals, and the PL is intended for patients and care-givers.  Gardasil is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients listed in the product information.  All new and emerging safety data related to Gardasil are assessed to continuously monitor its safety and routine ongoing pharmacovigilance activities are in place to review any new safety signals identified in published literature, or data from any other source of information.  In addition, cumulative safety data are assessed at regular intervals to support evaluation of the overall benefit-risk balance of the vaccines.  As part of this process, the company responsible for marketing Gardasil was requested to closely monitor events involving autoimmune disorders.  In January 2018 the EMA’s Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) concluded that the cumulative data gathered since authorisation of the product did not show a clear or systematic pattern of association between vaccination with Gardasil and the development of autoimmune disorders.

Departmental Websites

Questions (453)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

453. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the reason it is no longer possible to access on the website of his Department press releases and speeches by Ministers in previous Governments over the past 20 years. [53227/19]

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Written answers

The Department of Health migrated from its old website to the new centralised Government of Ireland platform gov.ie in September 2019. The purpose of this migration is to provide easier access to information relating to all government departments through a single online portal. As part of this transition, content prior to 1st January 2016 was archived. Department press releases and speeches by Ministers in previous Governments are accessible on the homepage of the new website, gov.ie/health, by accessing the "View our previous website" link.

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

Questions (454)

Pat Buckley

Question:

454. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend long-term illness benefit to persons with enduring mental illness over 16 years of age that cannot work consistently due to their condition. [53231/19]

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Written answers

The Long Term Illness Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the scheme are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.

Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme, including mental illness in a person under 16 years of age. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme or the age limit in relation to mental illness at this time. However, I wish to inform the Deputy that it is proposed that the LTI Scheme would be included as part of a review of the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, to be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.

Hospital Consultant Recruitment

Questions (455)

Pat Buckley

Question:

455. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the status of progress in the recruitment of a consultant psychiatrist for Wexford CAMHS. [53232/19]

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Written answers

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

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (456)

Pat Buckley

Question:

456. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the vacancies in the CAMHS team in County Wexford; and the steps taken to improve recruitment and retention of needed staff. [53233/19]

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Written answers

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

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (457)

Pat Buckley

Question:

457. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to support an association (details supplied) to ensure the continuation of its living assistance service in County Cork indefinitely and to dispel rumours that the service may be coming to an end in 2020. [53234/19]

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Written answers

The 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.

Mental Health Services

Questions (458)

Pat Buckley

Question:

458. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the cost of fully implementing the recommendations of A Vision for Change. [53238/19]

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Written answers

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

Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (459)

Pat Buckley

Question:

459. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the cost of a 1% pay rise for all staff in the mental health service by discipline and the number of staff in each respective discipline in tabular form. [53239/19]

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Written answers

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

Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (460)

Pat Buckley

Question:

460. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the cost of increasing staffing levels in the mental health services to meet the recommendations of A Vision for Change adjusted for population growth [53240/19]

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Written answers

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

Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (461)

Pat Buckley

Question:

461. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the cost of employing an additional psychiatric nurse of all grades and specialisations in place in the HSE. [53241/19]

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Written answers

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (462)

Pat Buckley

Question:

462. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the cost of employing an additional consultant psychiatrist in the HSE mental health services. [53242/19]

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Written answers

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

Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (463)

Pat Buckley

Question:

463. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the cost of establishing an additional fully staffed community mental health team. [53243/19]

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Written answers

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

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (464)

Pat Buckley

Question:

464. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the cost of establishing an additional fully staffed child and adolescent mental health teams. [53244/19]

View answer

Written answers

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

Counselling Services Provision

Questions (465)

Pat Buckley

Question:

465. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the cost of implementing universal access to free counselling services upon general practitioner referral; and the additional cost of increasing the number of sessions available under the free scheme to 20. [53245/19]

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Written answers

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Mental Health Services Provision

Questions (466)

Pat Buckley

Question:

466. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the cost of establishing an additional fully staffed crisis house. [53246/19]

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Written answers

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

Mental Health Services Data

Questions (467)

Pat Buckley

Question:

467. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the community mental health teams in operation nationwide; and the vacancies in each respective team, in tabular form. [53247/19]

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Written answers

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

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