Written Answers Nos. 1110-1129
1110. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of implementing the new mental health strategy Sharing the Vision over a five-year time frame; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21395/20]
View answerBudget 2020 saw the Government continue its commitment to mental health by increasing funding by €39 million to €1.026 billion. This represents an increase of over €315 million since 2012, or 45%.
€13 million of the 2020 funding increase is for the continued roll-out of new developments in 2020, including the new National Forensic Hospital in Portrane and progression of the refreshed national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision - A Mental Health Policy for Everyone.
Beyond 2020, proposed new developments will be assessed as part of the annual estimates process.
1111. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing funding to the local drug and alcohol task forces by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21396/20]
View answer1112. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated additional capacity or services a 10% increase in funding for local drug and alcohol task forces would provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21397/20]
View answer1114. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing funding to the regional drug and alcohol task forces by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21399/20]
View answer1115. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated additional capacity or services a 10% increase in funding for regional drug and alcohol task forces would provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21418/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1111, 1112, 1114 and 1115 together.
The Department of Health provides annual funding of €28 million to drug and alcohol task forces, to support the implementation of the national drugs strategy. Additional resources of €1 million will be provided to task forces in 2020 for 14 strategic initiatives and core operating costs.
Over €19 million of the annual task force funding is provided to the 14 local drug and alcohol task forces. A 10 per cent increase in the allocation to Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces would be €1,909,000 and bring their total allocation up to almost €21 million.
The 10 Regional Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces receive almost €8.8m in funding. A 10 per cent increase in the allocation to Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces would be €879,884 and bring their total allocation up to €9.7 million.
The combined cost of a 10 per cent increase to task forces would be €2,788,827.
I believe that additional resources should be directed towards interventions and strategies which are most likely to lead to a reduction in problem substance use and an improvement in public health, safety and well-being. I will consider the allocation of additional resources for the national drugs strategy as part of the Estimates process.
1113. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the health capital plans or proposals submitted to his Department and the HSE by acute hospitals and other health divisions by proposal or plan; if the plan is committed or non-committed for refunding by hospital and hospital group and other health sectors in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21398/20]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly in relation to this matter.
1116. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of an additional medical detoxification bed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21402/20]
View answer1117. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of an additional rehabilitation bed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21403/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1116 and 1117 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1118. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated additional capacity and services that will be delivered for each €1 million additional annual funding for the National Drugs Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21404/20]
View answerSubstance use and addiction affects people from all walks of life. By treating the use of substances as a public health issues, rather than solely as a criminal issue, we can better help individual, families and communities. The national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, is the Government roadmap for addressing drug and alcohol use. The Programme for Government Our Shared Future, sets out the Government's priorities under the strategy.
The Department of Health provides over €130 million in funding to support the implementation of the national drug strategy. Additional funding of over €845k was provided for the implementation of the strategy in 2020. This funding supports the implementation of the Health Diversion Programme, to expand addiction services for pregnant and post-natal women, and to develop a community alcohol service in Galway and a residential treatment service for women and children in the mid-west region.
Improving access to services is a key goal of the strategy. It contains a series of actions which aim to reduce waiting times, provide more equity of access to services around the country and remove potential barriers to accessing treatment by those with complex needs. The strategy also aims to minimise the harms caused by the use and misuse of substances and promote rehabilitation and recovery.
I believe that additional resources should be directed towards interventions and strategies which are most likely to lead to a reduction in problem substance use and an improvement in public health, safety and well-being. I will consider the allocation of additional resources for the national drugs strategy as part of the Estimates process.
1119. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated additional capacity and services will be delivered for every €1 million additional annual funding for the Healthy Ireland Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21405/20]
View answerHealthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025, was developed in response to a number of significant public health challenges, increased levels of chronic preventable disease and growing heath inequalities. Healthy Ireland recognises the requirement for a ‘whole of Government’ approach to addressing the social determinants of health, as well as an inclusive, intersectoral approach to improve population health and well-being by shifting emphasis to prevention, and empowering individuals and communities to take more responsibility for their health and well-being.
At its core the framework has four goals:
1. to increase the proportion of people who are healthy at all stages of life
2. to reduce health inequalities
3. to protect the public from threats to health and well-being
4. to create an environment where every individual and sector of society can play their part in achieving a healthy Ireland
The Framework is therefore implemented via a variety of different means and settings and through a number of different workstreams. Any additional investment into the framework could be allocated against any of these goals based upon the potential impact on achieving the goals of the Framework. Given the far-reaching nature of the framework, the multitude of the partnerships and diverse workstreams it is challenging to estimate what additional capacity and services would be delivered for every additional €1mil.
The Healthy Ireland Framework aims to prevent chronic disease, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes. Not only do these non-communicable diseases account for a significant proportion of the expenditure of my Department, but a healthy population is essential to allow people to live their lives to their full potential, to create the right environment to sustain jobs, to aid the economy and to look after the most vulnerable people in society. A healthy population is a major asset for society.
Whilst much of the work of the Healthy Ireland Framework is done in partnership with a multitude of stakeholders, the direct spend of my Department on the Framework in 2019 was €7,4mil. This expenditure was used to support the Healthy Ireland Fund (€5mil), communications and citizen engagement (€1mil), Healthy Ireland Survey (€1.1mil) and other activities including key research such as the Health Behaviours in School-aged Children study.
As an example, an additional investment of €1mil into the Healthy Ireland fund would enable the provision of an additional €32,000 to 31 Local Community Development Committees across Ireland to run community based actions that promote Health and Wellbeing through six priority themes including: physical activity, mental health, Nutrition, Sexual Health, Tobacco and Alcohol and Spaces and Places for Health and Wellbeing. Round 2 of the Healthy Ireland Fund benefitted 950,000 citizens through the partnership actions of 3,930 organisations from a budget of €5mil. Therefore, each additional €1mil would potentially extend the reach of the fund to engage more partner organisations to play their part in realising a Healthy Ireland and benefit an additional 190,000 citizens.
The budget for Population Health and Wellbeing within the HSE, which implements much of the Healthy Ireland Framework, accounted for €141mil for 2020. For more detail on the delivery of these actions please consult the HSE National Service Plan 2020.
1120. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing universal access to counselling without charge on a general practitioner referral basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21406/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1121. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the additional capacity needed to provide universal access to counselling without charge on a general practitioner referral basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21407/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1122. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated full capital and current cost to achieve a 24/7 crisis intervention service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21408/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1123. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated full capital and current cost of moving to a seven-day week outpatient model of child and adolescent mental healthcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21410/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1124. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans for a 10% increase in homeless mental healthcare services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21411/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1125. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of doubling the investment in site maintenance and upgrading approved mental health centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21412/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1126. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing funding to Jigsaw services by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21414/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1128. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount allocated and spent each year on implementing the time to move on from Congregated Settings A Strategy for Inclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21417/20]
View answerThe Report “Time to Move on from Congregated Settings – A Strategy for Community Inclusion” proposes a new model of support in the community moving people from Congregated settings to the community in line with Government policy. The Report identified around 4000 people (based on 2008 census) with disabilities in Ireland living in congregated settings, defined as a residential setting where people live with ten or more people.
This Government is committed to moving people with disabilities out of congregated settings, to enable them to live independently and to be included in the community. The objective is to reduce this figure by one-third by 2021 and ultimately, to eliminate all congregated settings.
Time to Move On from Congregated Settings is progressing and continues to demonstrate very positive results for service users who have transitioned to living in homes in community settings. Overall, the population in congregated settings at the year end will be 50% lower than those identified in the original report with less than 2,000 people remaining in congregated settings.
I want to emphasise that the appropriate supports and resources are being put in place to ensure that people are supported as they move out of residential centres. The model of care for individuals will be based on a person centred plan (PCP). The PCP may change over time in line with an individual’s needs and circumstances and the model of service delivery applicable at a particular time.
Any opportunity for residents to live in smaller settings in the community will come after considerable planning and discussion with those residents and their families. It will be on the basis that it will enhance their life, and anyone who moves will continue to access the services they require.
The HSE has prioritised the transition of a further 132 people from congregated settings in 2020 under its Service Plan.
As the HSE is responsible for leading out on the recommendations of "Time to Move on from Congregated Settings - A Strategy for Community Inclusion", I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the questions posed.
1129. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the details of the fund put in place to assist patients suffering from asbestos-related cancer; and the way in which the fund can be availed of by such persons. [21419/20]
View answerMy Department does not have a fund in place for persons suffering from asbestos related cancer.
