Written Answers Nos. 300-319
300. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of home support hours being provided in each LHO area as of 30 September 2020 or the latest available date; the way in which that compares to the target in each LHO area for the same period; the number of persons on the waiting list for home support hours in each LHO area in tabular form; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to 12 and more than 12 months. [29497/20]
View answerAs these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
301. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting placement under the fair deal scheme as of 30 September 2020 or the latest available date; the average waiting time; the number of persons in each LHO area awaiting placement under the scheme in tabular form; and the length of time waiting. [29498/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
302. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the statement by a federation (details supplied) that the €10 million in aid allocated to disability services in the winter plan is not enough to meet the needs of service users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29499/20]
View answerI was pleased to announce with Minister Donnelly on September 28th that €10 million in 2020 is being made available to support the resumption of day services and enhanced home support services for disability service users. As issues around the resumption of disability day services are COVID specific, funding was sought from the National Action Plan on COVID-19, not the Winter Plan.
Of this €10 million, €7.5 million will increase disability day services by one day a week for over 14,000 adults.
€2.5 million will provide 210 intensive support packages to enable children and young adults to remain at home and in their communities. These intensive support packages will enable young adults with complex or high support needs to remain at home or in their communities. The packages can combine in-home supports, respite and support in the community, based on individual need.
The additional funding will further support the resumption of day services, which began to gradually resume throughout August and September. However, it should be noted that capacity in day service locations will be reduced, in line with public health guidance. The HSE and service providers will keep this measure under review and as public health guidance evolves, capacity to provide supports will adapt accordingly. Both the HSE and service providers are committed to maximising the support that can be provided within these restrictions. Further funding requirements for 2021 will be considered through the Estimates process.
303. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE medical or therapeutic staff, including dentists, nurses, physiotherapists, SLTs and OTs, that have been deployed to Covid-19 contact tracing or testing duties on a weekly basis between 1 May 2020 and 1 October 2020, inclusive; and the breakdown of the professional roles of each in tabular form. [29500/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
304. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 633 of 5 March 2020, if he will provide an update; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29511/20]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In line with the 2013 Health Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list.
Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
The NCPE conducts health technology assessments (HTAs) for the HSE and makes recommendations on reimbursement to assist HSE decisions. The NCPE uses a decision framework to systematically assess whether a drug is cost-effective as a health intervention.
I am advised by the HSE that it received an application on 22 November 2018 for the reimbursement of burosumab (Crysvita®) for the treatment of X-linked hypophosphataemia with radiographic evidence of bone disease in children 1 year of age and older and adolescents with growing skeletons.
In January 2019, a full HTA was commissioned by the HSE. This assessment was completed in March 2020, with the NCPE recommending that burosumab not be considered for reimbursement unless cost-effectiveness can be improved relative to existing treatments.
The HSE Drugs Group is the national committee in place to make recommendations on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. The decision-making authority in the HSE is the HSE Executive Management Team (EMT).
The HTA report with respect to burosumab was reviewed by the HSE Drugs Group, along with the outputs of commercial discussions with the applicant which took place in June 2020, and the patient group submission received during the HTA process.
The HSE Drugs Group have requested patient and clinician engagement input via the Rare Diseases Technology Review Committee (RDTRC) to assist the group in making its recommendation to the HSE EMT regarding the reimbursement of burosumab.
The application for burosumab remains under consideration with the HSE and is being assessed in line with the 2013 Health Act.
305. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if student nurses will be paid for work they do in hospitals. [29523/20]
View answerThe HSE continues to fund the employment of 4th year student nurses who are on rostered work placements in hospital settings, including those scheduled to commence in the coming weeks and those 4th Year students who are to commence rostered work placement in 2021.
These 4th year student nurses on rostered work placement are paid at the approved rate as detailed on the HSE salary scale of €21,794 (annualised - psychiatric nursing specialism) and €21,322 (annualised - all other nursing specialisms).
In addition there are other supports open to all eligible Nursing Students:
- An accommodation allowance available for eligible Nursing Students which amounts up to €50.79 a week for the duration of the placement where it is necessary for the student to obtain accommodation away from his/her normal place of residence.
- A travel allowance is also available to eligible Nursing Students.
306. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when health staff, such as speech and language therapists and occupational therapists currently carrying out contact tracing, will return to their pre-Covid-19 roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29524/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
307. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the waiting time to access a service (details supplied); the number of children on the waiting list; his plans to tackle the waiting list; when the service expects to have a full complement of staff; the alternatives available to those on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29525/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.
The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
309. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with disabilities in receipt of home support hours in each LHO area as of 30 September 2020 or latest date available; and the number on the waiting list for same in each LHO area; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively in tabular form. [29550/20]
View answerThe Department of Health funds a range of assisted living services including Home Support Services to support individuals to maximise their capacity to live full and independent lives.
Home Support Services are provided either directly by the HSE or through a range of voluntary service providers.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
310. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with disabilities in receipt of personal assistance hours in each LHO area as of 30 September 2020 or latest date available; the number on the waiting list for same in each LHO area; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively in tabular form. [29551/20]
View answerThe Department of Health funds a range of assisted living services including Personal Assistant and Home Support Services to support individuals to maximise their capacity to live full and independent lives.
PA and Home Support Services are provided either directly by the HSE or through a range of voluntary service providers.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
311. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of residential places for persons with a disability being provided as of 30 September 2020 or the latest date available by CHO area in tabular form. [29552/20]
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.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
312. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of new emergency places provided to persons with a disability as of 30 September 2020, by local health office in tabular form. [29553/20]
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.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
313. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of children as of 30 September 2020 or the latest date available who were awaiting a first assessment from the HSE under the Disability Act 2005 by each local health office area in tabular form. [29554/20]
View answer315. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy assessment by each local health area as of 30 September 2020 or the latest date available waiting list; the numbers waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number waiting aged zero to 17 years and those aged 18 and above, respectively by each category in tabular form. [29556/20]
View answer316. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy initial treatment waiting list by each local health area as of 30 September 2020 or the latest date available; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and the number more than 12 months, respectively; and the number waiting aged zero to 17 years and those aged 18 and above by each category in tabular form. [29557/20]
View answer317. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy further treatment waiting list for each local health area as of 30 September 2020 or the latest date available; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number waiting aged zero to 17 years and those aged 18 years and above in each category in tabular form. [29558/20]
View answer318. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy first time assessment waiting list for each local health area as of 30 September 2020 or the latest date available; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the numbers waiting aged zero to four, five to 17, 18 to 64 and more than 65 years of age by each category in tabular form. [29559/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 313, 315 to 318, inclusive, together.
The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.
The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
314. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the physiotherapy waiting list by each local health area as of 30 September 2020 or the latest date available the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number waiting aged zero to four, five to 17, 18 to 64 and more than 65 by each category in tabular form. [29555/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
319. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the organisational review of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority that was carried out and his plans to implement the recommendations. [29274/20]
View answerAn independent review of the Organisational Capability of the SFPA was commissioned in 2019 and completed by Price Waterhouse Coopers. The principal objective of the review was to contribute to the ongoing and future development of the organisation. A Steering & Oversight Group comprised of three senior and expert persons, all independent of SFPA, was put in place to oversee the review. The areas covered by the review are the organisational capabilities of the SFPA to deliver on its mission for the effective and fair regulation of the sea fishing and seafood sectors that fall within its mandate.
The Review was completed in April 2020. The Review made 46 recommendations which, when implemented, will address issues identified to improve the effectiveness of the organisation. An independent Advisory Board, nominated by my Department will assist the management of the SFPA in the implementation of the Report. This Board is purely advisory and does not have any executive role in the operations of the organisation.
I look forward to the effective and efficient implementation of the recommendations of the review over the coming period.
