Written Answers Nos. 374-400
374. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of a home for persons with physical and sensory disabilities (details supplied); when the HSE estimates process for 2021 will conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39867/20]
View answerThe Government is committed to ensuring the most effective interventions are provided for people with a disability to ensure the best outcomes.
The HSE currently provides funding to support over 8,100 residential places for people with a disability and actively engages with families to ensure that those with the greatest need are prioritised for a residential place.
In the Budget for 2021, an additional €100m has been made available for new disability developments, which will see the budget for specialist disability services exceeding over €2.2 billion next year. The increased allocation includes additional funding which will enable the HSE to provide and plan for more residential places and to further progress decongregation next year.
The National Service Plan for 2021, which is a detailed operational planning process, will outline the key commitments in relation to the delivery of services in the coming year. As the Plan has not been finalised, I cannot provide details of any commitments in relation to developments in particular locations at this stage in the process.
In relation to the specific development referred to by the Deputy, I am advised that the HSE is continuing to liaise with the families involved and is working with relevant agencies, including Respond, the housing agency, to explore all avenues to make this facility operational as soon as possible in the context of available resources.
375. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the consideration being taken on a service (details supplied) being extended to a seven-day service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40759/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
376. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to recent reports in the media that a protected disclosure was made to his Department concerning warnings of issues pertaining to foetal diagnostic testing in 2018, some months before a perfectly healthy unborn baby was misdiagnosed and subsequently aborted in the National Maternity Hospital in 2019. [40270/20]
View answerAs I have stated previously, and as the Deputy will appreciate, I am not in a position to confirm whether or not a protected disclosure of the nature referred to in this question, has been notified to my Department.
377. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the rationale behind the current guidance in relation to attendance at funerals and weddings. [42095/20]
View answerYou will be aware that the situation regarding COVID-19 has been, and continues to be, an evolving situation. COVID-19 is still having a major impact both here in Ireland and elsewhere.
On Tuesday 15 September the Government published ‘Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19’. This Plan outlines our medium-term strategy for COVID-19 and sets out a Framework of 5 Levels which outline the broad measures which will apply depending on the level of the virus at any given time. The Plan is designed to help everyone – individuals, organisations and sectors – to better understand, anticipate and prepare for the measures that might be introduced to contain transmission of the virus.
Any measures introduced at any level of the Plan are aimed at limiting the spread and damage of COVID-19, and are necessary to protect our key priorities of supporting and maintaining health and social care services, keeping education and childcare services open and protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities.
As I'm sure the Deputy can appreciate, COVID-19 spreads when individuals and groups come into close contact with one another, enabling the virus to move from one person to another. COVID-19 is infectious in a person with no symptoms, or for the period of time before they develop symptoms. The number of people allowed to gather in different scenarios in the Government's Framework are based on a review of international practice and the judgment of public health experts. It seeks to balance the risks of different types of gatherings against the desire to allow normal activities to proceed in so far as possible.
With regard to weddings and funerals, restrictions apply at all Levels and these restrictions are set out in the Plan. At present, in Level 3, weddings can go ahead with a limit of 25 guests while up to 25 mourners may attend funerals.
The Plan is clear that sectoral guidance also applies and in the case of weddings, guidance from Fáilte Ireland should also be considered: https://failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Hotels-and-Guesthouses.pdf.
378. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to address long waiting times for psychology appointments in primary care in south-western areas of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42300/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
379. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the CAMHS waiting list at the end of November 2020; and the way in which this compares to the same date in 2019. [42301/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
381. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the funding that will be made available to the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital Group to upgrade to four operating theatres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41274/20]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of healthcare equipment, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
382. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the funding that has been allocated for the building of an extension to Heather House, St. Mary's Campus, Cork which will provide for an additional 60 beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41275/20]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
383. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the engagement he has had with his European colleagues regarding the distribution of a potential Covid-19 vaccine. [38066/20]
View answerIreland supports the ongoing cooperation between Member States in response to COVID-19.
Ireland is currently involved in an EU Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission on behalf of member states to procure a portfolio of suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19.
Both my Department and the HSE have actively engaged in meetings of the Steering Board that is chaired by the Commission which provides the core governance and consultative forum for the EU procurement process.
The arrangements are intended to ensure a coordinated action at the European level to vaccinate the EU population.
384. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the status of the plan to roll out a Covid-19 vaccine in Ireland. [39969/20]
View answerThe Government is committed to the timely implementation of a COVID-19 immunisation programme, as soon as one or more vaccines in the EU portfolio are approved for use. In this regard a High-Level Taskforce was established to support and oversee the development and implementation of the programme.
The Taskforce is supporting my Department and the HSE in developing national COVID-19 vaccination strategy and implementation plan which is due to be submitted by Friday, 11 December. I will then bring the plan to Government for consideration and subject to the outcome of this discussion, it is the intention that the Vaccination Strategy and Implementation Plan will be published.
385. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the actions he has taken to ensure that veterinary services are available to local abattoirs for inspections post November 2020. [33515/20]
View answerThe Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is the competent authority with overall responsibility for the enforcement of food safety legislation in Ireland. Responsibility for enforcement of food legislation is managed through service contracts between the FSAI and a number of competent authorities, also known as ‘Official Agencies’. These official agencies include the HSE; Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Local Authorities; and Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority.
Local Authorities (LAs), acting on behalf of the FSAI, are responsible for food law enforcement required under EU food law at certain food businesses with the controls carried out by the Local Authority Veterinary Service (LAVS).
The annual funding provided by my Department to the FSAI is inclusive of funding for the LA service contracts. While funded by my Department, the FSAI is independent in the exercise of its functions.
The FSAI and the County & City Management Association (CCMA) have been engaging for some time regarding the funding and effective delivery of the service. The current LA service contracts with the FSAI were due to expire on 30th November 2020 and the Authority had been working closely with all parties to ensure that a system of food safety controls is in place in LA supervised premises post 1st December 2020.
My Department has agreed to provide additional funding, on a once-off basis in 2021, to the FSAI in respect of the LAVS service contracts for 2021, which in turn is being made available to the LAs by the FSAI. This is in recognition of the need to provide more stability to the food business sector that might be impacted. The additional funding is subject to a number of conditions relating to the development of a new model of service delivery and related service matters.
On 28th October 2020, the CCMA accepted the FSAI’s offer of additional funding, confirming that the service contract extensions until 31st December 2021 are in accordance with the terms offered by the FSAI. This arrangement ensures continuity of current agreements with no impact on abattoirs or food businesses while a new service contract model is being developed.
386. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the insufficient support services provided to children with disabilities particularly school-aged services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40501/20]
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.
387. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the status of and position regarding the restoration of full-time disability day services; when these services will resume a five-day week service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40503/20]
View answerAll day service locations with the exception of those being utilised as COVID-19 Isolation or testing centres have reopened since August.
There are currently 7 day service locations nationally that are being used for COVID-19 isolation or testing centres: one in CHO1; two in CHO2; one in CHO3 and three in CHO9.
Service users that usually received their supports from these locations are now either receiving supports at another location or receiving outreach or home-based supports. A further location will resume as a day service location in the coming weeks as an alternative COVID-19 test facility has been procured.
Day services re-opened at 39% capacity throughout August and early September. For the duration of the COVID-19 emergency day service capacity is reduced, this is due to the physical limitations of the buildings available, the lack of mainstream community activities, and the continued restrictions imposed by social distancing guidance. Many people with disabilities have underlying health conditions, and as the threat of COVID-19 remains, unfortunately so too does the need for these restrictions.
In September, Minister Donnelly and I announced that €7.5 million is being made available in 2020 to increase disability day services by one day a week for 14,940 adults. I also secured funding under the Budget to maintain this increase in 2021.
The funding will be used to augment staffing levels so that adults that currently live at home with their families will receive an average of an additional day of service at a day service location over and above what they have been receiving since day services resumed in August. Chief Officers were asked to immediately progress plans with the service provider sector to expedite the recruitment of the staff in this regard.
388. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the current position of those section 39 workers that did not receive pay parity; and if these workers will be included in the PSSA. [36718/20]
View answerAn agreement reached at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in October 2018 provided for pay restoration in relation to 50 pilot organisations in the first instance. Pay restoration for these bodies commenced in April 2019 with further payments due in October 2020 and October 2021 as appropriate.
The agreement recognised that some of the remaining Section 39 organisations were also likely to have pay restoration issues and a process to address these issues commenced in 2019 under the auspices of the WRC.
I can confirm that a positive and constructive WRC engagement took place between the parties on 9 December 2020. I am hopeful that a final agreement will be reached between the parties.
On the question of these workers being included in the PSSA, this is not possible as these employees are not public servants. The PSSA encompasses public servants and civil servants only.
389. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide mental health support to children suffering as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic given the waiting lists for CAMHS. [40756/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
390. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for a child to receive an appointment with an ophthalmologist; the average waiting time between receiving the appointment and being examined by an ophthalmologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42367/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
391. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the details of funding that was allocated towards screening children with Down's syndrome for Down's arthritis in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42368/20]
View answer392. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for a child to receive an appointment with a paediatric rheumatologist; the average waiting time between a child receiving an appointment and being examined by an paediatric rheumatologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42369/20]
View answerI sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for Rheumatology treatment, and I am conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families.
Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has advised my Department that during the initial phases of COVID-19, all face to face hospital outpatient reviews and most of the planned diagnostic tests, including MRI, were deferred in response to the pandemic. CHI at Crumlin have recommenced the majority of outpatient and diagnostic services, albeit at reduced numbers, due to public health guidelines on social distancing. Currently, Consultant Rheumatologists are seeing a number of patients in the outpatient suite including urgent patients and those who were deferred during the early phases of COVID-19.
CHI has further advised that there is an active recruitment campaign for an additional Rheumatology Consultant underway. This addition to the medical staff will allow for an increased number of patients to be seen, diagnosed and treatment initiated, as part of the comprehensive Rheumatology service.
The attached table from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) waiting list figures, shows the number of children awaiting a first Rheumatology Outpatient appointment at CHI by time band at the end of October.
In relation to the average waiting time for a child to receive an appointment and be examined by a paediatric rheumatologist, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
Children's Health Ireland Rheumatology Outpatient Waiting List October 2020
|
0-3 mths |
3-6 mths |
6-9 mths |
9-12 mths |
12-15 mths |
15-18 mths |
18+ mths |
Total |
|
|
Rheumatology |
699 |
106 |
59 |
90 |
81 |
71 |
98 |
1,204 |
393. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the status of the resumption of cancer screening services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42513/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
394. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if the oversight committee has received the terms of progression following the HIQA study and clinical validation on antigen testing. [33909/20]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has adopted RNA PCR as the gold standard test for diagnosing Covid-19 cases, as part of the HSE test and trace strategy, consistent with international best practice, and approved by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). This platform is deployed in acute hospitals, the NVRL and HSE’s commercial partners. Given the volumes required, these operate as batch tests and hence take a number of hours depending on the platform and the volume being processed.
The HSE has worked intensively over the last number of months to put in place a comprehensive testing and tracing operation. We now have on-island capacity to test up to 126,000 people per week, which can be increased to 140,000 per week if the demand requires.
It should be noted that testing for Sars-Cov2 does not confirm that an individual with a 'not detected' result is not incubating the infection or the level of virus is below detectable levels at the time of the test. It is for this reason, for example, that testing of close contacts of a confirmed case is carried out on two separate occasions, when they are first identified and again 7 days after their last contact with the person.
The Health Information and Quality Authority recently published a rapid Health Technology Assessment (HTA) into antigen testing. The review confirmed that antigen tests available to date show reduced diagnostic accuracy compared with RT-PCR but more recently developed tests are worth validating now in Ireland. Following the completion of the HTA, the National Public Health Emergency Team asked the HSE to establish an Antigen Project Validation Working Group, the aim of which is to validate the antigen tests in the market and evaluate the public health deployment options. Work is ongoing in this regard.
Ireland is pursuing a robust testing strategy under the guidance of NPHET. NPHET considers and reviews, based on public health risk assessments, how best to target testing to hunt the virus in populations where it’s most likely and where it will do most harm. The testing strategy in use in Ireland remains under consideration by NPHET on an ongoing basis.
395. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health his views on a newspaper article (details supplied) on high rates of suicides of young women in south County Dublin; the matters learned from the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37037/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
396. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the steps he proposes take to ease the waiting list for children to attend child and adolescent mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40766/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
397. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the orthopaedic outpatient waiting list at University Hospital Waterford is now 24 months; if he is satisfied that it is acceptable that patients in pain in the south east region, certified as urgent, are required to wait two years to see an orthopaedic consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42539/20]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being collated by Department officials and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.
398. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of access for partners of expectant mothers to scans and wards during labour; the national position on same; if hospitals have the flexibility to implement their own measures now due to the decline in Covid-19 cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42544/20]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
399. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the criteria used for general practitioners to remove GMS patients from their client list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42545/20]
View answerUnder the General Medical Service contract, the HSE may assign an eligible person, a person who holds a medical card or GP visit card, to a GP’s panel where that person has unsuccessfully applied to at least three GMS GPs in their local area, or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area. Assignments may be reviewed on request from the GP concerned after a period of six months from the date of assignment.
At any time subsequent to the inclusion of an eligible person on their list, or after a period of six month where a patient has been assigned to a GP by the HSE, a GP may request the HSE to arrange for the discontinuance of that person’s inclusion on their panel, giving the reason in confidence where requested. The HSE will notify the person accordingly and supply them with information to enable them to apply for inclusion in the list of another GP. After one month, if the person is not listed with another GP, the HSE shall assign them to another GP unless there are substantial grounds for not doing so. This process is conducted in regular consultation with the IMO.
Separately, the HSE may assign an eligible person to another GP where their GP is resigning or otherwise terminating their GMS contract. In addition, where an eligible person wishes to change their GP themselves, they may make a request for transfer to the HSE.
An eligible person who wishes to change GP or is having an issue regarding their assignment to a GP, should contact the HSE National Medical Card Unit or their Local Health Office.
400. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the Covid-19 guidelines for office workers that can continue to work from home but are required by their employers to return to the office setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42546/20]
View answerResilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 which was published by the Government, sets out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19 in a range of areas over the next 6 - 9 months.
This Plan outlines our medium-term strategy for COVID-19 and sets out a Framework of 5 Levels which outline the broad measures which will apply depending on the level of the virus at any given time. The Plan is designed to help everyone – individuals, families, organisations and sectors – to better understand, anticipate and prepare for the measures that might be introduced to contain transmission of Covid-19.
As you will be aware Ireland is now at level 3 of the Plan. At level 3 the public health advice is to work from home wherever possible.
The Work Safely Protocol which can be viewed at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/bb7fd-work-safely-protocol/ was revised recently, and is the result of a collaborative effort, led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and involving primarily the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), with significant input by public health from the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
This Protocol advises that office work should continue to be carried out at home wherever practicable. The Protocol sets out in very clear terms for employers and employees, in all business sectors, the steps that they must take on an ongoing basis to mitigate against the transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace. As the advice issued by Government and NPHET continues to evolve, this Work Safely Protocol and the measures employers and workers need to address will also evolve.
Further information on the public health measures currently in place, including information in relation to Work under the different Levels, is available at https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/resilience-recovery-2020-2021-plan-for-living-with-covid-19
