Tuesday, 15 Dec 2020

Written Answers Nos. 531-551

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (531)

Pa Daly

Question:

531. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the HSE's policy on accepting donations of food or other goods from the public during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43074/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (532)

Pa Daly

Question:

532. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the details of the Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 wards of University Hospital Kerry; if staff were kept operationally separate between these wards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43075/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Health Services Staff

Questions (533)

David Cullinane

Question:

533. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 30 September 2020, if savings are achieved through the use of agency staff or if it is more expensive to use agency staff; the cost-benefit analyses that have been conducted over the past decade on the use of agency staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43083/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (534)

Seán Canney

Question:

534. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his plans to allow a companion of choice at birth for women during Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43084/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Hospital Staff

Questions (535)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

535. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant psychiatrist posts allocated to each CHO in tabular form; and if he will provide the equivalent figures as of 1 December 2018 and 1 December 2019. [43085/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Health Services Staff

Questions (536)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

536. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if the post of clinical lead for the national clinical programme for dual diagnosis has been filled on a permanent basis. [43086/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics

Questions (537)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

537. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of recruiting two additional full-time senior pharmacists for the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. [43087/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I wish to advise the Deputy that the first point on the salary scale for a senior pharmacist is €62,720. When PRSI of approximately 12% is added to this figure, the cost per new senior pharmacist in Year 1 would come to €70,246.40.

The cost of recruiting two additional full-time senior pharmacists for the NCPE would therefore amount to approximately €140,492.80 in Year 1.

Question No. 538 answered with Question No. 513.

Dental Services

Questions (539)

Martin Browne

Question:

539. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the date on which the next national recruitment campaign for dental nurses will commence. [43100/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Nursing Staff

Questions (540)

Martin Browne

Question:

540. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time spinal specialist nurses working in each of the paediatric hospitals in each of the past three years in tabular form. [43101/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Nursing Staff

Questions (541)

Martin Browne

Question:

541. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost in 2021 of recruiting seven extra clinical nurse co-ordinators for children with life-limiting conditions. [43102/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (542)

Michael McNamara

Question:

542. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if the HSE mid-west CHO 3 is cancelling clinical agency staff hired to perform swabbing while seeking assistance from the Defence Forces and the National Ambulance Service and redeploying primary care staff at overtime rates; if so, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43111/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (543, 544, 550)

Thomas Gould

Question:

543. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the reason for the continued closure of bowling alleys. [43116/20]

Pat Buckley

Question:

544. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason for the continued closure of bowling alleys under current restrictions, given the ability to maintain social distancing within such businesses and the reopening of businesses of a similar risk level. [43118/20]

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

550. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if a facility (details supplied) can open under level 3 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43197/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 543, 544 and 550 together.

The Government appreciates that there are many aspects of normal life that have been altered by the emergence of COVID-19, and the response that has been required. It also recognises that these changes are difficult for many people. However, it is the case at present that many of the things which we have previously taken for granted are no longer accessible in the same way due to the risks that they pose and the ease with which this virus spreads in particular conditions.

The Government’s medium-term Plan Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19, sets out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19, in a range of areas, over a period of 6–9 months.

The Plan aims to allow society and businesses to operate as normally as possible, while protecting 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.

The Plan consists of 5 levels. Each level sets out what is permitted for social or family gatherings, work and public transport, bars, hotels and restaurants, exercise activities and religious services, at that moment in time. Each level contains a “basket” of measures which are intended, collectively, to contribute to lowering the risk of transmission of Covid-19 in alignment with the risk level at that time. The set of measures, individually, do not comprise a list of activities or places which are equally safe. Instead, they are “baskets” of measures which are informed by public health understanding of the disease.

The number of people allowed to gather in different scenarios in the Government Plan 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. The measures in place for each level reflect the prevailing disease situation and recognise that we can and must prioritise some activities over others.

Information in relation to the public health measures in place at all levels of the Plan are available at:- www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/resilience-recovery-2020-2021-plan-for-living-with-covid-19/.

With regard to your specific query please refer to the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (NO. 9) Regulations 2020 Regulation (S.I. 560 of 2020), Schedule 2 for a list of businesses or services that are not permitted under the current restrictions.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (545)

Dara Calleary

Question:

545. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) who missed the HPV vaccine four years ago can avail of it now. [43119/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (546)

David Cullinane

Question:

546. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to put in place a holistic aftercare package for those suffering from long Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43131/20]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Freedom of Information

Questions (547)

Gino Kenny

Question:

547. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason access to HSE files under freedom of information can be refused under section 15(1)(c) if it is felt that there are too many documents to retrieve and examine; his views as to whether this denial of access can have grave and far-reaching implications for those who need their files; if consideration will be given to re-examining this reason for denying access in view of the negative impact it has on those who need to see their files; if there is a right to appeal this decision; if so, if the appeal can be conducted by an independent reviewer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43135/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive(HSE) is a separate body to the Department of Health for the purposes of Freedom of Information. Statutory responsibility for the Health Service Executive's compliance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2014 rests entirely with the Health Service Executive.

In invoking Section 15(1)(c) of the Act, the FOI body in question, in this case the HSE, must offer to assist the requester in amending the request so that it no longer falls within the description of this Section.

The Freedom of Information legislation provides for the right of appeal, by requesters, in cases where the above may have not been met. An appeal may also be made, even if assistance has been offered to amend the wording of the request. This appeal is known as an Internal Review appeal. A request for such an appeal must be made, in writing, by the requester, within 4 weeks of receipt of the decision from the relevant FOI body. Internal Reviews are carried out by individuals who hves not been involved in the making of the original decision.

In accordance with Section 22(1)(b) of the FOI Act, 2014, a requester may appeal the Internal Review decision, to the Office of the Information Commissioner.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (548)

Robert Troy

Question:

548. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a person who attends and pays for a consultation with a private consultant can then be referred to the top of a public waiting list by that consultant without incurring fees should the medical need be great enough. [43190/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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 is a standardised approach used by the HSE to manage scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures. It sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists and was developed in 2014 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.

The decision to add a patient to a waiting list is made by a Consultant or Registar. All patients added to the waiting list must be assigned a clinical priority of routine or urgent. It is the responsibility of the clinician making the decision to admit to define the patient as routine or urgent.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (549, 612, 613, 641)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

549. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if Pilates classes are allowed under level 3 restrictions in instances in which participants are more than 2 m apart throughout and instructors wear appropriate PPE. [43195/20]

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

612. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the rationale behind the decision taken on the operation of yoga classes and studios under level 3 of the living with Covid plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43459/20]

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

613. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to allowing yoga classes to proceed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43460/20]

Gerald Nash

Question:

641. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the evidence and reasoning behind the continued closure of yoga studios when similar facilities such as gyms have reopened; if he will allow yoga studios to reopen with relevant guidelines if there is no clear evidence to the contrary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43569/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 549, 612, 613 and 641 together.

The Government appreciates that there are many aspects of normal life that have been altered by the emergence of COVID-19, and the response that has been required. It also recognises that these changes are difficult for many people. However, it is the case at present that many of the things which we have previously taken for granted are no longer accessible in the same way due to the risks that they pose and the ease with which this virus spreads in particular conditions. 

The Government’s medium-term Strategy Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19, sets out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19, in a range of areas, over a period of 6 – 9 months.

 The Plan aims to allow society and businesses to operate as normally as possible, while protecting 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.

 The Plan consists of 5 levels. Each level sets out what is permitted for social or family gatherings, work and public transport, bars, hotels and restaurants, exercise activities and religious services, at that moment in time.  Each level contains a “basket” of measures which are intended, collectively, to contribute to lowering the risk of transmission of Covid-19 in alignment with the risk level at that time. The set of measures, individually, do not comprise a list of activities or places which are equally safe.  Instead, they are “baskets” of measures which are informed by public health understanding of the disease. The measures in place for each level reflect the prevailing disease situation and recognise that we can and must prioritise some activities over others. 

 As the Deputies 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 numbers of people allowed to gather in different scenarios in the Government Plan 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.

As the Deputies are aware, Ireland is currently at level 3 of the Plan.  Information in relation to the public health measures in place at all levels of the Plan, including information in relation to indoor gatherings and indoor and exercise classes and is available at:- https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad569-level-3/

Question No. 550 answered with Question No. 543.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (551, 590)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

551. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will allow dance classes to open during level 3 restrictions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43205/20]

John Lahart

Question:

590. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the reason for the continued closure of dance schools, which is causing stress to operators and to the children who are missing out on the opportunity to dance in a properly regulated setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43412/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 and 590 together.

The Government appreciates that there are many aspects of normal life that have been altered by the emergence of COVID-19, and the response that has been required. It also recognises that these changes are difficult for many people. However, it is the case at present that many of the things which we have previously taken for granted are no longer accessible in the same way due to the risks that they pose and the ease with which this virus spreads in particular conditions.

The Government’s medium-term Strategy Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19, sets out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19, in a range of areas, over a period of 6 – 9 months.

The Plan aims to allow society and businesses to operate as normally as possible, while protecting 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.

The Plan consists of 5 levels. Each level sets out what is permitted for social or family gatherings, work and public transport, bars, hotels and restaurants, exercise activities and religious services, at that moment in time. Each level contains a “basket” of measures which are intended, collectively, to contribute to lowering the risk of transmission of Covid-19 in alignment with the risk level at that time. The set of measures, individually, do not comprise a list of activities or places which are equally safe. Instead, they are “baskets” of measures which are informed by public health understanding of the disease. The measures in place for each level reflect the prevailing disease situation and recognise that we can and must prioritise some activities over others.

As the Deputies 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 numbers of people allowed to gather in different scenarios in the Government Plan 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.

As the Deputies are aware, Ireland is currently at level 3 of the Plan. Information in relation to the public health measures in place at all levels of the Plan, including information in relation to indoor gatherings and indoor and exercise classes and is available at:- https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad569-level-3/

The Deputies should note that primary responsibility for dance classes are the remit of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media.