Written Answers Nos. 762-786
762. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health his plans to deal with tariffs on prosthetics in a hard Brexit situation; his plans to address the increased cost of same; if costs will be met by the State; his plans to develop new supply chains within the EU; and his plans to bring the discretionary medical card for prosthetics in line with articles in the Lisbon treaty and the UNCPRD. [44694/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
763. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44695/20]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The HSE is currently recommending that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken at this time due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19.
This decision was made arising from the rapid increase in Covid-19 admissions and to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
764. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if a successor to the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020 is being developed; if so, the timelines for same; the way in which he plans to have interested stakeholders contribute to the formation of a new strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44701/20]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that 2020 was intended to be the final year in the lifetime of the current National Sexual Health Strategy.
It had been envisaged that the Department of Health and the HSE Sexual Health Crisis Pregnancy Programme would, in 2020, review the position with regard to the future direction of the Strategy. However, it was necessary to postpone this work due to the urgent need to mobilise and prioritise resources in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is the intention of this Department that the review of the NSHS will take place as soon as possible in 2021. While the outcome of this review will determine the future direction of the Strategy, it will also be necessary to ensure that any remaining work items arising from the current Strategy continue to be implemented.
In light of this, officials from my Department recently wrote to the Interim Programme Lead for the HSE SHCPP, suggesting that we extend the lifetime of the current NSHS to the end of 2021, and requesting that the HSE take any necessary measures to incorporate this into the service planning process.
Consultation with the relevant stakeholders will be carried out in the course of the review process.
765. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if persons between 18 and 64 years of age with Friedreich's Ataxia will be included in the people aged 18-64 with certain medical conditions category for Covid-19 vaccine roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44702/20]
View answer811. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he will consider giving a higher priority to the medically vulnerable aged under 65 years of age for the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44896/20]
View answer815. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if carers are included in the any of the higher-order sequencing Covid-19 vaccine allocation groups or if they are more generally considered as part of the aged 18 to 54 years who did not have access to the vaccine in prior phases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44910/20]
View answer820. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the position of family carers in the vaccination allocation sequencing under the national Covid-19 vaccination programme; and if for the purposes of the of the roll-out of the vaccine programme, family carers fall under the category of healthcare workers or a particular grade of key workers. [44925/20]
View answer888. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason persons with serious underlying conditions aged 18 to 64 are so far down the list to receive a vaccine. [45189/20]
View answer894. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will consider carers in group homes and those caring for persons with disabilities as a priority group for the roll-out of vaccines under the provisional allocation groups plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45205/20]
View answer895. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will consider adding carers in the home who are caring for persons with disabilities as a priority group for the roll-out of vaccines under the provisional allocation groups plan (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45206/20]
View answer905. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if special needs teachers seeing children with special educational needs will be included for very early vaccination; if carers caring for persons in their own home will be included in same; if primary and secondary teachers will be vaccinated as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1019/21]
View answer985. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if student nurses will be offered vaccinations as a vulnerable group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1276/21]
View answer993. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if those at high risk to Covid-19 aged between 18 to 64 who live in residential care facilities will be placed in a priority group for the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1305/21]
View answer1008. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to providing the Covid-19 vaccination to teachers, SNAs and creche workers who are being asked to stay on the front line along with nursing home residents and workers on the front line of the health services. [1348/21]
View answer1009. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the details of the prioritisation of vaccination for the most vulnerable of older persons not currently in nursing homes; the timeframe for vaccination of this cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1350/21]
View answer1055. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health if he will prioritise the roll-out of vaccinations to secondary school teachers under the Covid-19 vaccine allocation strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1649/21]
View answer1065. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health when childcare workers can expect to receive the Covid-19 vaccine; if he will consider bringing forward the date for administering the vaccine for these workers given the service they provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1684/21]
View answer1073. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the priority of the approximately 1300 cystic fibrosis patients under the provisional vaccination priority list will be re-examined (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1725/21]
View answer1075. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding vaccination priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1735/21]
View answer1100. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will consider prioritising persons with cystic fibrosis in the planned vaccine rollout alongside the elderly and those in care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1873/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 765, 811, 815, 820, 888, 894, 895, 905, 985, 993, 1008, 1009, 1055, 1065, 1073, 1075 and 1100 together.
The aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is to ensure, over time, that vaccine will become available to vaccinate all of those for whom the vaccine is indicated. Given that there will be initially limited vaccines available, it will take some time for all to receive those vaccines and that has necessitated an allocation strategy to ensure that those most at risk of death and serious illness receive the vaccine first.
The priority is to first vaccinate and protect directly the most vulnerable amongst us, that is, those most likely to have a poor outcome if they contract the virus. The priority is to directly use vaccines to save lives and reduce serious illness, hence the focus on the over 65 year old cohort in long term residential care facilities, and healthcare workers in front-line services often caring for the most vulnerable.
All of the groups will be covered as further vaccine supplies become available and the immunisation programme is rolled out nationally.
The evidence will be kept under review and the allocation groups may be updated, where necessary, in light of new evidence.
Further information on the Strategy can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/
766. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to the progression of the 50-bed new St. Joseph's Hospital in Ardee, County Louth; if he will provide other relevant details; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44704/20]
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.
767. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the reason persons with a disability who live in the family home or independently in the community including those with an intellectual disability are not listed as a priority cohort for the programme of vaccination for Covid-19 given that some persons in this cohort can find it difficult to understand social distance, maintain cough and hand hygiene and some cannot tolerate wearing marks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44706/20]
View answer801. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the specific provision for persons with disabilities and their carers that has been made in the provisional vaccine allocation group plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44860/20]
View answer822. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the stage of the priority list at which persons with intellectual disabilities will be eligible for the Covid-19 vaccination roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44932/20]
View answer893. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will consider persons with disabilities living in group homes and congregated settings as a higher priority for the roll-out of vaccines under the provisional allocation groups plan (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45204/20]
View answer984. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if adults or children with intellectual disabilities who are in care settings will be offered vaccinations as a vulnerable group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1275/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 767, 801, 822, 893 and 984 together.
The aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is to ensure, over time, that vaccine will become available to vaccinate all of those for whom the vaccine is indicated. Given that there will be initially limited vaccines available, it will take some time for all to receive those vaccines and that has necessitated an allocation strategy to ensure that those most at risk of death and serious illness receive the vaccine first.
The priority is to first vaccinate and protect directly the most vulnerable amongst us, that is, those most likely to have a poor outcome if they contract the virus. The priority is to directly use vaccines to save lives and reduce serious illness, hence the focus on the over 65 year old cohort in long term residential care facilities, and healthcare workers in front-line services often caring for the most vulnerable.
This includes people with a disability who are over 65 years old and living in long term residential care facilities and the healthcare workers who care for them.
It is important to note that people with a disability are not a homogenous group and, therefore, each individual will be vaccinated in the group that is appropriate to them.
All of the groups will be covered as further vaccine supplies become available and the immunisation programme is rolled out nationally.
The evidence will be kept under review and the allocation groups may be updated, where necessary, in light of new evidence.
Further information on the Strategy can be found at:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/.
768. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the reason senior public health doctors have a different contract to their hospital-based colleagues with same qualifications and parity of recognition by the academic body and the statutory body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44712/20]
View answer769. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if specialist doctors in public health medicine are equally qualified as those in hospital medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44713/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 768 and 769 together.
Notwithstanding the fact that public health specialists are registered on the Medical Council's Specialist Register, having undergone specialist training in a manner similar to hospital based consultants, their historical career pathway under the public health structures in place did not result in consultant status.
Consultant status for public health specialists under a new public health framework was recommended in the Crowe Horwath Report on the Specialty published in December 2018. That Report followed on from MacCraith Report that recommended, inter alia, examination of the current and future role of health specialists in Ireland and the attractiveness of public health as a career option.
I, my Department and the HSE are committed to the early introduction of a new framework for public healthcare, as recommended by Crowe Horwath and as also provided for in the Programme for Government. This will involve the establishment of a consultant-led public health model.
My Department is working intensively with the HSE on finalisation of the future model of public health and with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to consultant status for those taking up leadership roles within it as provided for in Crowe Horwath.
Public health specialists have and continue to play a crucial role at the forefront of Ireland’s response to the pandemic at national and regional levels. Establishing the Public Health Consultant grade in 2021 is a key priority for me, my Department and the HSE.
770. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the relative cost of contact tracing centres (details supplied) to the 60 specialist public health doctors over the period of the Covid-19 pandemic; the party which is legally responsible for the management of all complex contact tracing such as all outbreaks in schools and workplaces and all prevention in vulnerable groups such as direct provision residents and the Travelling community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44714/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
771. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if he ceased regulating hemp-derived products under domestic legislation which directly contravenes EU trade law in view of the fact that EU hemp-derived products made from the entire plant are protected under Articles 34 and 36 of TFEU and are not controlled within the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44720/20]
View answerCannabis, cannabis resin, cannabinol and cannabinol derivatives are controlled under Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 – 2020.
There is no reference to extracts of the cannabis plant being controlled in these Regulations. Products containing CBD, that are extracted from the whole Cannabis sativa plant, are not considered controlled in their own right, but may contain controlled substances, such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The final CBD product placed on the market must not contain any level of THC as there is no permitted level of THC. The product must also comply with the relevant legislation (e.g. food legislation, cosmetics legislation).
Consideration as to whether a product contains a controlled drug substance, such as THC, would fall under the remit of officers authorised under the Misuse of Drugs legislative framework, which include, officers of the Revenue Commissioners and An Garda Síochána.
772. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the public health risk assessment conducted at a school (details supplied); the recommendation and control levels the public health team had outlined to the Department of Education following increased rates of Covid-19 transmission in the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44733/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
773. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if respite will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44734/20]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
774. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if he will consider giving discretionary medical cards to amputees to cover the cost of artificial limbs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44737/20]
View answerUnder the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The issue of granting medical cards based on having a particular disease or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without due hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure. Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines.
The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.
775. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the number of public health nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44750/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
776. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the funding that has been allocated or made available for the building of an extension to a facility (details supplied) which will provide an additional 60 beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44751/20]
View answerThe Department have been advised by the Estates Division of the Health Service Executive who are responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, that the HSE expect to commence construction work on the 60 bed extension to Heather House in early 2021.
Completion of the project is expected in Q4 2021. The estimated project cost is €27m approx.
777. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of the national medicines agency as committed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44752/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a National Medicines Agency, promoting national prescribing to reduce the cost of medicines, including via generic prescription, where appropriate, and to set a fair price for drug reimbursement.
The establishment of a National Medicines Agency would require a significant body of work to be undertaken, to map out an integrated pharmaceutical policy function for the Agency and to consider the resources necessary for its establishment. That work has yet to commence, with the priority and focus on tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.
778. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the practice of general practitioners charging significant administration fees to email prescriptions to pharmacies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44753/20]
View answerThe Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 provides for, amongst other things, the electronic transmission of a patient's prescription from their GP to a pharmacy. This measure was put in place in response to Covid-19, to reduce the need for patients to visit their GP to collect their prescription.
GPs are reimbursed by the HSE for medical services provided to medical card or GP visit card holders, and these patients are not charged prescription fees. As private practitioners, the fees charged by GPs for services to private patients, including fees regarding prescriptions, are a matter of private contract between the GP and their patients.
779. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of primary care psychologists and primary care staff that have been redeployed to assist with testing and tracing as a result of Covid-19; when it is likely they will resume their roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44754/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
780. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 197 of 17 September 2020, if he has considered the contents and consulted with his officials on the matters raised; and his plans to engage with the correspondent. [44756/20]
View answerMy Department is considering the correspondence and I will reply to the correspondent in due course.
781. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the percentage of Covid-19 cases reported in December 2020 involving schoolchildren or close contacts of schoolchildren. [44757/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
782. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of schools in the country currently experiencing outbreaks of Covid-19. [44758/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
783. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 90 of 10 December 2020, if he will provide the correspondence referenced in the reply. [44761/20]
View answerThe documentation requested will be provided directly to the Deputy.
784. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be provided with a specialist wheelchair with a sit to stand function; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44767/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
785. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of licensing and reimbursement of Jorveza used to treat eosinophilic oesophagitis. [44769/20]
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.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact.
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 a drug's clinical and cost effectiveness as a health intervention.
The HSE has advised that on 12 November 2018 it received an application for the reimbursement of Budesonide Orodispersible Tablets (Jorveza) for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in adults (older than 18 years of age).
On 30 January 2019, following the completion by the NCPE of a rapid review, the HSE commissioned a full pharmacoeconomic assessment with respect to this indication, as per agreed processes.
To date, the applicant has not submitted a HTA dossier to the NCPE for assessment.
The application remains under consideration with the HSE. As it currently stands a completed HTA is required to progress this application, as per the formal processes governing the pricing and reimbursement of medicines.
786. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons residing in direct provision centres who have tested positive for Covid-19 in 2020. [44773/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
