Written Answers Nos. 1083-1107
1083. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health the details of the recruitment process for vaccinators to administer the Covid-19 vaccination; the number of vaccinators currently in place; his plans to escalate the further recruitment of vaccinators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1761/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1084. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health his plans to raise awareness of the importance of properly disposing of face masks to reduce the spread of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1766/21]
View answerMy Department provides a biweekly NPHET press conference serving as a comprehensive update on the latest epidemiological situation in Ireland with regard to COVID-19. This provides a regular and substantial opportunity to respond to media queries and to raise the profile of the key public health measures required to limit the spread of COVID-19, including the importance of the wearing of face coverings in shops, crowded outdoor spaces, on public transport and indoor communal working spaces.
On Thursday 7 January, the Chief Medical Officer, Tony Holohan took the opportunity to highlight the possible misuse in the wearing of face coverings and to advise people to review the guidance on how to wear a face covering which is available on the gov.ie and HSE.ie websites. For example: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/aac74c-guidance-on-safe-use-of-face-coverings/ and https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/face-coverings-masks-and-covid-19/when-to-wear.html#when-to-wear.
To support the ongoing public health guidance by NPHET, my Department’s Press and Communications unit works closely with the HSE Communications team to raise the profile of the key public health messages amongst the general public.
As this question also relates directly to the Health Service Executive, I have asked them to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
1087. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny will be given access to the upper floor of a hospital (details supplied) for the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. [1772/21]
View answerIn 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.
1088. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health when a design team will be appointed for the new 125-bed ward which is needed for St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1773/21]
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.
1089. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be fast-tracked for a person (details supplied). [1774/21]
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.
1092. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the additional funding provided under the winter plan for mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1782/21]
View answerFuture funding for Mental Health Services was considered as part of the 2021 Budget and was progressed in the context of the main Government Pandemic Plan, rather than in the HSE Winter Plan.
The development of all aspects of mental health services remains a priority for Government. This is reflected in the current Programme for Government, the new policy, Sharing the Vision - A Mental Health Policy for Everyone, and the significant additional funding given to HSE Mental Health services in Budget 2021.
Budget 2021 includes an additional €50 million for Mental Health Services, bringing the total Mental Health provision to €1.076 billion. In relation to the additional €50 million, €23 million has been allocated to commence implementation of many of the short-term recommendations of Sharing the Vision in 2021. This will fund additional beds and the enhancement of mental health teams, including: Child and Adolescent Mental Health services and Adult Crisis Resolution Teams; expansion of specialist Clinical and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Programmes; Peer Support and Bereavement Coordinators; and the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) employment approach. This funding will provide for an additional 153 posts in mental health in 2021.
In addition to the above, €15 million will assist with evolving challenges arising from Covid-19. In this context, the number of step-down beds will be increased and extra resources will be provided for community mental health teams. Reconfiguration of mental health facilities, in line with Mental Health Commission recommendations and the enhancement of digital mental health supports will also take place.
€2.2 million was provided to the HSE in 2020 for a mental health promotion and well-being campaign, through enhanced online supports to improve population health outcomes.
1093. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps that will be taken to ensure the HSE has the capacity to process primary medical certificates from 1 January 2020; the outcome of the meeting on 9 December 2020 between the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability at his Department and the Department of Justice and the Secretary General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1783/21]
View answerThe Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme comes under the remit of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners. The extent of the involvement of Health Service Executive (HSE) personnel in the Scheme relates to making a professional clinical determination as to whether an individual applicant meets the specified medical criteria for a Primary Medical Certificate. This determination is undertaken by Senior Medical Officers for the relevant HSE Community Health Organisation on behalf of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners.
The Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte TD, met with the Secretary General of the Department of Health on 9 December 2020 to discuss a number of issues, including Primary Medical Certificates. Minister Rabbitte discussed the backlog that has built up due to the temporary suspension of the assessments earlier this year.
The Deputy will be aware that following a Supreme Court decision of June 2020, the assessment process for Primary Medical Certificates was suspended at the request of the Minister for Finance. In order to allow for the Primary Medical Certificate assessments to recommence, the Minister for Finance brought forward amendments to the Finance Bill to provide for the existing medical criteria in primary legislation.
On foot of a request from the Minister for Finance, my colleague, the Minister for Health, issued an instruction to the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE on 22nd December, 2020, to the effect that Primary Medical Certificate assessments can recommence with effect from 1st January, 2021.
As the assessment process for Primary Medical Certificates is a service matter, I have referred this element of the Deputy’s question to the HSE for consideration and direct reply to the Deputy.
1094. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the details for his Department for outsourcing to consultancies of specifically Covid-19-related work, services or advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1794/21]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not readily available but my Department will seek to collate information if applicable and revert to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1096. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if essential workers in Level 5 of the Covid-19 restrictions must be required to be physically present in their workplace in order to be deemed essential workers; if his attention has been drawn to contradictory Government advice in this regard (details supplied); if those deemed to be essential workers and who are instructed by their employers to work from home will be classed as essential workers for the purposes of childcare in level 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1805/21]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to my attention.
Following consultation with my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, I understand that his Department has updated their FAQ document which can be viewed at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/367e6-faqs-for-providers-of-early-learning-and-care-and-school-age-childcare-services-12-january/.
The Deputy should note that physical attendance at workplaces is only permitted where delivery of essential services can only be provided in person and cannot be delivered remotely. However, for the purposes of access to childcare, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth have advised that workers delivering essential services who are working from home are eligible to access childcare services.
1097. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the waiting list time for first and review assessments for speech and language assessment and speech and language therapy from 2016 to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1812/21]
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 access to disability 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.
1098. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the amount the services of a company (details supplied) has cost his Department to date; the amount it is projected to cost for its role in the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1813/21]
View answerMy Department has not engaged the services of this company in the context of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
1099. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the arrangements in place to continue a scheme with Northern Ireland and Britain similar to the EU cross-border healthcare directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1816/21]
View answerSince 1 January 2021, the provisions of the EU Cross Border Directive (CBD) no longer apply to the UK. In order to mitigate the impact of the loss of access to care in the UK under the EU CBD scheme for persons resident in Ireland, the Government has agreed to provide for the implementation of a replacement scheme to be available in Northern Ireland only from 1 January 2021. The new Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme will operate for 12 months and will operate on the same parameters as the EU Cross Border Directive scheme.
Furthermore, the HSE has also put in place transitional arrangements for certain patients who have a legitimate expectation of continuing to access care in the UK under the current provisions of the EU Cross-Border Directive Scheme including provision for reimbursement of healthcare costs by the HSE to persons who fall into certain categories, such as patients who can evidence that they have treatment booked prior to December 2020 for treatment in 2021. Patients are advised to contact the HSE CBD office directly with queries on individual applications and whether they are covered by the transitional arrangements or the new Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme.
Finally, it is also important to note that, patients continue to have access to health services under the EU CBD Scheme in all other remaining EU countries.
1101. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funding will be provided for works at a pier (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45083/20]
View answerMy Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. In addition, my Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the Marine Works (Ireland) Act 1902, and piers, lights and beacons constructed under the auspices of the Congested Districts Board.
Responsibility for the maintenance and development of Local Authority-owned harbours and piers rests with each individual Local Authority in the first instance and its parent Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage thereafter. In the case of Dromatoor Pier in Ballyheigue Bay, Kerry County Council is the responsible Local Authority.
As part of the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, my Department has provided limited funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small-scale projects for the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways in their ownership. Between 2010 and 2020, over €31m has been made available to assist coastal Local Authorities under this programme. Kerry County Council secured funding of €1.9m during this period, with over €30k being allocated to repair and development works at Dromatoor Pier, Ballyheigue Bay.
No final decisions have been made in relation to the composition of the 2021 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, however, should any application be submitted by Kerry County Council in relation to repair works at Dromatoor Pier under any future programme, it will be given due consideration, taking into account the terms and conditions of the scheme, the priority attached to it by the Council and available exchequer funding.
1102. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which the horticultural sector can rely on an adequate supply of moss peat for the future given that such activity is largely carbon neutral; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1902/21]
View answerIn relation to peat extraction, my Department has no involvement in its regulation. This is a planning process under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and an Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) license process, under the remit of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
Regarding the future use of peat moss in the horticulture sector, on 7th September 2020, my colleague Malcolm Noonan T.D., Minister for Heritage and Electoral Reform in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, published a report on the review of the use of Peat Moss in the Horticultural Industry. The review report was prepared by an inter-agency working group following on from the submissions from stakeholders.
After the publication of this report, Minister Noonan proposed the establishment of a working group to include representatives from relevant Government Departments and State Agencies, Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations and industry stakeholders under an independent chairperson to examine the issues identified during the review. In this respect the working group will address the key issues raised in the report itself, including future use of peat by the horticulture sector. The position of Chair for the Independent Working Group was advertised and the closing date for receipt of the applications was 23rd November 2020. Once the Chair is in place, membership of the working group can be established.
In addition to these developments, my Department is actively looking at alternatives to peat and has funded two research projects to date. It has also recently sought further research be conducted here to explore alternatives to peat based growing media for horticultural production in this area in its latest Research Call for 2021. These must be available, affordable and sustainable and meet quality as well as environmental requirements.
1103. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a beef genetic scheme for 2020 will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44648/20]
View answerThe Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) provides for six years of payments to participating farmers for the completion of actions which deliver accelerated genetic improvement in the Irish national herd and the improvement of its environmental sustainability.
Payment under the 2020 BDGP issued to the bank account of the person named on 17 December 2020.
1104. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the role of his Department in prohibiting the marketing of hemp-derived agricultural food products in Ireland in view of the CJEU ruling of 19 November 2020 and statements by the European Commission on 2 and 3 December 2020 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44721/20]
View answerThe growing of hemp by farmers is subject to specific licence granted by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), which operates under the auspices of the Department of Health. In addition, the cultivation of hemp (Cannabis genus) is restricted to varieties having less than 0.2% content of the narcotic compound Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabis (which includes hemp) is listed in schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017, as amended, which means it is subject to the strictest level of control.
The legislative position is primarily, therefore, a matter for the Health Products Regulatory Authority and Department of Health as my Department has no legal role in prohibiting the placing on the market of food product containing hemp.
1105. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to lift the sanctions his Department imposed on the Irish hemp industry; if he will defend the rights of Irish hemp farmers and processors to market their agricultural product; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44722/20]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government (PFG) has committed to exploring the potential for the growing of fibre crops such as hemp.
My Department has, and continues to, engage with relevant stakeholders from different hemp representative bodies to fully explore the viability of growing fibre crops such as hemp.
In relation to the suggestion regarding sanctions being imposed on the hemp industry relating to access to the Credit Guarantee Scheme, my Department has not imposed any such sanctions.
The growing of hemp is included as an eligible crop under the conditionality for the Credit Guarantee Scheme. This is where the crop is grown for fibre which is in line with the licence to cultivate hemp issued by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations which specifically states it is for fibre use.
1106. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a progress report on Coillte's plans for its sites in the Dublin mountains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44727/20]
View answerCoillte CGA was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of their forest estate, are the responsibility of the company.
I have therefore passed the questions raised to Coillte for response and direct reply to the Deputy.
1107. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department or State agencies under the aegis of his Department have awarded contracts to a company (details supplied); if so, the value of such contracts; if the contracts were tendered for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44779/20]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department did not award any contracts to a company (details supplied).
As regards the 12 State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
