Written Answers Nos. 301-320
301. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of children under 18 years of age waiting on a hospital-based health waiting list by the speciality procedure they are on the list for; the length of time they have been on same by hospital at the end of December 2020 or the latest date available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4950/21]
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.
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 data requested by the Deputy has been provided to my Department by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and is outlined in the attached documents. These tables provide a breakdown of the Inpatient, Day Case and Outpatient waiting lists for children under 18, the Hospital, the Specialty and the numbers waiting in each time-band as of the end of December 2020.
Furthermore, the NTPF currently publishes the Adult and Child Analysis for the Inpatient and Day Case waiting lists on the NTPF website monthly and has advised that they are currently working on the separation of adult and child waiting lists and plan to be in a position to publish these reports in later in 2021.
|
Small Volume Specialties |
15 |
15 |
|||||||
|
Grand Total |
21,662 |
11,344 |
6,139 |
10,498 |
7,803 |
5,927 |
25,175 |
1,951 |
90,499 |
302. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his views on the non-allocation of funding to the national eating disorder treatment plan for 2020 and the non-spend of the €1.6 million allocated in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4951/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
303. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the details of progress made in addressing the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders Goals 2019-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4952/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
304. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the actions he has taken since taking office to ensure the development of eating disorder treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4953/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
305. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his views on the HSE withdrawing funding for a lactation consultant in Dublin south east and its anticipated impact on nursing mothers. [4954/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
306. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of lactation consultants employed by the HSE in each operational area; the ratio of consultants to mothers on which this number is based in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4955/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
307. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the progress made in meeting each of the objectives of Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Health Service Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2021 as of 25 January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4956/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
308. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the actions he has taken since taking office to ensure progress in reaching the objectives of the breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Health Service Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4957/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
309. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 448 of 10 December 2020, the progress made to address the issues raised in relation to the care afforded to vulnerable prisoners notably those with a mental illness in the Council of Europe anti-torture committee’s seventh periodic visit report on Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4958/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
310. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if a PPSN is required to access the maternity and infant care scheme which provides for essential medical care during pregnancy [4971/21]
View answerThe Maternity and Infant Care Scheme provides an agreed programme of care to expectant mothers ordinarily resident in Ireland. This combined medical service is provided by the family GP and a hospital obstetrician and includes a schedule of alternating examinations at the GP’s practice and a maternity unit/hospital, as well as two post-natal visits to the GP. The expectant mother's PPSN is required for registration to the scheme.
311. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have applied for the HAA medical card; the number of rejected applications under this scheme; the reasons for rejection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4973/21]
View answer312. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the details regarding the hepatitis C liaison officers that have rejected medical bills applied for through the HAA scheme [4974/21]
View answer313. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the number of HAA cards which have been revoked or suspended; the reason for revocation and suspension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4975/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 311, 312 and 313 together.
Under the Health Amendment Act, 1996 all individuals who were infected with Hepatitis C as a result of the administration within the State of contaminated blood and blood products are entitled to a Health Amendment Act (HAA) card which gives them access on a statutory basis to a wide range of primary care and hospital-based services.
As the Deputy's questions refer to operational matters regarding the administration of the HAA card, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
314. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on inpatient and outpatient waiting lists in Beaumont Hospital [4978/21]
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.
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 latest available waiting list figures are to 23 December and the data requested by the Deputy is outlined in the attached document. This information is also available on the NTPF website at: https://www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm
|
Beaumont Hospital IPDC Waiting List |
||||||||
|
0-3 Mths |
3-6 Mths |
6-9 Mths |
9-12 Mths |
12-15 Mths |
15-18 Mths |
18-24 Mths |
24-36 Mths |
Grand Total |
|
2249 |
946 |
355 |
642 |
375 |
82 |
56 |
0 |
4705 |
|
Beaumont Hospital IPDC Waiting List |
||||||||
|
0-3 Mths |
3-6 Mths |
6-9 Mths |
9-12 Mths |
12-15 Mths |
15-18 Mths |
18-24 Mths |
24-36 Mths |
Grand Total |
|
2249 |
946 |
355 |
642 |
375 |
82 |
56 |
0 |
4705 |
315. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the Covid-19 vaccination programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4983/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
316. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the EU Cross-Border Directive is affected by Brexit for Irish patients seeking to have surgeries in the UK; and if so, the changes in this regard. [4984/21]
View answerSince 1 January 2021, the provisions of the EU Cross Border Directive (CBD) no longer apply to the UK. On the 28th December 2020 the Government approved the implementation of a new Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme. The new Scheme operational from 1 January 2021 for 12 months on an administrative basis will enable persons resident in the State to access and be reimbursed for private healthcare in Northern Ireland by the HSE, provided such healthcare is publicly available within Ireland.
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 Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme.
Patients also continue to have access to health services under the EU CBD Scheme in all other remaining EU/EEA countries.
In the context of the Covid-19 Pandemic, persons seeking to utilise these schemes should review and adhere to the public health guidance and restrictions in place at any point in time.
317. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken to protect native honey bees; the impact non-native honey bees are having on biodiversity in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4913/21]
View answerI fully acknowledge the important contribution bees make to agriculture and biodiversity as both pollinators and honey producers. In this regard, my Department provides a range of supports and initiatives to encourage and assist beekeepers and the national beekeeping associations. These supports include provision of a free disease diagnostic service for Irish beekeepers to help maintain the health of the bee population, funding to carry out applied research through the National Apiculture Programme, grants to national beekeeping associations and grant aid to fund capital investments for beekeepers.
My Department has funded a number of studies under the Genetic Research Grant Aid Scheme looking at various aspects of honeybee species and specifically apis mellifera melliferra. My Department also supports the work of the Native Irish Honey Bee Society.
In relation to the importation of honeybees into Ireland, this is allowed under regulations governing intra-Community trade with other EU Member States. The specific health requirements for trading in bees are laid out in Council Directive 92/65/EEC. All imports of bees must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the country of export. This is to ensure that imported bees are healthy and do not harbour pathogens or parasites that may be harmful to our native bee stocks.
The importation of bees is therefore subject to EU regulation on intra-community trade.
318. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans and the steps he is taking to establish a mutual recognition of the sanitary and phytosanitary standards relating to the agri-food sector is reached between the EU and UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4943/21]
View answerThe EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) creates a new framework for the future EU-UK relationship that ensures quota-free and tariff-free trade between the EU and the UK. This is of significant importance to the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors.
The overarching body that will monitor the agreement and ensure its effective implementation is the Partnership Council. This will be supported by a number of other committees and working groups, including the Trade Specialised Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
The SPS Chapter of the EU-UK TCA aims to protect human, animal and plant life and health while facilitating trade between the Parties, amongst other objectives. This is a complex area of work, and the Trade Specialised Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures is intended to address matters that are covered under this Chapter.
The EU and UK will each be represented on this Committee and Member States, including Ireland, will have the right to participate in meetings as part of the EU delegation.
The specific programme of work and schedule of meetings for these bodies will be determined in the period ahead. My Department will engage closely with our EU partners to ensure that our key interests in the sector are protected and advanced in this work.
319. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the monitoring of factory ships (details supplied) taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4697/21]
View answerUnder the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), EU fishing fleets are given equal access to EU waters and fishing grounds subject to allocated fish quotas.
Fishing vessels, irrespective of size, must comply with the rules of the CFP, which include rules in relation to access and catch limits/quota.
In relation to access to Ireland's coastal waters by foreign vessels, I would point out that, on the north-west coast, all foreign fishing vessels are excluded from Ireland's 12 mile fishing zone, other than for transit or shelter purposes. All foreign pelagic fishing vessels are also precluded from fishing in Ireland's 12 mile fishing zone on the west coast. Irish fishing vessels greater than or equal to 36.58m (120 feet) in length are also precluded from fishing in Ireland's 12 mile zone.
Changes to fisheries policy involving access or restriction to fishing opportunities or fishing areas come within the sole competence of the EU. Member States are permitted to introduce non-discriminatory conservation and mangement measures within their 12 mile zone, subject to compliance with policy and procedures set down in the CFP. Member States may also adopt conservation measures for their own fleet, subject to compliance with policy and procedures.
As an EU common policy, any proposal for amendment to policy must, in the first instance, be made by the EU Commission. Any proposal of this nature would be expected to have broad application to EU waters and would be expected to apply to all fishing vessels of a particular size or using identified non-sustainable fishing gear. It would appear that your query relates to large fishing vessels targeting pelagic stocks such as mackerel, horse mackerel and herring. As you will be aware, the Irish fleet includes such fishing vessels. In relation to Ireland's position to any such proposal from the EU Commission, it would be essential to have regard for the potential impacts on the Irish fleet.
The European Commission has proposed amendments to the EU Fisheries control framework and negotiations on the new Fisheries Control Regulation are currently ongoing in both the EU Council and the European Parliament. Ireland is supportive of many of the proposed changes in the Commission proposal that strengthen the EU arrangements for control, inspection and enforcement.
Ireland's control authorities, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Naval Service, are responsible for the monitoring and control of fishing vessels, including large fishing vessels targeting pelagic stocks, in our Exclusive Fisheries Zone to ensure compliance with the rules of the CFP.
320. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on a GLAS penalty appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4631/21]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received payments for scheme years 2015 – 2019 in addition to the 2020 advance payment.
An inspection was carried out on the applicant's holding and an over declaration was found in respect of the Planting a New Hedgerow action. The applicant appealed this decision and a decision letter issued from the Regional Inspector to the applicant on 15 December 2020.
