Written Answers Nos. 823-850
823. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will provide clarity regarding suicidal persons or persons with mental illness who require psychiatric admission in the Dublin area; and if such persons are being admitted to hospital. [5712/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
824. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of psychiatric beds available in the Dublin region. [5713/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
825. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the average and expected wait time for a psychiatric bed in the Dublin region in the week of 25 to 31 January 2021; and the contingency plans that have been put in place to deal with the crisis. [5714/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
827. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health when a residential care home (details supplied) will receive the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5725/21]
View answerThe COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.
Vaccine allocation is a matter for my Department and further information is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/.
The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is the responsibility of the HSE.
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 frontline services often caring for the most vulnerable.
The next group to be vaccinated are those aged 70 and older in the following order: 85 and older, 80-84, 75-79, and 70-74. Vaccination of this group will begin in February (subject to regulatory approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine).
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.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
828. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when full contact tracing will resume given the reducing number of daily cases of Covid-19; if full contact tracing will resume when cases reach a certain level; if so, the level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5727/21]
View answer834. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when full contact tracing will resume given the reducing number of daily cases of Covid-19; if full contact tracing will resume when cases reach a certain level; if so, the level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5745/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 828 and 834 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
829. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the date on which a CORU registration will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5731/21]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is an operational matter, I have asked CORU (the Health and Social Care Professional Council) to respond to the Deputy directly.
830. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the measures he will take to ensure persons (details supplied) with intellectual disabilities of all ages are appropriately prioritised on the vaccination allocation sequencing schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5732/21]
View answerThe COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.
Vaccine allocation is a matter for my Department and further information is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/.
The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is the responsibility of the HSE.
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 frontline 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.
831. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if musical accompaniment is permitted during the webcasting of religious services at level 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5735/21]
View answer914. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied). [6026/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 831 and 914 together.
As the Deputies are aware, Ireland is now at level 5 of the Government's medium-term Plan Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19, which sets out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19.
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.
As I'm sure 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 various limits at all levels in the Government's Plan are all designed to reduce the number of households mixing with each other and cut down the virus’s chances of spreading into more homes. 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 public health advice relating to Covid-19 is kept under continuing review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), by my Department and by the Government . The measures in place and the public health advice have been adapted to the changing circumstances and this will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.
At Level 5, Religious services can be carried out online. Guidance for religious services can be found at:- https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/7ba40-guidance-for-religious-services/. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has also produced guidance on Religious Services and it is available at:
https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/religioussettingsguidance/COVID_religious%20settings.pdf.
At level 5, up to 6 guests, including children of all ages, can attend a wedding ceremony and reception, irrespective of the venue. This 6 does not include the persons getting married or persons attending in a professional capacity. Guests are permitted to travel to attend the wedding and a minister of religion or priest is permitted to travel to conduct wedding services. Details of the public health measures currently in place for weddings can be found at:- https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/#weddings. With regard to domestic travel at Level 5, people are required to stay at home except for travel for work, education or other essential purposes. Details of public health measures in place for domestic travel including essential purposes can be found at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/#travel-restrictions.
You may also wish to note that Fáilte Ireland has provided guidelines for the hospitality industry which includes guidance on weddings and is available at: - https://failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Hotels-and-Guesthouses.pdf/
832. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of women who have successfully sued the HSE in relation to cervical cancer screening in each of the years since 2018. [5741/21]
View answerThe State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive. The State Claims Agency has provided me with the following information, in respect of the Deputy's question.
This information has been extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and is accurate as of 31/01/2020.
There has been 1 case in which a woman successfully sued the HSE in relation to cervical cancer screening since 2018. There have been 6 further cases in relation to cervical cancer screening, since 2018, where the HSE has contributed to settlements in respect of non-disclosure of test results.
833. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the category under which a group (details supplied) falls under the Covid-19 vaccination programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5742/21]
View answerThe COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.
Vaccine allocation is a matter for my Department and further information is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/.
The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is the responsibility of the HSE.
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 frontline services often caring for the most vulnerable.
The next group to be vaccinated are those aged 70 and older in the following order: 85 and older, 80-84, 75-79, and 70-74. Vaccination of this group will begin in February (subject to regulatory approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine).
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.
835. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the details of the current contracts with a hotel and a centre (details supplied); the timelines and costs for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5749/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
836. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if a hotel (details supplied) is still in use as an isolation facility; the number of persons who have used the hotel as an isolation facility in each of the past ten months; the capacity of the hotel as an isolation facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5750/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
837. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if a centre (details supplied) is still in use as a field hospital or allergy testing centre; the details of the current usage of the centre; the medical procedures for which the facility is being used; the number of persons who have been treated at the facility in each of the past ten months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5751/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
838. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the status of the CORU registration process for psychotherapists under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005; when he will indicate his plans to give proper and meaningful priority to the Shared Vision recommendations on access to counselling services in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5752/21]
View answerThe Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board held their inaugural meeting on 31 May 2019. The work of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board is significantly more challenging than for registration boards for some other professions, owing to the different and complex entry paths into these professions, the variety of titles used and the variety and number of courses and course providers.
The Board is now undertaking the substantial work required to open the registers for counsellors and psychotherapists. This work includes consideration of titles to be protected and minimum qualifications to be required of existing practitioners applying for registration in the transitional period and for future graduates. Given the complexity of this work there is not yet a date for the opening of the registers.
With regard to access to counselling services in the community, in line with Sláintecare, Sharing the Vision envisages an increasing role for the primary care sectors which, if appropriately resourced and with appropriate governance, can provide a comprehensive range of interventions. A core component of this is increasing access to counselling and talk therapies.
Recommendation 16 of Sharing the Vision proposes that access to a range of counselling supports and talk therapies in the community/primary care sector should be available on the basis of identified need so that all individuals, across the lifespan, with a mild-to-moderate mental health difficulty can receive prompt access to accessible care through their GP/Primary Care Centre. Counselling supports and talk therapies must be delivered by appropriately qualified and accredited professionals. Recommendation 31 proposes that the potential for digital health solutions to enhance service delivery and empower service users should be developed.
With regards to implementation, the recently established National Implementation Monitoring Committee (NIMC) for Sharing the Vision will oversee the implementation of the recommendations in the policy and monitor progress. The NIMC is supported by a Reference Group of Service Users and Families and the NIMC Specialist Groups.
The HSE is also establishing an implementation group, one of the first tasks of which will be to ascertain ongoing Sharing the Vision aligned tasks and projects.
With regards to ongoing HSE projects aligned to Sharing the Vision, HSE Mental Health commenced a service improvement project in January 2018 to ensure greater consistency and equity of access to talk therapies, with a view to developing a Model of Care for adults who attend specialist mental health services accessing talking therapies. While the project focuses specifically on adults attending specialist mental health services, it also describes other services where talk therapies are currently provided from HSE funding.
Building on a stepped care approach, the Model of Care is expected to involve an assessment of the need for talking therapies taking into account stakeholder perspectives and the prevalence of mental health difficulties within the adult population. It will consider evidence-based talking therapies best-suited to meet the identified needs and outline a recommended operational model for talking therapies provided by General Adult Community Mental Health Teams.
Of course, it is important to recognise that the development of any recommended operational model would be a substantial and complex process, with numerous steps and issues to be worked through, as appropriate.
Finally, many significant recent developments in online mental health service provision have been expedited in the advent of Covid 19. These initiatives are early and necessary examples of the sort of holistic, whole of population approach to mental health service development that Sharing the Vision will be promoting and seeking to advance, in line with the development of specialist supports.
839. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the amount of Healthy Ireland funding allocated to local authorities; the level of oversight by his Department to ensure associated infrastructure was provided; the amount of funding that was carried forward from these years that was unspent; if funds were returned by local authorities in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5754/21]
View answerPobal administers the Healthy Ireland Fund (HIF) on behalf of the Department of Health. HIF Round 1 ran from 2017-2018; Round 2 from 2018-2019 and Round 3 (current round) runs from 1st July 2019 to 31st December 2021.
The Fund is currently structured on the basis of supporting national and local organisations and to deliver actions aligned to the Government’s Healthy Ireland Framework via two specific strands: Strand 1 (local organisations) & Strand 2 (national organisations).
- Strand 1 provides funding to local authority led Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) and Túsla Children and Young People Service Committees (CYPSCs).
- Strand 2 provides funding to a small number of national organisations to support larger scale nationwide programmes (Age Friendly Ireland, Local Government Management Agency and Mayo Education Centre).
This currently involves providing funding under the Healthy Ireland Fund (Round 3) to 53 grantees.
The amount of funding allocated to each Local Authority in each Round of Healthy Ireland so far – Round 1 September 2012 – June 2018 €3,516,253; Round 2 July 2018 –June 2019 €3,093,033; Round 3 July 2019 – December 2020 €7,136,850. Total HIF funding to Local authorities to date has been €13,746,136.
In Round 1, €3,205,429.35 was expended and €310,823.65 returned by Local Authorities. In Round 2, €2,742,067.20 was expended and €175,988.87 was returned by Local Authorities. As HIF Round 3 is currently ongoing, all funding for the programme is still available to the groups so there are no amounts returned at this point under Round 3.
Please note that Healthy Ireland doesn’t currently allow any funding to be carried forward from one Round to the next. As a result, any unspent funds or ineligible spend amounts must be returned to Pobal before the Local Authority can receive the bulk of their funding under the next Round. The Healthy Ireland Fund rounds do not run in line with the calendar year so it is not possible to separate the closed rounds into 2017, 2018 and 2019 as they run mid-year to mid-year.
HIF is mainly focused on the delivery of education, awareness raising and community development initiatives linked to the promotion of health and wellbeing. HIF does not fund any large-scale infrastructure projects. However, small scale capital works are permitted where it can be demonstrated that the capital works e.g., small-scale refurbishment, building work, pathway development etc. is essential for the delivery of the action. Under HIF Round 3, these costs cannot exceed €7,500 per action.
From an oversight perspective, all HIF Grantees are required to report on progress and spend every 6 months against agreed actions, including any small-scale capital works. This information is reviewed by Pobal staff and follow-up is conducted where necessary, including site visits where needed to verify progress. In addition, Pobal carries out audits of a sample of HIF Grantees to verify spend.
840. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 186 of 23 September 2020, the most recent update (details supplied) regarding access to the drug dupilumab for persons with eczema; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5755/21]
View answer847. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a final decision will be made on an application for the reimbursement of the drug dupilumab; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5828/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 840 and 847 together.
The 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 licenced indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
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 HSE received pricing and reimbursement applications for two indications of Dupilumab (Dupixent):
- For the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy.
- For the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adolescents 12 years and older who are candidates for systemic therapy.
The HSE received an application for pricing / reimbursement of Dupilumab in November 2017 from the manufacturer for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy. The HSE commissioned a full HTA on 29 November 2017 as per agreed processes. This assessment was completed on 12 December 2019 with the NCPE recommending that Dupilumab be considered for reimbursement if cost-effectiveness could be improved relative to existing treatments.
Subsequently, the HSE received an application for the pricing / reimbursement of Dupilumab on 13 December 2019 for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adolescents 12 years and older who are candidates for systemic therapy.
The HSE commissioned the rapid review process on the 17 December 2019. Following receipt of a rapid review dossier, the NCPE advised the HSE on the 17 January 2020 that a HTA was not recommended and that Dupilumab not be considered for reimbursement for this indication at the submitted price.
The HSE engaged in commercial negotiations with the company in February 2020 regarding both the adult and adolescent populations.
The HSE Drugs Group is the national committee which the HSE has in place to make recommendations on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. The membership of the HSE Drugs Group includes public interest members and clinicians.
The final HTA report and NCPE recommendations concerning Dupilumab were reviewed by the HSE Drugs Group, along with the outputs of the commercial negotiations, and the patient group submission received during the HTA process. The HSE Drugs Group considered all the evidence and gave a recommendation to the HSE Executive Management Team (EMT) not to support reimbursement of Dupilumab for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in both adults and adolescents 12 years and older who are candidates for systemic therapy.
The HSE has confirmed that the applicant company was issued with notice of the proposed decision of the HSE EMT not to support reimbursement on 21 August 2020. On 18 September 2020, the applicant company submitted representations with respect to these applications.
The HSE reviewed these representations, as is required in such circumstances under the 2013 Health Act, and engaged in a meeting in November 2020 with the applicant company to discuss the submission.
The HSE has advised that the HSE Drugs Group, having reviewed the above representations at their January 2021 meeting, supported reimbursement of Dupilumab for the following defined subgroup of the full licensed indication: moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in refractory adults and adolescents 12 years and older for whom immunosuppressant treatment has failed, or is not tolerated or is contraindicated.
The HSE has further advised that the HSE EMT received this recommendation and has supported the reimbursement of Dupilumab under High Tech Arrangements, subject to the implementation of a managed access programme and the restriction of reimbursement to the defined subgroup which was recommended by the HSE Drugs Group.
Processes required to implement the managed access programme are currently ongoing with a view to formalising the approval for reimbursement of Dupilumab.
841. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of primary medical certificate applications at hand at present; the number of applications waiting to be assessed; if the applications are being processed in date order; the number of applications that have been processed in the past four months by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5756/21]
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, which is a requirement for the Scheme. 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 Deputy may 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, Paschal Donohoe T.D.. Following the approval of the Finance Act 2020 which provides for the medical criteria in primary legislation, the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, T.D., issued an instruction to the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE to the effect that Primary Medical Certificate assessments can recommence with effect from 1st January, 2021.
Separately, the ability to hold assessments may be impacted by, among other things, the public health restrictions in place and the role of the HSE Medical Officers in the roll out of the COVID vaccination programme. I understand that the HSE is considering the matter of Primary Medical Certificate assessments in the context of their revision of the HSE recovery and restoration plans, taking into account the pressures and challenges to the health services presented by COVID.
As the question raised by the Deputy is a service matter, I have arranged to have the question referred to the HSE for consideration and direct reply to the Deputy.
842. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the projected shipments and deliveries of Covid-19 vaccines for each producer currently factored into timeline estimates on the provisional delivery schedule; the expected target numbers of roll-out per week, month and quarter to reach the provisional targets set for September 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5794/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
843. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will consider using ivermectin and colchicine in the treatment of Covid-19 [5803/21]
View answerAt the request of NPHET, HIQA conducted a rapid evidence review to identify studies on the effectiveness of (i) pharmaceutical and (ii) non-pharmaceutical interventions, in the ambulatory setting, aimed at reducing progression to severe disease in individuals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. Low certainty or very low certainty evidence was identified in relation to a small number of interventions. However, HIQA noted the low quality of the evidence available including the high risk of bias, small sample sizes and short durations of follow-up different trials and advised that results from these studies should not be used to inform decision-making with respect to effectiveness.
HIQA’s overall finding was that there is currently insufficient evidence of either effectiveness or safety to support the use of any pharmaceutical intervention in the community setting to reduce the risk of progression to severe disease in patients who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 unless as part of an ongoing monitored clinical trial. Furthermore, no evidence was identified for the effectiveness or safety of any non-pharmaceutical intervention in the community setting. The HIQA evidence review will be published shortly.
844. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the status of the mental health supports being provided to persons during Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5807/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
845. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the cost to the State in legal fees since late 2018 in defending the 115 court cases brought by parents whose children did not receive an assessment of need in a timely manner set out in the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5812/21]
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 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.
846. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the options available to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5818/21]
View answerPeople who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients. Where a GP practice has a full list of patients and cannot take on new patients, patients should contact other GP practices in the surrounding areas.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas, and has implemented a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice.
These measures include an increase in investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023 under the terms of the 2019 GMS GP Agreement GP. The Agreement provides for increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas, and for improvements to maternity and paternity leave arrangements. In addition, the number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over the past ten years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 214 in 2020, with a further increase foreseen in 2021. The ICGP noted a record number of applications for the 2021 GP training programme.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
848. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the monitoring practices in place to track the spread of variants of Covid-19 in other countries (details supplied). [5830/21]
View answer849. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the preventions in place to monitor the Covid-19 variant spreading to countries which travel restrictions are not currently in place therefore entering through a third-party country (details supplied). [5831/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 848 and 849 together.
The Government gives continuing consideration to travel policy informed by the epidemiological situation internationally and public health advice. NPHET regularly considers the international epidemiological situation and advises Government on public health issues relating to international travel. NPHET discussions are informed by information, advice and guidance published by the WHO and ECDC.
In response to the emergence of new international variants and changes in the epidemiological situation abroad Government have introduced progressive measures in recent weeks to combat the importation of new cases or variants into Ireland.
Since 16 January all passengers arriving to Ireland from all overseas countries have been required to present evidence of a negative/not-detected test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival. Checks are made by border officials upon arrival and those that do not present a test result are committing an offense.
Extra precautions have been taken in relation to arriving travellers from countries with emerging variants of concern. All arrivals from Great Britain, South Africa or any country in South America have been advised to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival to Ireland and encouraged to avail of a free-PCR test through a GP.
New substantial quarantine measures have been announced by Government which will require all international travellers to complete a period of mandatory quarantine upon arrival. The drafting of legislation to give effect to quarantine requirements, as well as new legislation on pre-departure testing and the COVID-19 Passenger Locator form are at an advanced stage. The Government continues to examine full operationalisation of travel measures announced on 26 January as matter of priority.
850. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the measures that will be put in place to prevent those who quarantine at home and household members from spreading the virus to others outside the household. [5833/21]
View answerAll arriving travellers from overseas to Ireland will be required to present a evidence of a negative/not-detected test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival, to border officials upon entering Ireland and will be then required to quarantine at their place of residence listed on the COVID-119 Passenger Locator Form for 14-days after arrival. A second ‘non-detected’ PCR test result taken no less than 5 days after arrival can end the quarantine period, except for those that arrived from certain designated countries (Brazil and South Africa).
Targeted contacts made via the PLF system via SMS will act to remind passengers of their obligation to quarantine. Under the regulations An Garda Síochána are responsible for the enforcement of mandatory quarantining of arrivals to the State.
