Wednesday, 17 Feb 2021

Written Answers Nos. 883-907

HSE Staff

Questions (883)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

883. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of international board-certified lactation consultants employed by the HSE in each CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8672/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

HSE Staff

Questions (884)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

884. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health his plans to expand the number of international board-certified lactation consultants employed in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8673/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Maternity Services

Questions (885)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

885. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the progress made in meeting the objectives contained within the Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Health Service Executive Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8674/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Maternity Services

Questions (886)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

886. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of locations and practitioners that publicly provide frenotomy services for babies with tongue tie issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8675/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Maternity Services

Questions (887)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

887. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the volume of supports that go into breastfeeding support within the HSE; if he will detail each of these supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8676/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Maternity Services

Questions (888)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

888. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the progress in encouraging the option of breastfeeding including through the Healthy Ireland Framework as of February 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8677/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Maternity Services

Questions (889)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

889. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if the WHO International Code of Marketing on Breastmilk Substitutes is implemented and enforced across every maternity unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8678/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Hospital Staff

Questions (890)

David Cullinane

Question:

890. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to hire additional clinical nurse specialists in order to support social work and psychology supports at Mullingar Regional Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8681/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Vaccination Programme

Questions (891)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

891. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to drive-in vaccination centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8684/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Vaccination Programme

Questions (892)

Michael Lowry

Question:

892. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if staff working in the learning and care and school age childcare services will be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8688/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The 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 this month.

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.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (893)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

893. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if persons working in childcare as key and essential workers will be included under category four of the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out plan (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8689/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The 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 this month.

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.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (894)

David Cullinane

Question:

894. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the way in which persons in group 7 of the vaccine roll-out will be identified for vaccination; if this will be done by identification based on medical records or if it will require self-identification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8690/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Medical Cards

Questions (895)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

895. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will advertise for a general practitioner for Monasterevin, County Kildare given the current general practitioner is no longer accepting medical card patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8698/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Where a patient who holds a medical or GP visit card experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept him/her as a patient, the HSE has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list where the person has unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area who hold GMS contracts (or fewer GPs if there are fewer GPs in the area).

Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. There are currently no GMS GP vacancies in Monasterevin.

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.

Question No. 896 answered with Question No. 753.

Suicide Incidence

Questions (897)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

897. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who died by suicide in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8707/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

In Ireland, suicide is determined by a coroner. Annual suicide statistics are usually published by the Central Statistics Office in June of the following year. Full year 2020 suicide figures are not yet available.

CSO vital statistics for quarters one and two of 2020 noted suicide figures as 72 and 25 respectively. The low number for quarter two may be due to the impact of the Covid pandemic and restrictions on the work of coroners.

The number of suicides in Ireland reduced from 578 in 2012 to 516 in 2016 (CSO official figures, including late registrations). CSO official figures for 2017 and 2018 are 383 and 437 respectively, while the provisional figure for 2019 is 421. These figures exclude coroners' late registrations so are likely to change. I attach for your information the latest briefing on suicide figures by the National Office for Suicide Prevention.

Early international evidence has not indicated an increase in suicide during the pandemic, while a decrease in self-harm/suicide attempts was noted during the early months. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution, as patterns may change over time.

NOSP

Vaccination Programme

Questions (898)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

898. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the venues or type of venues which will be used for the mass roll-out of Covid 19 vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8708/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Question No. 899 answered with Question No. 804.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (900)

Emer Higgins

Question:

900. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will discuss with the National Immunisation Advisory Committee when childcare staff should receive their Covid-19 vaccination given that they have been attending work during level 5 and cannot social distance from the children they mind. [8716/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The 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 this month.

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (901)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

901. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the reason christenings and baptisms are not currently permitted under the public health emergency restrictions but weddings with potentially more persons attending are. [8717/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As you will be aware, Ireland is at level 5 of the Government's Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19. This 5-level framework sets out what is permitted for social or family gatherings, work and public transport, bars, hotels and restaurants, exercise activities and religious services, at that moment in time.

The various limits at all levels in the Government's Plan and the continuing imposition of public health measures is necessary to reduce transmission of COVID-19 through a reduction in the movement of people, congregation and interactions. This has unfortunately resulted in many significant events being delayed or postponed.

Christenings/baptisms are not permitted with the exception of emergencies. While a child’s christening is a very important milestone in their lives and the lives of their parents and Godparents, the health and safety of the child, their family and the wider community is the main priority for Government. When it is safe to do so, Churches will ensure that all christenings take place with key family members in attendance.

You may wish to note that comprehensive guidelines are in place to ensure that religious services can take place safely when they recommence:- https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/religioussettingsguidance/

Further information on religious services can be found on gov.ie here:- https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/#religious-services

Citizens' Assembly

Questions (902)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

902. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the citizens' assembly on drugs will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8718/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Programme for Government includes the commitment to convene a citizen’s assembly to consider matters relating to drug use. The timing of this, and other assemblies, over the lifetime of the Government has yet to be determined. One element critical to the success of assemblies has been the opportunity to meet in person. The restrictions experienced with Covid-19 have presented considerable difficulties in this regard, as meetings moved to being held online. The experiences and learning in this new way of working will inform how future citizen’s assemblies are conducted.

in 2019, the Government published the report of the working group on alternative approach to the possession of drugs for personal use, which was informed by 20,000 public responses to an online survey. Arising from the recommendations of the report, the Department of Health is implementing the health diversion programme for individuals found in possession of drugs for personal use. The programme will be reviewed after the first full year of implementation, to ensure that it is meeting all of it aims and to make any necessary changes.

The Programme for Government commitment to a health-led approach to drug use as set out in the national drugs strategy 2017-2015. The strategy is a dynamic process, subject to ongoing monitoring and review. Accordingly, the Department of Health is conducting a mid-term review of the actions in the national drugs strategy, in consultation with all stakeholders and the national oversight committee. The review is also informed by the new EU drugs strategy and forthcoming work plan.

I look forward to the commencement of the health diversion programme and the development of new actions to guide the national drugs strategy for the next four years. I believe that the learnings to be derived from the programme will further inform the health-led approach to drug use in due course.

Abortion Services Provision

Questions (903)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

903. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of unborn babies aborted under the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 during 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8734/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under section 20 (1) of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, a notification of each termination of pregnancy carried out under the legislation must be notified to the Minister for Health within 28 days of it being carried out.

Section 20, subsections (3) and (4), require the Minister to prepare a report on the notifications received in a given year not later than 30 June the following year and thereafter to lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas. This report may then be published.

In line with section 20 of the Act, therefore, the Annual Report on Notifications 2020 will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on or before 30 June 2021.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (904)

James Lawless

Question:

904. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can obtain access to a vaccine based on compassionate grounds. [8735/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The 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 this month.

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.

Questions Nos. 905 and 906 answered with Question No. 804.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (907)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

907. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of approval for a procedure for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8747/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

It 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.