Written Answers Nos. 943-966
943. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of therapy profession posts by discipline, speciality and grade for each hospital by hospital group; the number of posts funded, filled and vacant; the basis on which they are filled, that is, permanent, temporary, agency, by whole-time equivalent in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10063/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
944. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of health science and diagnostics posts by discipline, speciality and grade for each hospital by hospital group; the number of posts funded, filled and vacant; the basis on which they are filled, that is, permanent, temporary, agency, by whole-time equivalent in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10064/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
945. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of social worker posts by discipline, speciality and grade for each hospital by hospital group; the number of posts funded, filled and vacant; the basis on which they are filled, that is, permanent, temporary, agency and locum, by whole-time equivalent in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10065/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
946. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of pharmacy posts by grade for each hospital by hospital group; the number of posts funded, filled and vacant; the basis on which they are filled, that is, permanent, temporary, agency and locum, by whole-time equivalent in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10066/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
947. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologist posts by grade for each hospital by hospital group; the number of posts funded, filled and vacant; the basis on which they are filled, that is, permanent, temporary, agency and locum, by whole-time equivalent in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10067/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
948. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of healthcare assistant posts for each hospital by hospital group; the number of posts funded, filled and vacant; the basis on which they are filled, that is, permanent, temporary, agency and locum, by whole-time equivalent in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10068/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
949. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of social care posts for each hospital by hospital group; the number of posts funded, filled and vacant; the basis on which they are filled, that is, permanent, temporary, agency and locum, by whole-time equivalent in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10069/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
950. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of health, social care and other posts by discipline and speciality for each hospital by hospital group; the number of posts funded, filled and vacant; the basis on which they are filled, that is, permanent, temporary, agency and locum, by whole-time equivalent in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10070/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
951. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of management and administrative posts by profession and grade for each hospital by hospital group; the number of posts funded, filled and vacant; the basis on which they are filled, that is, permanent, temporary, agency and locum, by whole-time equivalent in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10071/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
952. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the profession breakdown by discipline and speciality for each public health department; the number of posts funded, filled, and vacant; the basis on which they are filled, that is, permanent, temporary, agency and locum, by whole-time equivalent in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10072/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
953. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the profession breakdown by discipline and speciality for each operational unit of the National Ambulance Service and Dublin Fire Brigade; the number of posts funded, filled and vacant; the basis on which they are filled, that is, permanent, temporary, agency and locum, by whole-time equivalent in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10073/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
954. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the profession breakdown by discipline and speciality for staff hired for home help services; the number of posts funded, filled and vacant; the basis on which they are filled, that is, permanent, temporary, agency and locum, by whole-time equivalent in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10074/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
955. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an assessment for a primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10076/21]
View answerThe Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme is underpinned by statute and 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.
In the context of the national effort to suppress and manage the impact of COVID, the ability to hold assessments is 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. The HSE has confirmed that the community medical doctors and their teams are predominately deployed to the COVID vaccination rollout in residential care facilities and other health care settings.
I have been informed that the HSE is considering the matter of Primary Medical Certificate assessments in the context of their revision of the HSE Recovery and Restoration Plan, taking into account the pressures and challenges to the health services presented by COVID.
As the issue concerning the individual case 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.
956. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of beds, by bed type, in each hospital by hospital group on 1 January 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10077/21]
View answer958. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the target number of beds, by bed type, in each hospital by hospital group for 31 December 2021 as funded in Budget 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10079/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 956 and 958 together.
Significant progress has been made in the ten months since the start of the COVID 19 pandemic in relation to the funding and provision of additional hospital beds. The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to continuing investment in our health care services in line with the recommendations of the Health Service Capacity Review and the commitments in Project Ireland 2040.
The Health Service Capacity Review 2018 found that the net requirement in combination with health system reform is for an additional 2,590 hospital beds by 2031 (2,100 inpatient, 300 day case and 190 critical care). The National Development Plan provides for the addition of the full 2,590 beds by 2027.
The Department of Health is working with the HSE to increase acute capacity in hospitals throughout the country to meet this and other health demands. Government allocated €236 million revenue and €40 million capital expenditure as part of Budget 2021 to fund additional acute beds on a permanent basis. This funding will provide, by the end of 2021, an additional 1,146 acute beds (excluding critical care beds). As part of this, over 400 beds, opened in 2019/2020 on a temporary basis, will remain open on a permanent basis.
In relation to the particular queries raised regarding the target number of beds at the end of 2021 and the number of beds in the system on the 1st of January 2021 by site, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
957. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of beds, by bed type, in each health and social care facility by CHO on 1 January 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10078/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
959. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the target number of beds, by bed type, in each health and social care facility by CHO for 31 December 2021 as funded in Budget 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10080/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
960. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if the work of the interdepartmental group looking at relaxing rules under the fair deal scheme to facilitate the rental or sale of vacant homes has reached agreement on any changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10085/21]
View answerThe Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as 'Fair Deal', is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. The primary legislation underpinning the NHSS is the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009. Participants in the NHSS contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
Under the NHSS, rental income is considered as ‘income’ for the purpose of a financial assessment of means and is currently assessed at 80% less any allowable deductions. Assets are assessed at 7.5% of their annual value for the duration of an individual participant’s time on the scheme, with the exception of the principal private residence, which is only assessed for the first three years.
The current Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to “reforming the Fair Deal scheme to incentivise the renting out of vacant properties”. My Department is currently engaging with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on how to take this forward.
However, there are significant complexities in relation to any changes being made to the NHSS, particularly with regard to ensuring the ongoing fair, equitable, and sustainable operation of the scheme. My Department must also be sure that any change delivers a genuine impact and offers value for money. On this basis, all competing interests and relevant issues must be fully considered.
My department is liaising closely with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to develop an evidence base around the issue and consider potential policy measures.
961. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on waiting lists for mental health supports through the HSE in County Donegal; the length of time persons are waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10088/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
962. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of children on waiting lists for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service supports in County Donegal; the length of time the children are waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10089/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
963. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the details of available treatments for young persons with eating disorders; the number of times a young person has been readmitted to a service in a one-year period; the reviews he is taking in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10092/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
964. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a refit for a prosthetic leg that was due to take place in March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10099/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
965. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when the next annual report of the National Treatment Purchase Fund will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10100/21]
View answerIn line with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, each Government Department should lay the annual report and audited financial statements of State bodies under its aegis before the Houses of the Oireachtas within two months of such accounts being received by the Department, together with any report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the financial statements.
Upon Ministerial review of the annual report, Department officials will lay the report before the Houses of the Oireachtas and the National Treatment Purchase Fund will then also publish the report on their website.
966. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when the next action plan of the National Treatment Purchase Fund will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10101/21]
View answerThe annual Scheduled Care Access Plan sets out yearly activity targets for the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), along with measures to improve care for patients waiting for Scheduled Care.
Each year the Access Plan focuses on reducing waiting times for identified high-volume procedures, as well as very long waiters. The 2018 and 2019 Access Plans resulted in positive improvements in Inpatient and Daycase (IPDC) waiting lists which saw a reduction of 18% from 2017 to 2019, and some broader trends in improvement for GI Scopes and Outpatient (OPD) lists. The 2020 Access Plan had not been finalised for publication by March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of routine elective scheduled care for a number of months.
In the context of addressing the impact of Covid-19 on scheduled care, the Government has allocated an additional €210m to the HSE for access to care, which includes funding to help address the shortfall in acute hospital capacity, due to measures introduced to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, and address waiting lists. An additional €30m has also been given to the NTPF to help to address backlogs in waiting lists. This demonstrates the Government’s commitment to improving access to care including reducing waiting times for scheduled care.
The Department of Health, HSE and NTPF are working together to agree targets in relation to waiting list focused activity for 2021. It is expected that this work will conclude shortly.
