Written Answers Nos. 1011-1032
1011. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of healthcare workers vaccinated across the sequencing groups identified under Sequencing of Covid-19 Vaccination of Frontline Healthcare Workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10391/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1012. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if the plans for transgender health services have been implemented; and his views on reports of confusion in relation to the locations to which persons should be referred. [10393/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1013. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the date for the roll-out of the vaccine to each of the priority groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10394/21]
View answer1036. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the date for the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine to each of the priority groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10545/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1013 and 1036 together.
The Government is committed to the timely implementation of a COVID-19 immunisation programme.
The National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy, which was prepared by the High-Level Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccination, was signed off by Cabinet on 15 December 2020.
The vaccines will be rolled out in three phases - the initial roll out, a mass ramp-up and open access. The highest priority groups, those over the age of 65 living in long-term care facilities and frontline healthcare workers in direct patient contact, will receive the vaccine first.
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 began the week of 15 February.
The only substantive limitation on the pace of implementation will be supply. As more vaccines are approved and arrive, the delivery schedule will change.
All of the groups will be covered as further vaccine supplies become available and the immunisation programme is rolled out nationally. This is wholly dependent on supply lines and on candidate vaccines obtaining approval. Therefore, it is not possible at this time to determine a timeframe for the full vaccination programme.
1014. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the progress of the tender process for the new day unit for Naas General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10403/21]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
1015. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if Sativex will be covered under the medical card and drug reimbursement schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10408/21]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of 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 licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost-effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact.
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 has advised that, in 2014, it notified the manufacturer of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol/Cannabidiol, THC/CBD (Sativex) that there was significant uncertainty around the cost-effectiveness of the medicine and, as a consequence it did not support reimbursement of Sativex, at that time.
In February 2018, the HSE received a revised application from the manufacturer for pricing/reimbursement of Sativex indicated as treatment for symptom improvement in adult patients with moderate to severe spasticity due to multiple sclerosis who have not responded adequately to other anti-spasticity medication and who demonstrate clinically significant improvement in spasticity-related symptoms during an initial trial of therapy.
In April 2018, the HSE commissioned a full HTA with respect to this indication. On 12 August 2019, the NCPE received the applicant's submission. The Health technology assessment is currently ongoing at the NCPE. The output of this HTA will be an important input into the decision-making processes of the HSE.
The application for Sativex remains under consideration with the HSE and is being assessed in line with the 2013 Health Act.
1016. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he will address the situation in which a person (details supplied) in need of a psychology appointment was advised there is currently a 75-week waiting time for primary care clinical psychology appointments; the steps he will take to address the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10412/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1017. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health when nurses attached to an organisation (details supplied) will be vaccinated; and the reason for the delay. [10416/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1018. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the cohort of persons who will be using the Covid-19 vaccination centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10417/21]
View answerOn 15 February, I announced 37 HSE Vaccination Centres, with at least one for every county. These centres will support the vaccination of the general population in a safe and efficient manner.
While currently vaccines are being administered in healthcare settings and by GPs in communities, many people will be offered their vaccination in these centres, having self-registered online. Each centre varies in size and operating hours and they have been selected based on population density, ease of access, transport and parking.
1020. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the date the Covid-19 vaccination centres will be operational from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10419/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1021. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 693 of 17 February 2021, his views on whether it is possible and if he considers it urgent to arrange for safe transport to places of quarantine for travellers arriving from category-2 countries to avoid introducing more deadly Covid-19 variants. [10423/21]
View answerThe operationalisation of designated quarantine facilities is being advanced on a cross-departmental basis as a matter of priority, including the drafting of primary legislation to provide for these facilities.
My Department is leading a group from across government and agencies to progress policy and legislation and the operational requirements for designated quarantine facilities.
This work is supported by officials from across a number of Departments including Foreign Affairs, Transport, Justice, Public Expenditure and Reform, as well as Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. This group is working urgently to establish the scope of services required to put these facilities in place, including the legislative basis and operational issues such as transport.
1022. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the reason there is currently no occupational therapist in Ennis General Hospital; and his plans to address the matter. [10460/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1023. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the amount his Department has expended to date on awareness-raising campaigns regarding Covid-19 in national newspapers, regional newspapers, national radio, regional and local radio stations and across social media platforms; and the amount committed for expenditure under any current contracts or agreements with same, in tabular form. [10475/21]
View answerI can confirm that my Department has expended €340,153.88 on awareness campaigns under the criteria in question, a breakdown of which is in tabular form below.
|
Campaign |
Description |
Date |
Amount |
|
Public Information |
Passenger locator form advert |
19 May 2020 |
€6,842 |
|
Public Information |
Passenger locator form advert |
21 May 2020 |
€136,563.81 |
|
Public Information |
COVID-19 booklet - five national newspapers |
23 June 2020 |
€58,662.02 |
|
Public Information/Social Media |
Videos - Public Advice from the CMO |
20 October 2020 |
€735.75 |
|
Public Information |
COVID-19 media advertising |
06 October 2020 |
€136,563.80 |
|
Public Information/Social Media |
Deputy CMO Vaccine Videos |
11 December 2020 |
€786.50 |
As this question is also relevant to the Health Service Executive, I have asked them to respond directly to deputy, as soon as possible.
1024. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if a list of hotels in which the HSE has accommodated healthcare workers during the pandemic will be provided; the number accommodated in each hotel; if any Covid-19-positive healthcare workers were accommodated in hotels, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10483/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
1025. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the regional basis upon which public health specialists are appointed; if they are appointed based on former health board areas; if not, if this has been updated to current HSE geographic divisions such as CHOs or hospital groups; the number employed in divisions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10484/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1026. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if recipients of disability services such as a service (details supplied) will receive the Covid-19 vaccine alongside the front-line staff who care for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10491/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1027. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health his plans to allow child psychologists to conduct appointments by phone, including access to patient files and necessary information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10492/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1028. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the value of transfers of value received by HSE organisations from pharmaceutical companies from 2017 to 2019. [10513/21]
View answerReferred to the HSE as this is a service issue.
1029. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the value of transfers of value received by HSE employees from pharmaceutical companies from 2017 to 2019. [10514/21]
View answerReferred to the HSE as this is a service issue.
1030. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has a policy on its staff and facilities receiving donations from pharmaceutical companies. [10515/21]
View answerReferred to the HSE as this is a service issue.
1031. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health when persons deemed at very high risk of serious illness or mortality from Covid-19 due to immune-suppressing and disease-modifying treatments will receive the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10516/21]
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 began in February.
On 23 February, I announced an update to Ireland’s COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy.
In comprising the initial Vaccine Allocation Strategy, the NIAC listed several conditions associated with increased risk of severe disease and death. In the intervening period, national and international evidence has become available which has enabled a more detailed analysis of underlying conditions that may increase the risk of developing severe disease or death.
The NIAC has now been able to more comprehensively identify those medical conditions and to distinguish between those which place a person at very high or high risk of severe disease if they contract the virus. Medical conditions and the magnitude of the risk they pose will continue to be monitored and periodically reviewed.
The NIAC continues to monitor data around this disease and indeed emerging data on effectiveness of vaccines on a rolling basis.
Further details are available at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b44b2-minister-donnelly-announces-update-to-vaccine-allocation-strategy/.
1032. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a recent audit of the management of hazardous waste by the Dublin Fire Brigade ambulance service; his views on this; his plans to ensure all the recommendations arising out of the audit are fully actioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10524/21]
View answerDublin Fire Brigade (DFB) provides emergency ambulance services in Dublin City and County through a funding support agreement between Dublin City Council and the Health Service Executive (HSE). In the first instance, queries relating to governance and oversight of DFB are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
