Written Answers Nos. 854-882
855. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons accessing respite services; the impact of Covid-19 on access to respite services for these people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11539/21]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives.
The delivery of Respite Services continued to operate during the pandemic, albeit at a reduced capacity; some centres remained open, while others were temporarily re-purposed as isolation facilities.
I am informed by the HSE that at present, centre-based respite facilities are generally providing services at 40 to 60 percent occupancy levels due to necessary precautions to maintain physical distancing and to adhere to infection prevention and control requirements.
The use of targeted 1:1 Home Support Hours are being offered in lieu of respite in certain circumstances, subject to appropriate risk assessment and in line with prevailing Infection, Prevention and Control guidelines.
I am very aware of the pressure on families who are often under tremendous strain to keep going. That is why I secured an additional €5m in Budget 2021 to specifically enhance respite provision for people with a disability and their families. Funding has been provided to the HSE to develop and open the additional 9 dedicated centre-based respite services across all Community Healthcare Areas this year.
I was delighted to announce last week, St Gabriel’s Children’s Respite House in Mungret, Limerick, as the first of these services. I look forward to each service coming on stream being developed throughout this year.
I really believe that respite plays an integral role in the wider provision of disability services and it is an area I’m keen to continue developing.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
857. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an assessment for a primary medical certificate in counties Roscommon or Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11543/21]
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 Community Medical Doctors 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, Deputy Paschal Donohoe. Following the approval of the Finance Act 2020 which provides for the medical criteria in primary legislation, the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, 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 specific 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.
858. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an assessment for a primary medical certificate in counties Roscommon or Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11544/21]
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 Community Medical Doctors 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, Deputy Paschal Donohoe. Following the approval of the Finance Act 2020 which provides for the medical criteria in primary legislation, the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, 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 specific 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.
859. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of an appeal under the fair deal scheme in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11553/21]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
860. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive the full health services equivalent to those provided under the Health (Amendment) Act, HAA, card as recommended by the Quirke report and agreed to. [11555/21]
View answerThe Magdalen Restorative Justice Ex-Gratia Scheme was established in 2013 by the then Department of Justice and Equality on foot of the recommendations contained in the Magdalen Commission Report by Judge Quirke.
In his report, Judge Quirke was of the opinion that Magdalen women should be provided with access to a comprehensive suite of health services. He specified GP services, prescribed drugs, medicines, aids and appliances, dental, ophthalmic, aural, home support, home nursing, counselling, chiropody and physiotherapy services and formed the opinion that the health provisions should operate in a manner similar to the scheme made available to certain persons under the Health (Amendment) Act 1996.
Subsequently, these services were agreed by the then Government and were legislated for by the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Act 2015 (RWRCI Act).
Eligibility for the health services provided for by the 2015 Act is based on a woman being accepted on to the Magdalen Restorative Justice Ex-Gratia Scheme which is administered by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). Once a woman meets the requirements of that scheme, the DCEDIY advises the HSE accordingly of the eligibility for health services.
861. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time permanent nurse posts vacant at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; and the steps being taken to fill these vacant posts. [11563/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
862. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent rhinologists employed by the HSE; and the location of the hospitals, in tabular form. [11564/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter, as soon as possible.
863. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the estimated impact of Covid-19 on waiting times for non-urgent care; and the average waiting times for non-urgent care, by category, since January 2020 to date, in tabular form. [11566/21]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The HSE is currently recommending that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken at this time due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19.
This decision was made arising from the rapid increase in Covid-19 admissions and to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The National Waiting List Management Policy is a standardised approach used by the HSE to manage scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures. It sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists and was developed in 2014 to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care.
€240 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for an access to care fund, €210m of which has been allocated to the HSE and a further €30m to the National Treatment Purchase Fund, to fund additional capacity to address the shortfall arising as a result of measures taken in the context of Covid-19, as well as to address waiting lists.
The latest published National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) figures (Jan 2021) show that the inpatient & daycase (IPDC) waiting list increased by 21% when compared to the same period last year. The figures also show that the outpatient waiting increased by 12% when compared to the same period last year.
In regard to the information requested by the Deputy in relation to average waiting times, the attached documents outline the average wait times for IPDC and outpatient by specialty in January 2020 and January 2021.
864. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of instances of officials in his Department requesting conscience-based refusal in dealing with legislation or the administration of areas of departmental responsibility that have occurred since 1 January 2016; the details of the legislation or areas concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11585/21]
View answerThere have been no instances of officials in my Department requesting conscience-based refusal in dealing with legislation or the administration of areas of Departmental responsibility since 1 January 2016.
865. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 298 of 28 January, the steps he is taking to ensure that the Visiting Restrictions in Place in Maternity Services in Response to Covid-19 document, from the national women and infants health programme in September 2020, will be updated regularly to reflect the changing circumstances of the pandemic and the response, including vaccination roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11595/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
866. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the longest waiting time experienced by an HSE South staff member to have a grievance hearing arranged for stage 1 of the HSE grievance procedure following submission of his or her formal grievance and for the arrangement of a stage 2 hearing following the completion of stage 1 among staff grievance cases from 2020 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11596/21]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
867. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in each public health department; the number of public health doctors on a monthly basis between 1 January 2020 and 1 February 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11597/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter, as soon as possible.
869. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if an unaccompanied minor (details supplied) will be required to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine upon arrival here. [11603/21]
View answerThe Health Amendment Bill, which gives effect to the Government Decision on mandatory quarantine at designated facilities, has been prioritised.
The operationalisation of designated quarantine facilities is being advanced on a cross-departmental basis as a matter of priority. Appropriate provision is made for unaccompanied minors or those seeking international protection.
Implementation is complex and will require cooperation across Departments, Agencies, and with the private sector. The Government is now focussed on the practical implementation measures required to give effect to the provisions of the Bill.
Mandatory quarantine in a designated facility will be required of passengers arriving from certain specified countries based on epidemiological concerns. Arrivals from other overseas countries will continue to be required to observe a 14-day mandatory home quarantine period at the address given on their COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form.
870. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if the national immunisation advisory committee considered if persons with anorexia should be included in the severe mental illness category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11614/21]
View answer907. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if severe eating disorders are included in the severe mental illness category of the new cohort 5 in the Covid-19 vaccine allocation strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11758/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 870 and 907 together.
As the Deputy is aware, the Government has approved the revised Vaccine Allocation Strategy developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), in conjunction with the Department of Health, and endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team.
Firstly, it is important to emphasise that vaccination is only one part of our response to the prevention of COVID-19 infection. People who are vaccinated need to continue with all the public health measures that have been proven to reduce the risk of infection, i.e., limiting our social contacts, physical distancing, wearing a mask, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and avoiding non-essential travel, until a sufficiently large proportion of the population are immune.
In relation to the initial vaccine allocation strategy, the NIAC listed several medical conditions associated with an increased risk of severe illness and death. In the interim, additional national and international evidence has become available which enables a more detailed examination of specific underlying medical conditions which increase the risk of developing severe disease or dying following infection with SARS-CoV-2. This has allowed NIAC to sub-divide those with specific medical conditions into those at very high-risk and those at high risk of serious disease and death.
In relation to the categories of very high risk and high risk conditions, this list is not exhaustive. It may also include people who have been classed as at very high risk, based on clinical judgement and an assessment of need.
871. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a primary medical certificate by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11615/21]
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 Community Medical Doctors 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, Deputy Paschal Donohoe. Following the approval of the Finance Act 2020 which provides for the medical criteria in primary legislation, the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, 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 specific 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.
872. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by firefighters who are not trained paramedics in registering on the HSE website for their Covid-19 vaccination given that category 2a, on the online form, does not provide an option for firefighters who are not trained paramedics; if all firefighters, including those who are not paramedics, are included in category 2a of the HSE Guidelines for Sequencing and Registration Process for Healthcare Workers, HCW, Covid vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11617/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
873. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to fears that the utilisation of general practitioners to roll out the Covid-19 vaccine will have a detrimental impact on an already overstretched general practitioner service nationwide; the measures he plans to take to alleviate these fears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11618/21]
View answerI would like to acknowledge the vital role played by GPs throughout the COVID crisis, both in relation to COVID and non-COVID care. The demands on our health services, including general practice, have never been greater. In order to support general practice as an essential component of the effort to combat COVID-19, the Government has provided a range of support payments to GPs to help maintain regular essential services, and for the provision of COVID-19-related services without charge to the public. In addition, in recognition of the disruption to business and need for the continuance of GP Out of Hours services, the HSE is also providing grants to support the Out of Hours Co-ops.
Given their experience in effectively running national vaccination programmes, GPs will play a central role in the vaccination against COVID. The COVID-19 vaccination programme will involve national partnership with GPs, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals across Ireland, as well as specialist vaccination hubs.
As part of the national vaccination campaign, GPs and pharmacists will provide COVID-19 vaccination on behalf of the HSE to specified cohorts of the population. GPs and pharmacists are being asked to provide a proactive vaccination service which will require dedicated vaccination clinics while also maintaining regular services. Both the IMO and the IPU have expressed strong support for and commitment to participation in the National Vaccination Plan.
The fees payable to GPs and pharmacists for the administration of vaccines against COVID-19 are intended to include the full costs of scheduling and administering the vaccine and cover not only GP pay, but also the additional payments to practice nurses and practice administrators who will be involved in providing vaccinations outside of normal clinic hours, as well as the additional costs of cleaning surgeries. It is also important to recall that the diagnosis and treatment of COVID patients has in itself placed a significant burden on GP practices across the country, and the vaccination campaign is an essential element of reducing that burden on general practice.
874. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists who have indicated that they will be leaving the medical card system; the impact he expects this will have on waiting lists and the dental hygiene of the population; the measures he plans to take or reverse this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11619/21]
View answerThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. These services are provided by independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE. I have, therefore, asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy on the service issues that he has raised.
I met with representatives of the dental profession towards the end of last year when I had an opportunity to hear first-hand the challenges which they face under Covid, and the enormous efforts of their members in continuing to provide services in the current environment. I accept that the profession has concerns about the current contract, which dates back to the nineties, and that one of those concerns relates to the fee structure under the DTSS. I want to ensure the sustainability and viability of that contract and that all eligible persons can continue to receive the services that they deserve from their local dentists.
I have asked my officials and the HSE to bring forward proposals to address those immediate concerns. In the longer term, my commitment to the profession and to the public is for a fundamental review of the contract, in keeping with Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy.
875. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11621/21]
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 Community Medical Doctors 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, Deputy Paschal Donohoe. Following the approval of the Finance Act 2020 which provides for the medical criteria in primary legislation, the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, 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 specific 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.
876. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a primary medical certificate scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11624/21]
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 Community Medical Doctors 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, Deputy Paschal Donohoe. Following the approval of the Finance Act 2020 which provides for the medical criteria in primary legislation, the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, 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 specific 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.
877. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health his views on the gene therapy treatment known as luxturna for the treatment of the early onset of severe retinal dystrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11627/21]
View answerThe 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 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 HSE has advised that on 23 September 2019 an application was received for the reimbursement of Voretigene neparvovec (Luxturna) for the treatment of adult and paediatric patients with vision loss due to inherited retinal dystrophy caused by confirmed biallelic RPE65 mutations and who have sufficient viable retinal cells.
On 29 October 2019, following the completion by the NCPE of a rapid review, the HSE commissioned a full pharmacoeconomic assessment with respect to this indication.
On 3 April 2020, the NCPE received the applicant’s submission for this assessment. On 18 September 2020, the NCPE completed its assessment and recommended that Voretigene neparvovec not be considered for reimbursement unless cost effectiveness could be improved relative to existing treatments.
The HSE engaged in commercial negotiations with the applicant company in November 2020.
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 HSE Drugs Group considered Voretigene neparvovec at its February 2021 meeting and has requested patient and clinician Engagement input via the Rare Diseases Technology Review Committee (RDTRC) to assist the group in making its recommendation to the HSE Executive Management Team (EMT) regarding reimbursement of Voretigene neparvovec. The Drugs Group will review the output of the RDTRC as soon as possible with a view to making a reimbursement recommendation.
The HSE EMT is the decision-making body for the reimbursement of medicines under the Health Act 2013 and it will, following receipt of the outcome of the HSE Drugs Group's deliberations, make the decision on whether Voretigene neparvovec will be reimbursed.
878. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the treatments available in the public health service for persons diagnosed with Leber congenital amaurosis and early onset of severe retinal dystrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11630/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
879. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he plans to establish a national medicines agency; and if so, the way in which it will interact with the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. [11631/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a National Medicines Agency, promoting national prescribing to reduce the cost of medicines, including via generic prescription, where appropriate, and to set a fair price for drug reimbursement.
The establishment of a National Medicines Agency would require a significant body of work to be undertaken, to map out an integrated pharmaceutical policy function for the Agency and to consider the resources necessary for its establishment.
That work has yet to commence, with the priority and focus on tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.
880. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the status of the commitment in the programme for Government to update the national rare diseases plan. [11632/21]
View answerA National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland (2014 – 2018) was launched by the Minister for Health in July 2014. This is a generic policy framework for rare diseases. The scope of the plan is broad given that there are approximately 8,000 rare diseases affecting millions of EU citizens; and consequently, there can be a dearth of expertise and knowledge about some rare diseases, simply because they are so rare.
Many of the major recommendations of the plan have already been implemented including the establishment of a National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases and a Rare Disease Office. Building on this progress to date, themes for inclusion in a roadmap for the coming period have been agreed with the Rare Disease Task Force, which comprises the main rare disease advocacy groups; Rare Disease Ireland, the Medical Research Charities Group (MRCP), and the Irish Platform for Patient Organisations, Science and Industry (IPPPOSI). The Rare Disease Plan is now firmly embedded in the work of the Rare Disease Office which is under the governance of the HSE, Office of the Chief Clinical Officer. This means that, from 01 September 2020, the NRDO became the main contact point and driver for national HSE rare disease projects and initiatives and the National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases was wound down and any outstanding projects transferred to the NRDO.
Meetings, to ensure that the input and the voice of the patient is represented in the continuing work ongoing in relation to Rare Diseases take place at regular intervals with the Rare Disease Task Force, the HSE National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases and the Rare Disease Office.
A number of key themes have now been identified for progression in the coming period, including: Patient Awareness; European Reference Networks; Research & Registries; Access to Services; Access to Medicines; Diagnosis; Education & Training and Legislation & Policy. This will form the basis for work in this area in the time ahead.
881. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if bookmakers' shops will remain closed until at least 5 April following the most recent extension of level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11638/21]
View answer882. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if landscapers and gardeners are permitted to work during level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11639/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 881 and 882 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the public health restrictions at level 5 of the Government's Framework Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 will remain in place until 5th April 2021, when a further review will be conducted. The Framework continues to provide an appropriate mechanism to guide decision-making, and it will continue to be supplemented by more detailed sectoral guidance in relation to measures that apply at each level of the Framework.
On 23 February, 2021, the Government published COVID-19 Resilience & Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead which sets out how in-school education and childcare services will be reinstated in a phased manner from 1 March, with staggered return throughout March to be concluded after the Easter break on 12 April. Information on the revised plan is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c4876-covid-19-resilience-and-recovery-2021-the-path-ahead/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/ThePathAhead/.
The public health measures recognise the need to reduce congregation and interactions between people to reduce the transmission of Covid-19. The number of people allowed to gather in different scenarios in the plan is based on a review of international practice and the judgment of public health experts. 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 measures in place for each level reflect the prevailing disease situation and recognise that we can and must prioritise some activities over others.
At level 5, all non-essential retail, and all non-essential services must remain closed. Information in relation to the current public health measures in place for essential retail and essential services at level 5 is available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/ and https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9158-essential-services/.
The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (NO. 10) Regulations 2020 Regulation (S.I. 701 of 2020), sets out the relevant businesses or services under the current public health measures. Statutory Instruments related to the Covid-19 pandemic are available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/1f150-view-statutory-instruments-related-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/.
