Thursday, 4 Mar 2021

Disability Services Provision

Questions (235)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

235. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of new emergency places provided to persons with a disability as of 31 December 2020 by local health office area in tabular form. [12395/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The 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.

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

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (236)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

236. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of children as of 1 March 2021 or the latest date available that were awaiting a first assessment from the HSE under the Disability Act 2005 in each local health office in tabular form. [12396/21]

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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.

Physiotherapy Services

Questions (237)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

237. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the physiotherapy waiting list in each local health area as of 1 March 2021 or the latest date available; the number of persons waiting less than 4, 4 to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number of persons waiting aged 0 to 4, 5 to 17, 18 to 64 and 65 years of age plus in each category in tabular form. [12397/21]

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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.

Speech and Language Therapy

Questions (238, 239, 240)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

238. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy assessment waiting list in each local health area as of 1 March 2021 or the latest date available; the number of persons waiting less than 4, 4 to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number of persons waiting aged 0 to 17 and 18 years of age plus in each category in tabular form. [12398/21]

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Michael Moynihan

Question:

239. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy initial treatment waiting list in each local health area as of 1 March 2021 or the latest date available; the number of persons waiting less than 4, 4 to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number of persons waiting aged 0 to 17 and 18 years of age plus in each category in tabular form. [12399/21]

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Michael Moynihan

Question:

240. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy further treatment waiting list in each local health area as of 1 March 2021 or the latest date available; the number of persons waiting less than 4, 4 to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number of persons waiting aged 0 to 17 and 18 years of age plus in each category in tabular form. [12400/21]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 238, 239 and 240 together.

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

Occupational Therapy

Questions (241)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

241. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy first-time assessment waiting list in each local health area as of 1 March 2021 or the latest date available; the number waiting less than 4, 4 to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number waiting aged 0 to 4, 5 to 17, 18 to 64 and 65 years of age plus in each category in tabular form. [12401/21]

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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.

Covid-19 Tests

Questions (242)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

242. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the provisions in place for the roll-out of mass rapid testing in schools and other community settings; the community settings which will be included in the plan; the number of staff required to perform the tests; if they will be recruited or redeployed from within the health service; when rapid testing will go live; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12403/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) considers the use of Antigen Detection Tests (ADTs) on an ongoing basis and has endorsed recommendations on the use of ADTs that have been validated as a supplement to PCR testing in certain situations, and particularly when the availability of PCR tests may be limited.Validation studies, both here in Ireland and in Europe, are showing significant disparities in test performance (particularly in relation to sensitivity) versus some manufacturer claims, with some tests not meeting minimum performance requirements set by the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Furthermore, their intended use is typically in symptomatic individuals in the early stages of infection, where samples are taken, and tests conducted by trained health professionals. There is limited performance data currently available for the use of antigen tests in asymptomatic populations. The studies also show that performance in symptomatic individuals is much better than in asymptomatic individuals where data are available.While rapid Antigen Detection Tests (ADTs) are described as rapid and simple to perform, they are not designed to be delivered in large numbers and there are considerable human resource, operational, quality assurance, and clinical governance considerations in their administration. To date, validation work indicates that ADTs are most effective in detection of symptomatic cases, when symptom onset is within the last 5 days and when the likelihood of test positivity is greater than 10% among the target population.The HSE is currently putting in place deployment options for the use of ADTs for specific indications in the acute hospital setting and as part of the response to outbreaks in the community setting in symptomatic vulnerable populations and their close contacts, supported by appropriate clinical governance and operational arrangements. This includes updating the case definition for SARS-CoV-2 to accept notification of positive results from ADTs undertaken in the public health system and reporting of such cases to the COVID Care tracker and to the Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting (CIDR) information system developed to manage the surveillance and control of infectious diseases in Ireland.

Considerable work has been undertaken to date to evaluate the use of ADTS in an Irish context and this will continue on an ongoing basis due to the role they can have in the national testing strategy. In particular, further setting-specific ADT validation work continues to be undertaken by the HSE. Antigen testing will not, however, replace the requirement for large scale PCR testing which remains the gold standard for community testing.

I have also set up a group that is chaired by the government’s chief scientific adviser, Professor Mark Ferguson, to examine the use of rapid tests in the community and I expect he will report in the coming weeks.

On an ongoing basis, NPHET considers and reviews, based on public health risk assessments, how best to target testing to detect, and mitigate the impact of, the virus across the population. This includes keeping Ireland’s national testing policy under continuing review.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (243)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

243. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the developing views within his Department on vaccine passports given reports that the European Commission will propose legislation for same in February 2021; if he has ethical or legal concerns regarding the use of vaccine passports; if he is considering approval of same in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12404/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the current international travel policies, all travellers arriving into Ireland from overseas, with limited exemptions, are required to observe the mandatory testing and quarantine regimes.

It is not yet understood whether available vaccines prevent vaccinated persons from transmitting the disease to others. As such, the impact vaccinations will have on travel policies internationally is yet to be determined.

The Government gives continuing consideration to travel policy informed by the epidemiological situation internationally and public health advice.

Alcohol Pricing

Questions (244)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

244. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the introduction of minimum unit pricing for alcohol products which is a key measure in the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12405/21]

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Minister for Health

The Government has provided the HSE with an overall budget of €450 million for PPE in 2021, for all parts of the health service.

As the Deputy will appreciate, there are many competing demands for that PPE, and the provision of PPE to private dentists contracted by the HSE is being considered in that context.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (248)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

248. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the details of the fee which is payable to each of the professional categories that will be administering the vaccine; the basis on which these fees were agreed; and the reason for the wide variation. [12409/21]

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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.

Disability Services Provision

Questions (249)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

249. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of new emergency places provided to persons with a disability as of 1 March 2021, by local health office in tabular form. [12410/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The 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.

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

Podiatry Services

Mental Health Services

Questions (254)

John Lahart

Question:

254. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a psychology appointment in primary care as of 1 March 2021 or the latest date available; and the number waiting 0 to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks. [12424/21]

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Written answers

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.