Wednesday, 10 Mar 2021

Hospital Services

Questions (807)

Barry Cowen

Question:

807. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of a paediatric diabetes nurse in Mullingar General Hospital; and when this service will resume. [12791/21]

View answer

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.

HSE Data

Questions (808)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

808. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who availed of the cross-border health directive in Northern Ireland in each of the years, 2016 to 2020, and to date in 2021, in tabular form; the category of the procedures; the diagnosis-related group codes involved; and the payment made in each case. [12796/21]

View answer

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.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (809)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

809. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12802/21]

View answer

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 (810)

Emer Higgins

Question:

810. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if those who were absent from school on the day of the human papillomavirus, HPV, vaccine administration and the catch-up programme can still receive the HPV vaccine free of charge (details supplied). [12807/21]

View answer

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.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (811)

Richard Bruton

Question:

811. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if persons with underlying health conditions who are now to get higher priority in access to vaccines will be selected based on specific categories of condition or selected by general practitioners based on assessed vulnerability; and if younger persons for whom most of the vaccines have not been explicitly approved will be prioritised for protection. [12809/21]

View answer

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: 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.

Vaccination of those aged 70 and older (in the following order: 85 and older, 80-84, 75-79, and 70-74) 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: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b44b2-minister-donnelly-announces-update-to-vaccine-allocation-strategy/.

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. It is recommended that the individuals concerned discuss this with their treating physician who is in the best position to give appropriate advice.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Questions (812)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

812. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the expected timeframe for the policy changes to the nursing homes support scheme to cap the financial assessment of family farms or businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12810/21]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Nursing Homes Support Scheme, commonly referred to as the Fair Deal Scheme, has been in operation for over 10 years and there is broad agreement that the Scheme operates well and continues to provide appropriate financial assistance where it is required.

However, it is recognised that the Act, in its current form, does not place caps on the financial assessment of family owned and operated farms or businesses when calculating the means to pay for nursing home care. This places a potentially onerous burden on family successors and could challenge the future viability of these productive assets.

Therefore, the Department of Health has proposed a policy change to the Scheme, to cap contributions based on farm and business assets at three years where a family successor commits to working the productive asset. The stated policy objective of the legislation is to introduce additional safeguards in the Scheme to further protect the viability and sustainability of family farms and businesses that will be passed down to the next generation of the family to continue to work them as productive assets to provide for their livelihood.

This change was approved by Government and underwent pre-legislative scrutiny in the last Dáil. Progress on the development of the Bill was negatively impacted by the dissolution of the last Dáil and by the COVID-19 pandemic. The response to the pandemic has been and continues to be a national and public health priority. However, work on this legislation has continued to progress. I requested a waiver to conduct pre-legislative scrutiny from the Business Committee, given this was already undertaken in the previous Dáil, and this waiver was granted on 4th February 2021. I have met with the Attorney General to discuss this legislation, and there has been an ongoing and active engagement between the Department of Health and the Office of the Attorney General on the development of the legislation, which will be brought to the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest possible opportunity. It is on the priority list for publication in the Spring legislative session. The Bill will be enacted upon completion of all stages in the Oireachtas and signed into law by the President.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (813)

Matt Carthy

Question:

813. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if aesthetic clinics are permitted to open during level 5 restrictions; the guidelines in place for the operation of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12815/21]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

The public health restrictions 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 23rd February, 2021, the Government published the revised plan: Covid 19 Resilience & Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead. This three part plan reviews the learnings from our experience to date, considers the enormous impacts our efforts to manage and suppress the disease have had on our economy and on our society and sets out a cautious and measured approach to the easing of restrictions over the coming months.

Information on the revised plan is available here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/c4876-covid-19-resilience-and-recovery-2021-the-path-ahead/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/ThePathAhead/.

The Regulations in effect providing for the current public health restrictions are the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 701 of 2020) as amended by both S.I. No. 4 of 2021 and S.I. No. 29 of 2021. Part 2 of the Principal Regulations sets out what are essential services, including at 15. (h) "primary care and general and specialist medical practice activities;"

The Deputy should note that aesthetic clinics providing aesthetic treatments for cosmetic purposes are not considered essential at this time.

Information in relation to the public health measures in place at level 5 is available at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (814)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

814. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if the recommendation that a vaccine (details supplied) should not be used on persons over 70 years of age will be reassessed given the recent Public Health England real-world study on the effectiveness of the vaccine. [12817/21]

View answer

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: www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/.

The NIAC continues to review all emerging evidence relating to the use of Covid-19 vaccines in Ireland.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (815)

Brian Stanley

Question:

815. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the way the Covid vaccines are distributed to general practitioners such as by county or surgery; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of surgeries have not yet received a delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12818/21]

View answer

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.

Health Services Access

Questions (816, 817, 818, 832, 833)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

816. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to reopen the gender identity adolescent service in Our Lady's Children's Hospital to new referrals; his plans to improve access to healthcare for young transgender persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12821/21]

View answer

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

817. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the progress on his plans to develop national gender clinics and multidisciplinary teams for transgender children and adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12822/21]

View answer

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

818. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the progress on his plans to create and implement a general health policy for transgender persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12823/21]

View answer

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

832. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop a service user forum for the national gender service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12858/21]

View answer

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

833. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide gender identity skills training to all relevant staff members across the continuum of care through primary, secondary and tertiary care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12860/21]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 816 to 818, inclusive, 832 and 833 together.

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

Medicinal Products

Questions (819, 820, 821, 822)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

819. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 441 of 10 December 2020, if he will clarify the definition of currently registered on the national pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP, programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12834/21]

View answer

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

820. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons registered on the national PrEP programme; the number who are currently using PrEP; the number of prescriptions for PrEP written in the past three months for persons registered on the programme; the number of prescriptions for PrEP written in the past six months for persons registered on the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12835/21]

View answer

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

821. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the period that registration is counted as current for the PrEP programme; the reason that a registration would no longer be counted as current for persons who are registered on the national PrEP programme; the actions that are required to extend a current registration; the actions that are required to renew a registration that is no longer current; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12836/21]

View answer

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

822. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons counted as currently registered on the national PrEP programme; the number of persons newly registered on the programme from October 2019 to date, by month, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12837/21]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 819 to 822, inclusive, together.

The roll-out of the national PrEP programme was a significant landmark in the implementation of the National Sexual Health Strategy, 2015-2020. The PrEP programme was launched in November 2019 and funding of €5.4 million was secured in 2020, including allocations for the recruitment of additional staff. The roll-out of the programme continues in 2021. Whilst the PrEP programme remains fully funded, implementation has been impacted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

All health services, including STI/HIV/PrEP services, are continuing to face constraints, resulting from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. These include attendance by appointment only, or online as a result of the need to maintain social distancing, and the necessary redeployment of personnel to diverse COVID-19 related duties, which include testing, contact tracing, vaccination and front-line patient care.

However, despite Covid-19 related restrictions, the national PrEP programme has continued to expand and over 2,000 individuals, mostly gay men, are currently registered.

Phone lines, the GMHS website and other resources such as www.man2man.ie and www.sexualwellbeing.ie are regularly updated to reflect current service delivery and to signpost users to the HSE list of approved PrEP services.

Needless to say, funding remains in place for the national PrEP programme and it is hoped that this service can be delivered to its full potential and developed further, once pandemic related constraints on the health service as a whole can be reduced safely.

With regard to the detailed statistical data sought, 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. 823 answered with Question No. 772.

Health Services

Questions (824, 825)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

824. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop national gender clinics and multidisciplinary teams for transgender children and adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12842/21]

View answer

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

825. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to create and implement a general health policy for transgender persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12843/21]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 824 and 825 together. 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 (826)

Michael Creed

Question:

826. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the process established to deal with difficult cases concerning the Covid-19 vaccination, in particular a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12845/21]

View answer

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: 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.

Vaccination of those aged 70 and older (in the following order: 85 and older, 80-84, 75-79, and 70-74) 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: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b44b2-minister-donnelly-announces-update-to-vaccine-allocation-strategy/

Vaccination Programme

Questions (827)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

827. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive the Covid-19 vaccine in view of the high risk of getting the virus in the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12846/21]

View answer

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.

Health Services Provision

Questions (828)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

828. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the existing treatments that are being provided for amyloidosis patients; the way in which these compare against patrisan; and the efficacy of these existing treatments in stopping the progression of amyloidosis. [12848/21]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Health Services Provision

Questions (829)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

829. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of the closure of St. Joseph's Rehabilitation Unit, Castlebar; the rehabilitation services that are available to replace those that cannot be accessed as a result of the closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12849/21]

View answer

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.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (830)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

830. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health when international transport workers can expect to receive a vaccine; and if he has been in contact with his European counterparts concerning vaccinations for this cohort of workers who travel across many European states on a weekly basis. [12850/21]