Michael Healy-Rae
Question:180. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice the status of citizenship applications by persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13825/21]
View answerCitizenship Applications
Questions (180)
Written answers
Applications for a certificate of naturalisation were received from the persons referred to by the Deputy on 20 December 2018. These applications are currently being processed with a view to establishing whether they meet the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
Prisoner Health
Questions (181)
Sorca Clarke
Question:181. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 653 of 7 July 2020, if she will provide the most up-to-date data. [13857/21]
View answerWritten answers
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the traditional manner of service delivery by psychology and addiction professionals in prisons have been impacted.
Engagement by services with prisoners has been impacted due to the implementation of essential infection control and operational regimes to keep prisoners and staff safe. This has required the development of new ways of working to support prisoners. Both services have adapted working arrangements to respond innovatively to supporting prisoners by introducing a blended model of working which facilitates prisoner engagement with practitioners employing a combination of mediums including telephony, video link and one to one contact, where deemed clinically necessary. However, notwithstanding this, service delivery is constrained and has resulted in a reduction of sessions delivered by Psychology and Addiction Services.
In respect of the Psychology Service, individual sessions increased in 2020 compared to 2019 by over 13% but group sessions decreased by 60%. The Sex-Offender Treatment programme has also been significantly delayed. Merchants Quay Ireland have witnessed a 24% decrease in client interventions in 2020 compared to 2019.
The provision of the Psychology Service places an emphasis on mental health and personality disorder presentations, risk presentations (self and others), and trauma-informed approaches. Psychological interventions include both individual and group based approaches and are provided through a Stepped Model of Care.
The Irish Prison Service Psychology Service also provides a critical role in support, consultation, education and training to the broader Prison Service organisation. This includes consultation with senior management in relation to very complex psychological and risk-related presentations and Recruit Prison Officer Training.
The Prison Service Psychology Service operates an open referral policy, meaning the service will accept referrals from all sources. The vast majority of referrals into the Psychology Service are in relation to any, or a combination of the following:
Mental health difficulties including, but not exclusive to: Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Disorders of Personality and Behaviour, (complex) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Self-Harm and Suicidal Behaviours, Eating Disorders, Psychosis and Schizophrenia; and
Risk-related presentations including: need for a strengths, needs and risk assessment of the various factors including violence or other antisocial behaviour (past or present), relationship difficulties, employment difficulties, substance misuse, that culminated in the perpetration of an offence (and those factors that support desistance), preparation of Parole Board reports, risk-related intervention by addressing the underlying risk factors that increase the likelihood that an individual will become a victim or a perpetrator of violence, complex case and risk management consultation.
The number of prisoners waiting to access prison psychology services as of 9th March 2021, is set out in Table 1.
Table 1. Psychology Service current waiting list 9th March 2021.
|
Prison |
Number on Waiting List |
|
Arbour Hill |
60 |
|
Castlerea |
62 |
|
Cloverhill |
59 |
|
Cork |
57 |
|
Dochas |
23 |
|
Limerick |
46 |
|
Loughan House |
7 |
|
Midlands |
398 |
|
Mountjoy |
168 |
|
Portlaoise |
97 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
13 |
|
Wheatfield |
216 |
|
Total |
1,206 |
Since 2007, the Prison Service has engaged Merchant's Quay Ireland to develop and deliver an effective prison-based Addiction Counselling Service. MQI operate in all prisons except Arbour Hill as, given prisoner profile, there is minimal demand required for drug addiction counselling services at that location.
Addiction counsellors offer counselling, group work and advice with a focus on harm reduction and developing care plans for post-release. The teams work closely with other disciplines, with the clients' consent, to provide a comprehensive set of interventions.
Many prisoners can use their time in custody to identify their underlying issues relating to their drug use and offending behaviour and with appropriate intervention, time can be spent addressing their issues and planning a more positive future for themselves, their family and community. Counsellors can be accessed directly in each prison or through any Irish Prison Service healthcare team member.
The number of prisoners waiting to access Addiction Counselling Services as of 1st March 2021, is set out in Table 2.
Table 2. Waiting List for Drug Addiction Counselling Services 1st March, 2021
|
Prison |
Number on Waiting List |
|
Cork |
48 |
|
Limerick |
38 |
|
Midlands |
50 |
|
Portlaoise |
53 |
|
Mountjoy |
94 |
|
Dochas |
30 |
|
Loughan House |
18 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
2 |
|
Cloverhill |
40 |
|
Wheatfield |
100 |
|
Castlerea |
58 |
|
Total |
531 |
Prison Staff
Questions (182)
Sorca Clarke
Question:182. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 652 of 7 July 2020, the most up-to-date information in relation to the ratio of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and addiction councillors per prisoner for each prison as of February 2021, in tabular form. [13858/21]
View answerWritten answers
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the traditional manner of service delivery by psychology and addiction professionals in prisons have been impacted.
Engagement by services with prisoners has been impacted due to the implementation of essential infection control and operational regimes to keep prisoners and staff safe. This has required the development of new ways of working to support prisoners. Both services have adapted working arrangements to respond innovatively to supporting prisoners by introducing a blended model of working which facilitates prisoner engagement with practitioners employing a combination of mediums including telephony, video link and one to one contact, where deemed clinically necessary. However, notwithstanding this, service delivery is constrained and has resulted in a reduction of sessions delivered by Psychology and Addiction Services.
It important to note that services to prisoners, including healthcare and addiction services, are provided through a combination of staff directly employed or engaged by the Prison Service such as healthcare staff; psychologists and addiction counsellors, and other specialist and in-reach services provided by external agencies such as psychiatrists; dentists and social workers.
Many of the services that could be categorised as “social work” fall into a range of areas and responsibilities including: medical social workers; psychiatric social workers; housing welfare officers; and child welfare officers. These services are provided by a number of different agencies and in many cases are not provided by bespoke staff assigned to prisons therefore, the Prison Service does not have access to data on the ratio of the service provider to prisoner as per your question.
Information on the ratio of Psychologists per prisoner per prison, as it was on 28 February 2021, is set out in Table 1 .
Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) provide to the Prison Service 20 Addiction Counsellors across the Estate. They operate in all prisons except Arbour Hill as, given prisoner profile, there is minimal demand required for drug addiction counselling services at that location.
Probation Officers, many of whom are social work qualified, are assigned to work in prison settings nationally and work with identified prisoners as valued members of multi-disciplinary teams. This can mean working closely with prison staff, psychologists, addiction specialists and community based organisations. There are currently 25 Probation Officers and 8 Senior Probation Officers assigned to work specifically in Prison settings.
The Prison Service works with the HSE/National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS) to ensure the appropriate provision of Psychiatric services to those in custody with mental health needs in all closed prisons.
In-reach mental health services are available in all Dublin prisons and in the Portlaoise Campus through collaboration with the NFMHS to provide forensic mental health sessions weekly in these prisons. Thirteen in-reach Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPNs) and two new social workers, attached to the NFMHS, are part of the in-reach multi-disciplinary teams. Since August 2019, a consultant psychiatrist has provided a mental health service in Castlerea prison.
Consultant Psychiatrist led services are provided to those in custody in Limerick and Cork prisons, by way of an agreement with the HSE. The NFMHS has confirmed that its current caseload includes up to 250 patients who are ordinarily in the custody of the Prison Service.
Information relating to psychiatrists and social workers was requested from the HSE and is set out in Table 2.
Psychiatric Services and Forensic Mental Health Social Workers are provided by the NFMHS on an in-reach basis.
Table 1: Staffing based on figures from 28/02/2021
Ratio of Psychiatrists, Psychiatric Nurse, Registrar and Mental Health Social Worker per prisoner - based on available bed space per prison.
Table 2: Staffing based on figures from 28/02/2021: Ratio of Addiction Counsellors per prisoner
|
Prison |
Bed Capacity (Prisoners) |
Addiction Counsellors |
Ratio (Addiction Counsellors per Prisoner) |
|
Portlaoise |
291 |
0.54 |
0.54:291 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
115 |
0.8 |
0.8:115 |
|
Dochas Centre |
146 |
1.08 |
1.08:146 |
|
Wheatfield |
610 |
3 |
3:610 |
|
Arbour Hill |
138 |
0 |
n/a |
|
Cloverhill |
431 |
1 |
1:431 |
|
Mountjoy |
755 |
4 |
4:755 |
|
Midlands |
875 |
1.96 |
1.96:875 |
|
Limerick |
238 |
2 |
2:238 |
|
Cork |
296 |
1.9 |
1.9:296 |
|
Castlerea |
340 |
2 |
2:340 |
|
Loughan |
140 |
1 |
1:140 |
Naturalisation Eligibility
Questions (183)
Bernard Durkan
Question:183. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if she and her Department can offer a pathway towards naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) notwithstanding replies to previous Parliamentary Questions or the impact of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13864/21]
View answerWritten answers
As I have previously advised to the Deputy, the person concerned does not have a current permission to reside in the State. Therefore, they are not in a position to make an application for naturalisation as they will not satisfy the required reckonable residence criteria prior to the application for naturalisation being made.
To allow for a full examination of the person's circumstances, the person concerned should write to Unit 2, Domestic Residence and Permissions Division, INIS, 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2 D02 XK70 explaining their current circumstances and future intentions in the State, and providing any documentation, including details of any previous permission held, that they feel will support their application.
In all cases, people must engage with the authorities if they wish to be permitted to remain here legally. A pragmatic approach is taken in relation to each case, which is considered on its individual merits.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (184)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:184. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details on the way and when Covid-19 vaccines will be provided for persons aged over 85 years in Ratoath, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13576/21]
View answerWritten answers
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 (185)
John Lahart
Question:185. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the roll-out of vaccines. [13579/21]
View answerWritten answers
As you 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 23rd February, 2021, the Government published it's updated plan for managing Covid-19 - 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.
Since the emergence of COVID-19, the Government has been guided at all times by the emerging scientific understanding of the virus and in particular has been in receipt of advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). The advice of NPHET is usually provided in the form of a letter to the Minister for Health from the Chief Medical Officer, in his role as the Chair of NPHET. This advice is subsequently published on the Government website. It has set out a consistent set of advices and recommendations that are available for inspection by all.
The clear advice from NPHET has been and continues to be that our overarching objective must be to suppress the virus to the lowest level possible and to maintain it at a low level. This is essential for protecting public health and our core priorities of education, health and social care services and shielding the most vulnerable from the disease.
The Path Ahead is available online: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c4876-covid-19-resilience-and-recovery-2021-the-path-ahead/.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (186)
Brendan Griffin
Question:186. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the reason that security contracts for vaccination centres were not advertised or tendered (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13585/21]
View answerWritten answers
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 (187)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:187. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if clarification will be provided in relation to the roll-out of vaccines (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13591/21]
View answerWritten answers
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 (188)
James Lawless
Question:188. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in an appointment for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13602/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (189)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:189. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure an adequate provision of general practitioner services for the expanding population of Lucan, County Dublin. [13603/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Government has implemented a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice, these measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
These include changes to the entry provisions to the GMS scheme to accommodate more flexible/shared GMS GP contracts, and to the retirement provisions for GPs under the GMS scheme, allowing GPs to hold GMS contracts until their 72nd birthday. Supports for rural GP practices have been enhanced, while the 2019 Agreement also includes increased support for GPs working in disadvantaged urban areas.
The 2019 Agreement on GP contractual reforms will see the Government increase investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023, providing for significant increases in capitation fees for GPs who participate in the reform programme and the introduction of new fees and subsidies for additional services such as the chronic disease programme.
Improved family friendly arrangements are an important feature of the revised contractual arrangements, with an increase in the locum rate for maternity and paternity cover, and an increase in the paternity leave allowance from 3 days to 2 weeks.
In addition, the number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over the past ten years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 214 in 2020, with a further increase foreseen in 2021. The ICGP noted a record number of applications for the 2021 GP training programme.
Dental Services
Questions (190)
Michael Creed
Question:190. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he has been notified of specific locations in which medical card patients are being denied access to dental treatment; and the steps he plans to take in this regard. [13607/21]
View answerWritten answers
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 (191)
Michael Lowry
Question:191. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE has refused to deliver the Covid-19 vaccine to the doctor's surgery of a 93 year old person with multiple serious health conditions (details supplied); the reason this vulnerable person has been referred to a mass vaccination clinic to receive their vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13611/21]
View answerWritten answers
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 (192)
Michael Lowry
Question:192. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason the Covid-19 vaccine for front-line staff in dental practices, pharmacies, opticians and other front-line services has been delayed in County Tipperary (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13614/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Questions (193)
Seán Haughey
Question:193. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider the position to cut posts for junior doctors in 2022 with particular reference to interns; his views on whether additional intern positions are needed in order to be prepared for any increase in a surge in capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13624/21]
View answerWritten answers
At the height of COVID, in 2020 intern numbers were increased to deal with health service pressures. This increase was an emergency measure in direct response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. It was not planned, and it was never intended to be sustained on an annual basis.
The Minister for Health asked officials and the HSE to review options to increase the number of medical intern places for 2021.The review will include consideration of current training capacity, and the continued pressures faced by COVID-19 and the ongoing recruitment of senior medical staff.
The Minister is expecting an interim proposal this week. The HSE will also undertake a full review the number of intern posts in a planned and targeted manner for July 2022 to ensure any increases in intern posts is aligned with projected workforce planning requirements, postgraduate training positions, the overall objective of delivering high quality training programmes and having appropriate focused career development opportunities to build the medical workforce and continue to deliver safe care.
As we are coming out of the third wave of COVID and facing increased waiting lists and other challenges there is a focus is on continued recruitment to ensure we have senior doctors to deal with the continued demands. As part of the planned investment by the HSE in additional staffing, services and infrastructure the HSE will be investing in additional medical staffing in 2021. For example:
- Increased the number of approved postgraduate training places by 106 places for July 2021
- Introduced up to 54 new Senior Fellowship posts for July 2021
- Consultant Appointments Approval Committee has approved 91 new consultant posts since August 2020
Further increases are underway and planned as part of the 2021 HSE National Service Plan.
These additional consultants and other senior decision makers will support the delivery of shorter waiting times, the reduction of inappropriate hospital admissions, improved patient flow, and earlier discharge of patients to the community.
Parking Charges
Questions (194)
Bernard Durkan
Question:194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which consideration has or can be given to the possibility of the abolition of car parking charges for cancer patients while undergoing treatment given that the patient already has sufficient other issues to worry about without having the added complication of being pursued by debt collectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13636/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government makes a commitment to introduce a cap on the maximum daily charge for patients and visitors at all public hospitals, where possible and to introduce flexible passes in all public hospitals for patients and their families. My Department and the HSE are currently engaging on this issue in order to achieve this new Programme for Government commitment.
Medical Cards
Questions (195, 244)
Bernard Durkan
Question:195. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the steps that can be taken to speed up the processing of applications for medical cards with particular reference to applications and renewals from persons that may have a terminal illness and the fact that any delays can only exacerbate concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13637/21]
View answer
Brendan Smith
Question:244. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if arrangements have been put in place to expand access to medical cards, making them available to all who are terminally ill and have a prognosis of up to 24-months as announced in early February 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13824/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 244 together.
The Programme for Government ‘Our Shared Future’ contains a commitment to extend discretionary medical cards to those with a terminal illness. The recent Report of the Clinical Advisory Group, which was re-established by the HSE to carry out a review of eligibility for medical cards in cases of terminal illness, recommended inter alia, that legislative change would be necessary to underpin an extension to the current prognosis timeframe required for 'End of Life' medical cards. My Department is therefore currently undertaking an examination of potential options for a legislative framework.
However, pending the development of legislative options, I am pleased to confirm that the Government recently agreed to introduce an administrative arrangement for up to 12 months on an interim basis, that will enable persons who have been certified by their treating Consultant as having a prognosis of 24 months or less, to be awarded a medical card. These applications will not require a means assessment nor will they be reassessed. My Department has been actively engaging with the HSE's National Medical Card Unit to ensure all necessary processes and communications to operationalise the scheme are in place very shortly.
In relation to the current processing times of applications, it should be noted that the HSE has a system in place for the efficient provision of medical cards in response to emergency situations i.e. in circumstances where persons are in need of urgent ongoing medical care and also for persons receiving end of life treatment – that is when patients’ unfortunately have a prognosis of less than 12 months. In these cases, a medical card is issued within 24 hours of receipt of the required patient details and completed medical report by a healthcare professional.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (196, 232)
Michael Ring
Question:196. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if he will provide clarity on the meaning of related services which are listed under essential level 5 restrictions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13638/21]
View answer
Alan Dillon
Question:232. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if a sector (details supplied) can operate during the current public health restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13720/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 232 together.
As the Deputies are 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 23rd February, 2021, the Government published it's updated plan for managing Covid-19 - 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: 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/.
Funeral, burial and related services are listed as essential under 'Administrative and Support Activities'. The Deputies may wish to note that, the related services are necessary ancillary services in order to provide for the holding of a funeral service and burial, including administration required following a death.
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/.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (197)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:197. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if a family is permitted under the current regulations to travel to Lanzarote if the purpose of the journey is to attend a specialised centre for water-based physiotherapy for a child with cerebral palsy. [13639/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Government has introduced more stringent measures applying to international travel in order to mitigate against the risk of new variants being imported through travel and to protect the progress we are making in supressing transmission domestically.
SI No. 44/2021 places testing and quarantine obligations on arriving passengers. Where a person travels to the State for unavoidable, imperative and time-sensitive medical reasons, they will be exempt from these requirements. However, a person who travels from the State for medical treatment abroad is required to meet the testing and quarantine requirements on their return.
SI No 29/2021 details reasonable excuses for travel to an airport or port for purpose of leaving the State. These include:
- To attend a medical or dental appointment, or accompany, to such an appointment, any other person residing with the person, or a vulnerable person
The Government gives continuing consideration to international travel including policy on travel for medical reasons.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (198)
David Cullinane
Question:198. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the staffing composition proposed for each of the mass vaccination centres; the targets for each; the numbers hired for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13643/21]
View answerWritten answers
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 (199)
David Cullinane
Question:199. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the current longest waiting time by number of days across each waiting list by each speciality by each hospital group and by hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13647/21]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by Department officials and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.