Robert Troy
Question:1477. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a Covid-19 vaccination appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [14370/21]
View answerVaccination Programme
Questions (1477)
Written answers
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 (1478)
Mark Ward
Question:1478. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the options available for a person (details supplied). [14371/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Drugs Payment Scheme
Questions (1479)
Gino Kenny
Question:1479. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason for reimbursing the cost of the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring system for children and young persons with type 1 diabetes while excluding adults; his views on whether while it is welcomed that children and young persons will have access to this important tool in monitoring glucose levels, the significant cost of €120 per month for the monitor is excessive especially for those on low income; if he will consider reimbursing the cost of the glucose monitor for all those with type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14374/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (1480)
Niamh Smyth
Question:1480. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting so long for an operation; the reason for the series of events since March 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14375/21]
View answerWritten answers
It 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.
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
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.
In relation to the particular query raised, 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 Pandemic
Questions (1481)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:1481. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on purchases directly attributable to Covid-19 in 2019 and 2020; and the value of purchases found to be below standard. [14380/21]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE’s total current budget allocation for COVID-19 related measures in 2020 was €2,291m. There was no specific COVID-19 related current allocation in 2019. Within this 2020 allocation, there was a specific allocation for PPE expenditure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic of €920m. The total value of orders raised for PPE and related products (e.g. hand sanitisers/gels) in 2020 was €919m. All products received were reviewed against quality standards as specified by World Health Organisation and all purchases are subject to HSE standard terms and conditions. As in normal purchasing arrangements, if quality issues are identified, then the HSE engages with the supplier to agree a solution, e.g taking back unacceptable goods and refunding HSE, or supplying the HSE with a suitable alternative subject to prior quality assurance approval.
In relation to the products supplied by the HSE’s primary PPE supplier in China in March and April 2020, one product accounting for 4% of the total value of the first batch of PPE received was classified on receipt as being suitable for alternative use only. This product was re-purposed for use in other government departments via the Office of Government Procurement, and the HSE was reimbursed for the value of the stock. To date there has been no occasion where the HSE has had to write off the cost of PPE due to the products being below standard.
The HSE’s total capital budget allocation for COVID-19 related measures in 2020 was €220m. There was no specific COVID-19 related capital allocation in 2019. Within this 2020 allocation, there was a specific allocation for ventilators of €32m. Issues arose for some of these orders in relation to quality and/or failure to deliver (details supplied). These transactions are now the subject of discussions between the HSE, its legal advisors and the suppliers involved.
Public Procurement Contracts
Questions (1482)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:1482. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the details of medical equipment valued above €25,000 plus VAT procured in 2019 and 2020 which was found to be below standard, disaggregated by procurement competition type, in tabular form. [14381/21]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to procurement of medical equipment and its efficacy, as this is an operational matter, I have forwarded your query to the HSE and asked that they respond directly to you on this.
Question No. 1483 answered with Question No. 1423.
Eating Disorders
Questions (1484)
Pauline Tully
Question:1484. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if he has taken steps to review access to services for persons with eating disorders, given the diversion of funding from that area; if not, if he has considered the establishment of a working group for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14384/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services Provision
Questions (1485, 1759, 1760)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:1485. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) in relation to the level of testing in Ireland for Lyme disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14385/21]
View answer
David Cullinane
Question:1759. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the treatment of Lyme disease patients; the actions carried out in relation to diagnosis and treatment facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15330/21]
View answerDavid Cullinane
Question:1760. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the position regarding available services to patients with Lyme disease; the reason these services are not covered by the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15331/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1485, 1759 and 1760 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Primary Medical Certificates
Questions (1486)
Paul McAuliffe
Question:1486. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health his views on the long waiting times for decisions on primary medical certificates (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14389/21]
View answerWritten answers
The 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) Community Medical Doctors 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.
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, Paschal Donohoe T.D.. Following the approval of the Finance Act 2020 which provides for the medical criteria in primary legislation, the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, T.D., issued an instruction to the HSE to recommence assessments from 1st January, 2021.
The ability to hold assessments has been impacted by, among other things, the public health restrictions in place to suppress and manage the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately there are delays in the processing of assessments due to the involvement of the HSE Medical Doctors in the national COVID-19 response, which I know are causing undue strain on applicants.
I recently met with the HSE to discuss the issues around the delay in accessing Primary Medical Certificate assessments. The HSE has confirmed that it is continuing to monitor the situation in the context of resuming the range of services that are provided by Community Medical Doctors under the HSE Service Recovery and Restoration Plan, taking into account the pressures and challenges to the health services presented by COVID.
Nursing Staff
Questions (1487)
Martin Kenny
Question:1487. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health when psychiatric nurses in CHO1 will receive the enhanced nurse pay grade, as was agreed following the nurses dispute in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14391/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1488)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:1488. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if all employees of a section 38 organisation (details supplied) are covered by the provision in HSE circular 073/2020 in the case that they have contracted Covid-19. [14395/21]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that all public health sector employees, including those employees in Section 38 organisations, are covered by the provisions of the HSE's circular 073/2020.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (1489)
David Cullinane
Question:1489. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the criteria for upcoming vaccine administration positions will be revised (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14396/21]
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.
Question No. 1490 answered with Question No. 1367.
Question No. 1491 answered with Question No. 1448.
Question No. 1492 answered with Question No. 1296.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1493)
Paul Donnelly
Question:1493. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the necessary steps for an association (details supplied) to take in order to establish creative arts therapists as designated professionals in the health sector. [14406/21]
View answerWritten answers
I am aware that the Irish Association of Creative Arts Therapists are seeking designation for regulation under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. My officials have corresponded with them on the matter on a number of occasions.
There are 17 health and social care professions designated for regulation by CORU under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act. Currently there are registers open for 10 professions.
As you are aware, creative art therapists are not designated for regulation under the 2005 Act. Section 4 of the Act does, however, provide that, following a consultation process and with the approval of the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Minister can make regulations designating a health or social care profession not already designated.
The issue of health and social care professions seeking regulation is a complex one. Statutory regulation is primarily utilised in order to mitigate the risk posed to the public by the practice of a health or social care profession. Accordingly, my Department has instructed the Health Research Board to carry out research on its behalf which will assist and inform the question of risk assessment in the context of professional regulation.
The Health Research Board commenced their work in October 2020. This research will inform the policy decisions to be taken on the next phase of professions to be regulated, including the degree of regulatory force to be applied and the options for same.
In the meantime, CORU continues the complex work of preparing for regulation under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 a number of professions already designated for regulation.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (1494)
Patrick Costello
Question:1494. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health when cystic fibrosis patients will receive the Covid-19 vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14409/21]
View answerWritten answers
On the 23rd of February 2021, I announced an update to Ireland’s COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy.
In comprising the initial Vaccine Allocation Strategy, the NIAC listed several conditions associated with increased risk of severe disease and death. In the intervening period, national and international evidence has become available which has enabled a more detailed analysis of underlying conditions that may increase the risk of developing severe disease or death.
The NIAC has now been able to more comprehensively identify those medical conditions and to distinguish between those which place a person at very high or high risk of severe disease if they contract the virus. Medical conditions and the magnitude of the risk they pose will continue to be monitored and periodically reviewed.
The NIAC continues to monitor data around this disease and indeed emerging data on effectiveness of vaccines on a rolling basis. Further details are available at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b44b2-minister-donnelly-announces-update-to-vaccine-allocation-strategy/
The next cohort to be vaccinated (Cohort 4) are those aged 16-69 and at very high risk of severe illness and death. Vaccination of this group began in March.
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.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1495)
Bríd Smith
Question:1495. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of all Covid 19-related deaths in nursing homes in January and February 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14412/21]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
Legislative Process
Questions (1496)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:1496. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the details of the process through which his Department drafts and produces legislation; if his Department outsources the drafting of legislation; if so, the Bills for which the drafting was outsourced since he took office; and the costs associated with the drafting of each Bill. [14422/21]
View answerWritten answers
My Department follows the Cabinet Handbook in relation to preparation of Bills. Following a decision in principle on the policy issue involved, or where the proposed legislation is in accordance with the general lines of policy, Government authority is then sought for the drafting of legislation in accordance with a general scheme. A Regulatory Impact Assessment is carried out where changes to a regulatory framework are anticipated.
My Department prepares a general scheme of the proposed Bill in numbered Heads. Each Head comprises instructions for drafting and explanatory notes where appropriate.
On rare occasions and subject to DPER Circular 05/13 'Procurement of Legal Services and Managing Legal Costs', my Department has engaged external legal assistance to support the development of principles and policies and the preparation of legislative proposals.
The draft scheme is circulated for observations to the relevant Departments as well as the Office of the Attorney General and then submitted to Government for approval. Once approval has been received, the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to the Government (OPC) in the Office of the Attorney General is responsible for drafting the Bill.
The OPC also drafts secondary legislation for my Department. Separately, some drafting of secondary legislation is outsourced to a panel of service providers which was appointed in September 2020 following a competitive tendering process for this purpose.
As my Department does not the outsource the drafting of Bills, there are no associated costs.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (1497)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:1497. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he has given consideration to using the IT system that Teagasc and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have that tracks and traces the national herd and records and traces each inoculation to help in the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccination, which could prove to be cost efficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14438/21]
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.
Drugs Payment Scheme
Questions (1498)
Colm Burke
Question:1498. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will consider putting in place additional supports for those with type 1 diabetes to afford the cost of a flash glucose meter, in view of the fact there are substantial costs associated with this equipment, which is essential for the management of blood glucose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14440/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Dental Services
Questions (1499)
Johnny Mythen
Question:1499. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the dental appointment waiting list in County Wexford; the average waiting time for appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14444/21]
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.
Dental Services
Questions (1500)
Johnny Mythen
Question:1500. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists who held contracts for the dental treatment service scheme in County Wexford in 2020; the number of dentists who currently hold a contract for the dental treatment service scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14445/21]
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.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1501)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:1501. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who arrived into Ireland without proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test in January, February and to date in March 2021; the number of sanctions imposed for these breaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14449/21]
View answerWritten answers
In accordance with S.I. 44/2021 and S.I. 45/2021, travellers arriving into Ireland from overseas are required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form, to present evidence of a negative pre-departure RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival and to observe mandatory quarantine.
Checks of evidence of a negative/not detected RT- PCR Covid-19 test on all arriving passengers into the State are carried out by Immigration Officials of the Border Management Unit and An Garda Síochána at ports of entry to the State. All cases where a test result is not available, or where the authenticity of the test result documentation is queried, are referred for further investigation to An Garda Síochána who have a presence at all approved ports of entry to the State.
The Department of Justice has reported high rates of compliance with the requirement to present proof of a negative / non-detected RT-PCR test result at points of entry to Ireland.
Passengers who arrive in an Irish port or airport without evidence of a negative/not detected test result or with a confirmed fraudulent test result will commit an offence and may be subject to prosecution, punishable by a fine not exceeding €2,500 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or both. In such cases An Garda Síochána will prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The Health (Amendment) Act 2021 enacted on 7th March will require travellers arriving without a ‘non-detected’ PCR test result in the previous 72 hours, as currently required, to enter quarantine until a not-detected test result is returned.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1502)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:1502. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of arrivals from each category 2 state as listed under regulation 6 of the Health Act 1947 in February and to date in March 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14450/21]
View answerWritten answers
All passengers arriving to the State are required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form (PLF) in accordance with SI 45/2021. There are limited exemptions from this requirement, as set out in the regulations, such as for international transport workers or for diplomats. The Passenger Locator Form is used to support a system of engagements with arriving passengers including the targeting of public health messaging by SMS and may be used for contact tracing.
It should be noted that PLF data does not constitute formal arrival data into the country, due to the different intended purpose for the system and also the number of exempted persons as set out above. In addition, some passengers may complete a PLF in advance but be unable to travel as intended, and the data below may include some duplicates for certain travellers. Passengers may have completed a PLF and continued their journey without staying overnight in the State or having transiting onto Northern Ireland.
The data below is an indicative number of passengers whose journey originated in a Category 2 state as well as those passengers that listed a Category 2 state in their recent travel history from 8th February to 14 March. A total of 33 states are designated by the Minister.
Numbers provided are for countries where a minimum number of 10 arrived from a Category 2 country, as providing any smaller numbers could risk identifying individual passengers. Where a passenger has declared that they have travelled in a number of Category 2 countries prior to arriving into Ireland, the most recent country is reported. Passengers will only appear once on this report.
63,987 Passenger Locator Forms were completed 8th Feb – 14th March from all countries of departure for relevant travellers.
8% of the Passenger Locator Forms indicated a category 2 country during this period.
Number of accompanying children U16 are declared on the PLF, further information is not recorded on these passengers.
The figures below are subject to change due to ongoing data cleansing e.g. duplication where passengers completed the ePLF twice.
*Other countries -
Angola, Botswana, Bolivia, Burundi, Cape Verde, Colombia, Chile, DR Congo, Ecuador, Eswatini, French Guiana, Guyana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, Suriname, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.