Written Answers Nos. 1503-1527
1503. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the reason the largest circulated newspapers that are delivered free to homes in areas (details supplied) are not receiving Government advertising in the form of Covid-19 public health advertising. [14455/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1504. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to plans by the HSE to cut the number of newly qualified doctors (details supplied) from July 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14456/21]
View answerOver the past number of weeks, my Department and the HSE have been reviewing the option to increase the number of medical intern places for July 2021.
I have announced an increase of 120 medical intern posts for July 2021. The increase in the number of intern places will be supported with accompanying increases in postgraduate training places, to ensure these doctors can avail of the next step in the training pathway following completion of an internship.
The six Intern Training Networks, that organise and oversee intern training in Ireland, are responsible for the allocation of intern posts within their particular networks. The networks have now been informed of the additional intern posts for July 2021, and will allocate the additional posts appropriately.
1505. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) has been informed that the waiting list for speech and language therapy in their area has increased to 55 months; his views on whether this is an unacceptable wait time; the steps he will take to ensure the provision of the urgent assessment for the child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14468/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1507. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he has considered preparing a bid to host the forthcoming European health emergency preparedness and response authority proposed by the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14494/21]
View answerThe COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need for and value of co-ordinated EU level action. The EU in their Communication of 11 November 2020 “Building a European Health Union: Reinforcing the EU’s resilience for cross-border health threats” states a need for member states to work together on foresight, preparedness and ability to respond coherently, rapidly and appropriately to protect citizens from health crises. As COVID-19 is unlikely to be the only global or pan-European health crisis of our century, the European Commission is proposing the establishment of the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) with a mission to strengthen the EU’s preparedness and response in terms of medical countermeasures for serious cross-border threats to health, both of natural and intentional origin. HERA will be complementary to existing EU structures and mechanisms, as well as relevant national initiatives.
The European Commission envisages that the Authority will take a whole value chain approach, from threat assessment to conceptualisation to deployment in case of need, and support Member States’ response capacities and access and ensuing availability and deployment of countermeasures to prepare for and address human cross-border health threats.
The proposal is at an early stage of development. The Commission is currently creating a High-Level Expert Group on the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority to support and steer the proposal. Ireland will be represented on this high level group.
A consultation process on the establishment of the authority will begin shortly, with a view to proposing in 2021 a properly mandated and resourced dedicated structure to start operations in 2023. The consultation will be will be accessible from the Commission's ’Have Your Say’ portal which can be found at https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say
1510. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if speech and language and associated therapies will be provided for a child (details supplied). [14500/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
1511. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when pharmacy staff (details supplied) in County Kerry will be vaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14503/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1512. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the improved provision planned for CAMHS services in counties Louth and Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14505/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1513. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons allocated home help and home care packages by county and or allocated as per each local health office; the amount of funding drawn down in each county for these packages in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14510/21]
View answerAs these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1514. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for a home help and or home care package; the average length of wait for these services respectively nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14511/21]
View answerAs these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1515. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for home help and or home care packages; the average length of time waiting across each local health office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14512/21]
View answerAs these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1516. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the home first pilot schemes; the location of each; if the schemes are operational; if not, when they will be operational; the nature and operation of these pilot projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14513/21]
View answerThe development of a new statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services is a key objective of the Government, which the Department of Health is currently progressing. Work to determine the optimal model for, and approach to, the development of the new scheme within the broader context of the Sláintecare reforms is being advanced through workstreams on regulation, financing, and service-delivery.
In 2021 a reformed model of service-delivery for home-support services will be piloted in selected areas across the country. The Department and the HSE are currently finalising these plans and it is envisaged that the testing will commence in the second half of this year. The selection of the areas in which the pilot will be conducted will be shared with stakeholders once these are agreed.
Informed by the use of the interRAI single assessment tool across the pilot-sites, the pilot will support:
- the determination of the scope of the services to be included in the new scheme;
- the development of care-bands as a framework for resource-allocation;
- the development of the clinical governance model for the new scheme;
- the development of the structures and processes through which the services will be delivered.
More broadly the pilot will also inform the development of the financing and commissioning models for the new scheme.
The pilot will be evaluated through an action-research project to be undertaken concurrently, ensuring that the findings inform the development of the service-delivery model for the new scheme as the pilot progresses.
1517. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he has discussed home first policy measures with other Departments such as the Departments of Justice, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and Enterprise, Trade and Employment on ways to increase and ensure that Ireland has a sufficient pool of qualified home carers to fulfil the home first policy in respect of home care in the years ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14514/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government (2020) commits to the introduction of “a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high-quality, regulated home care.” In this regard, my Department is in the process of developing a statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support.
As part of this work, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) is undertaking a programme of research on behalf of the Department on the demand for, and cost of, home support. Following this, work will be undertaken to examine the associated workforce requirements for the introduction of such a scheme and my Department will engage with other sectors as required in this regard.
1518. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if persons with multiple sclerosis on Tysabri, natalizumab, having a severely compromised immune system due to having MS who were previously considered to be in the high-risk category are in the cohort 4 category; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14515/21]
View answerOn 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.
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 they discuss this with their treating physician who is in the best position to give appropriate advice.
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.
1519. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if travelling to visit a spouse in another country is considered essential travel and exempt from possible Garda fines. [14532/21]
View answerThe Government continues to advise against all non-essential travel at the current time. SI No 29/2021 provides a non-exhaustive list of reasonable excuses for travel to an airport or port for purpose of leaving the State. These reasons include.
- To work, comply with a contract of employment or contract for services, or otherwise engage in work or employment
- To provide services to, or perform the functions of, an office holder appointed under any enactment or under the Constitution, or a member of either House of the Oireachtas, the European Parliament or a local authority
- To provide services essential to the functioning of diplomatic missions and consular posts in the State
- To attend, for educational reasons a primary or secondary school, or a university, higher education institution or other education and training facility, to the extent that it is necessary for such educational reasons to attend in person
- To accompany any other person residing with the person, or a vulnerable person, to one of the education facilities mentioned above
- To attend a medical or dental appointment, or accompany, to such an appointment, any other person residing with the person, or a vulnerable person
- To seek essential medical, health or dental assistance for the person, for any other person residing with the person, or for a vulnerable person
- To attend to vital family matters (including providing care to vulnerable persons)
- To attend a funeral
- To fulfil a legal obligation (including attending court, satisfying bail conditions, or participating in ongoing legal proceedings), attend a court office where required, initiate emergency legal proceedings or execute essential legal documents
- if the person is a parent or guardian of a child, or a person having a right of access to a child, to give effect to arrangements for access to the child by the person, or another person who is - (i) a parent or guardian of the child, or (ii) a person having a right of access to the child where the person is not ordinarily resident in the State, to leave the State.
Travellers arriving back into Ireland are 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.
1520. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if pharmaceutical companies and or agencies contracted to deliver Covid-19 vaccines have been indemnified with respect to penalties arising from non-delivery or late delivery of vaccine consignments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14536/21]
View answerIreland is currently involved in an EU Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission on behalf of member states to procure a portfolio of suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19.
As part of the exercise, Ireland has already opted into an Advance Purchase Agreement (APA) with AstraZeneca (partnering with Oxford University); Janssen (Johnson & Johnson); BioNTech/Pfizer; CureVac and Moderna.
The content of the Advance Purchase Agreements, including with regard to liability / indemnity, are negotiated with vaccine suppliers by the European Commission and its negotiation team acting on behalf of Member States. Member States may decide to opt in / opt out, but do not have scope to recast the provisions of any APA.
1522. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if a person residing in the UK can travel to Ireland to visit their partner and children; if such visits are deemed essential under level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14543/21]
View answerUnder the current measures, travellers arriving into Ireland from overseas (including from Great Britain) 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 in line with the requirements as set out in SI 44/2021. When operational, certain categories of travellers will be subject to mandatory hotel quarantine under the Health (Amendment) Act.
SI No. 44/2021 sets out categories of travellers who are not subject to the home quarantine requirement. These include international transport workers including aviation and maritime crew, members of An Garda Síochána or the Defence Forces who travel in the course of their duties and persons who are travelling for unavoidable and time sensitive medical reasons.
1523. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the recruitment challenges that the health service is facing in trying to find suitably qualified staff for the ophthalmic service in primary care specifically in the Cork and Kerry region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14551/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1524. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he has completed his review of the support therapies from early intervention and school age teams; the key conclusions in terms of timely access; if new policy initiatives have been identified; and if different structures or models are under consideration. [14556/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
1526. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the services available for adults living with an ADHD diagnosis in CHO6; the improvements planned; when will they be rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14568/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1527. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the details of the progressing disability services for children and young people project; if it is suitable for persons with severe and profound intellectual disabilities; if so, the evidence to support same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14572/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
