Joan Collins
Question:209. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health where the 300 new therapists will be located. [16154/21]
View answerHealth Services Staff
Questions (209)
Written answers
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.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (210)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:210. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if it is planned to prioritise cardiac patients between 18 and 65 years of age under priority 4 in the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16155/21]
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.
Question No. 211 answered with Question No. 186.
Nursing Staff
Questions (212)
Seán Sherlock
Question:212. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the engagement he has had on pay for student nurses. [16163/21]
View answerWritten answers
Since October 2020, regular engagements have taken place directly between representative unions and officials from my Department on this matter. These engagements are ongoing and concern matters raised by representative unions regarding financial supports for supernumerary student placements at the present time, and pay for 4th-year internship placements.
On 8th February last I met with the lead representatives of the INMO, PNA and SIPTU on student nurse placement matters, including the findings of the Collins Report.
There is ongoing engagement between my officials and the representative unions at present on outstanding matters from these earlier engagements and I am hopeful that these will progress to agreement on the findings of the Collins Report as well as agreeing the commencement of the longer-term review of current travel and accommodation allowances and 4th year internship pay.
Departmental Policy Functions
Questions (213)
Seán Sherlock
Question:213. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the engagement he has had on the policy of progressing disability services; and if he has contacted other Ministers regarding the policy. [16173/21]
View answerWritten answers
Minister of State with Responsibility for Disabilities, Anne Rabbitte TD, has engaged with a number of members of the Oireachtas, including Ministers, on the issue of PDS. A number of these engagements have been in-person while others have been by way of written representation. Minister Rabbitte engages on an ongoing basis with other members of government on various elements of disability policy.
Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme (PDS) is a significant change programme for the provision of services and supports provided by the HSE For children from birth to 18 years of age with special needs, in line with Slaintecare and the Programme for Government, in order to:
- Provide a clear pathway and fairer access to services for all children with a disability.
- Make the best use of available resources for the benefit of all children and their families
- Ensure effective teams are working in partnership with families and with education staff to support children with a disability to reach their full potential.
PDS aligns with two clear objectives of The Sláintecare Report to:
- Provide the majority of care at or as close to home as possible
- Create an integrated system of care with healthcare professionals working closely together.
Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNT) are being established to provide services and supports for all children with complex needs within a defined geographic area.
CDNTs are teams of health and social care professionals, including occupational therapy, psychology, nursing, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, social work and others. The team will work closely together in a family centred model, focussing on the child’s and family’s own priorities. Once all teams are in place, every child with complex needs will have access to a team, regardless of the nature of their disability, where they live, or the school they attend.
Children and their families will have access to the full range of services and supports of the CDNT according to their individual needs. This includes universal, targeted and specialist supports, such as individual therapeutic intervention and access to specialist consultation and assessment when needed. Supports will be provided as is feasible in the child’s natural environments - their home, school and community.
Under PDS, transition plans will be developed with in consultation with families and special schools to ensure a smooth and safe transition over a defined period of time.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Questions (214)
John McGuinness
Question:214. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a new automated special chair will be provided for a person (details supplied). [16183/21]
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.
Health Services Provision
Questions (215)
Bríd Smith
Question:215. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for access to speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and psychological services in the Dublin CHO7 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16184/21]
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.
Speech and Language Therapy
Questions (216)
Bríd Smith
Question:216. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of speech and language therapists who remain redeployed to other areas as a result of the Covid-19 emergency; and the number of same who are from the CHO7 area.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16185/21]
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.
Health Services Staff
Questions (217)
Bríd Smith
Question:217. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health when the proposed recruitment of new therapists will take place; the health areas to which they will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16186/21]
View answerWritten answers
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 (218)
Róisín Shortall
Question:218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the grounds for selection in respect of the 33 category 2 countries for travel purposes; the supporting data in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16187/21]
View answerWritten answers
The clear Government and public health advice is that everybody should avoid non-essential travel.
An Expert Advisory Group on Travel was recently established and has taken a risk-based approach to inform recommendations to the Chief Medical Officer, who in turn advises the Minister for Health on countries to be specified as category 2 under the current Regulations (S.I. No. 44 of 2021). This approach considers the risk of sustained human transmission of COVID-19, as measured by the 14-day incidence in that country relative to that in Ireland, in addition to the risk of importation of a variant of concern and/or variant of interest based on the actual or potential prevalence of such variants.
The list of category 2 countries is subject to review on an ongoing basis.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (219)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:219. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 cases detected in persons arriving into the country on overseas flights in January, February and March 2021; the breakdown of each country from which the infected cases came; and if breaches of the mandatory quarantine regulations have been detected since they were introduced in February 2021. [16189/21]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is informed by the Department of Justice that 590 checks on persons quarantining at home were conducted between 24 February and 14 March.
In relation to the data sought on imported cases, my Department will revert to the Deputy directly as soon as the data can be collated.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (220)
Joan Collins
Question:220. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the locations in which Covid-19 infections are initiating; the breakdown of same; the number of positive infections from 1 March to 22 March 2021; and the locations and groups in which infections are initiating, for example in workplaces, students, indoor gatherings, outdoor gatherings, retail, schools and so on. [16190/21]
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 (221)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:221. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the expected average daily vaccination numbers in respect of the vaccination system roll-out capability under unconstrained supply, 75% supply and 50% supply, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16198/21]
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 (222)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:222. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the expected cost of the contract for general practitioners to roll out the vaccine in 2020 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16199/21]
View answerWritten answers
The fees payable to GPs and pharmacists were set following consultation with the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Pharmacy Union. A fee of €25 per vaccine dose, and a once-off €10 per patient administration fee, will be payable to GPs and pharmacists for the administration of such vaccines outside of HSE-run mass-vaccination clinics, e.g. in GP practices and pharmacies. An hourly fee of €120 and €70 will be payable to GPs and pharmacists respectively for vaccination services provided in HSE-run mass-vaccination clinics. The fees reflect the amount of time required, additional administrative requirements and complexity, and the level of post-vaccination care likely needed.
The cost of the vaccination fees payable to GPs will depend on the number of doses administered and the location of administration. GPs are currently providing vaccinations to persons aged 70 years and older living in the community.
Covid-19 Tests
Questions (223)
Réada Cronin
Question:223. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons being tested for Covid-19 at a location (details supplied) and elsewhere who do not have PPS numbers; if those persons are from within or without the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16203/21]
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 (224, 228)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:224. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the publication of the capacity review of disability services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16212/21]
View answer
Gary Gannon
Question:228. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health when the capacity review of disability services will be published; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16226/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 228 together.
In line with Sláintecare vision it is essential, that over the next number of years, the State moves to a population-based planning approach, based on demographic and geographic considerations, that reflects both the health and social care needs of those within our population, including those who require specialist disability services. This approach provides an opportunity to prioritise and design the health and social care services that need to be developed for each region, so the population can get the right care, in the right place, at the right time in line with HIQA standards and available resources.
The Disability Social Care Demand and Capacity Requirements up to 2032 is a Slaintecare Action Plan deliverable. The Report is currently being finalised.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (225)
Brendan Smith
Question:225. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when the Covid-19 mandatory travel quarantine system will be operational; if it is planned to designate additional countries as high risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16220/21]
View answerWritten answers
Mandatory hotel quarantine in designated facilities will come into practical effect at 04:00 on 26 March 2021. From that time, persons arriving from or having travelled through a designated state in the previous 14 days will be required to undergo quarantine in a designated facility.
Persons who are required to undergo quarantine in a designated facility are now able to book using an online portal which went live at 00:00 on Monday 23 March 2021 and official information about the mandatory quarantine system has been made available on www.gov.ie/quarantine.
The designation of states will be subject to ongoing review in line with the provisions of Section 38B of the Health Act 1947, which was inserted by the Health (Amendment) Act 2021.
Nursing Home Accommodation
Questions (226)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:226. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for approved applicants for the nursing home subvention scheme before they go into payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16222/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Ophthalmology Services
Questions (227)
Michael Ring
Question:227. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when an ophthalmologist will be appointed to an area (details supplied) in County Mayo following the transfer of the previous ophthalmologist to another area. [16225/21]
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.