Thursday, 25 Mar 2021

Written Answers Nos. 228-249

Home School Community Liaison Scheme

Questions (229)

Gary Gannon

Question:

229. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health when home school community liaison officers will be vaccinated against Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16229/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

The ongoing review process will continue to look at the other priority groups yet to be vaccinated, along with the competing needs of those working or living in high-risk situations, carers who deliver essential services to highly dependent individuals in the home setting, and those who are socially vulnerable/disadvantaged.

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.

Primary Medical Certificates

Questions (230)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

230. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a primary medical certificate for person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16231/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.

As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for consideration and direct reply to the Deputy.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (231)

Denis Naughten

Question:

231. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will review the lack of Covid-19 vaccination prioritisation for family carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16232/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

The ongoing review process will continue to look at the other priority groups yet to be vaccinated, along with the competing needs of those working or living in high-risk situations, carers who deliver essential services to highly dependent individuals in the home setting, and those who are socially vulnerable/disadvantaged.

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.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (232)

Denis Naughten

Question:

232. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current Covid-19 vaccination prioritisation for teachers, special needs assistants and childcare workers; when they will be vaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16233/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

The ongoing review process will continue to look at the other priority groups yet to be vaccinated, along with the competing needs of those working or living in high-risk situations, carers who deliver essential services to highly dependent individuals in the home setting, and those who are socially vulnerable/disadvantaged.

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.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (233)

Denis Naughten

Question:

233. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason back-office HSE staff are being vaccinated for Covid-19 when front-line healthcare staff and nursing students have still not received their vaccinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16234/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Vaccination Programme

Questions (234)

Neale Richmond

Question:

234. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he has considered implementing a single recruitment process for healthcare professionals to apply for the role of vaccinator for the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine rather than continuing with separate application processes and Garda vetting for each mass vaccination site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16237/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (235)

Carol Nolan

Question:

235. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if patients admitted to hospital for non-Covid-19-related illnesses or treatment but who are later found to be Covid-19-positive while in hospital are being included in the numbers of patients admitted with Covid-19; his views on whether the failure to differentiate between both categories may lead to confusion regarding the number of persons who are said to have been hospitalised with Covid-19 especially if they are asymptomatic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16238/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

National Public Health Emergency Team

Questions (236)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

236. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason the recommendation NPHET made in its letter of 18 February 2021 to expand mandatory hotel quarantine to all inbound passengers was not implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16239/21]

Reply awaited from Department.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (237)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

237. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the cohorts being vaccinated at the Helix, DCU; the average number each day who are being vaccinated on site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16240/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (238)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

238. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if all nursing homes will implement the new visitation guidelines to allow for a second weekly visit; if not, the nursing homes which will or will not implement the new guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16241/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound impact across society especially for older people. It is recognised that the necessary public health protective measures, such as the need to reduce social contacts, can have adverse effects on social, psychological and emotional wellbeing. The availability of vaccines brings great hope and will play a critical role in protecting the population, especially those most at risk such as older people, against COVID-19. The advanced stage of the vaccination rollout in nursing homes provides an opportunity for cautious incremental modification in some public health measures, including visiting measures.

New visitation guidance was published on 12 March and came into effect on 22 March 2021. The new guidance incorporates early learning from the positive impact of the vaccine rollout nationally and internationally and will provide enhanced opportunity for visiting in nursing homes across all levels of the Government’s Plan “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 - The Path Ahead ”.

While the guidance in place had provided for visiting on critical and compassionate grounds this new guidance now expands the scope of visiting on general compassionate grounds as well as further refining the guidance across levels 1 to 5, which now provides at Levels 3, 4 and 5, subject to risk assessment and no open outbreak, that residents may be facilitated to receive:

- Two visits per week, where 8 out of 10 of every resident and healthcare worker in the nursing home has completed their vaccination schedule.

The guidance re-emphasises specific critical and compassionate circumstances such as end of life on which additional visiting can be facilitated. It further notes that the duration of visiting on critical and compassionate grounds should be as flexible as possible subject to the ability of the nursing home to manage the visiting safely. At all times vigilance on the general infection prevention control measures must be maintained. The guidance will be kept under continuing review as new evidence and data emerges.

It is important to note that nursing home providers are ultimately responsible for the safe care of their residents. Under Regulation 11 of the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013 it is the legal responsibility of each registered provider to make arrangements for a resident to receive visitors, having regard to any risks that may present for the resident or other residents. Public health guidance has been developed in order to assist and support providers in this regard.

I have written to all nursing home providers, through HIQA’s communication portal, to emphasise the need for all providers to follow the revised guidance on visitation. I have also met with HIQA on this matter to stress the importance of implementation of the guidance. The adoption of a holistic and person-centred approach, noting the key role that visiting, social connections and communication with family and friends has in the context of residents’ overall health and wellbeing must be sustained. I expect every effort to be made to ensure visits are facilitated to the greatest extent possible, in line with the revised guidance and public health advice. Providers are also encouraged to frequently communicate with residents and families on the matter of visiting and to respond to phone calls by family members, in so far as is practicable, given the constraints on staff.

Cancer Services

Questions (239)

Neale Richmond

Question:

239. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the steps Ireland will take to support the implementation of the Beating Cancer Plan; if he plans to leverage EU funds or other supports available under the plan for national cancer policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16242/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, published last month, aims to reduce the cancer burden for patients, their families and health systems. It seeks to address cancer-related inequalities between and within Member States, with actions to support, coordinate and complement the efforts of Member States.

The plan closely mirrors the goals of Ireland’s National Cancer Strategy, with a focus on prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. Indeed, a large number of the initiatives included in the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan will support and complement work already being undertaken as part of our implementation of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026.

Europe's Beating Cancer Plan is currently being examined by the Member States. The plan will be implemented using a wide range of Commission funding instruments, and the European Commission has noted its intention to establish an EU Cancer Plan Implementation Group to align actions and policies across all EU institutions. This Group will set out an implementation roadmap, which will specify in detail the next steps for implementing the actions outlined in the plan.

Ireland welcomes the publication of the plan and we look forward to working with European colleagues to achieve its objectives.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (240)

Neale Richmond

Question:

240. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if his Department was involved in the development of Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with Covid-19; if Ireland’s application to the EU recovery and resilience facility will include actions to support the recovery of the health service following the Covid-19 pandemic and improve the future resilience of the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16243/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I understand that the development of ‘Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19’, took cognisance of and was informed by NPHET advice provided over the months preceding the publication of the Plan in September 2020. In particular, the NPHET held two discussions on 3rd and 10th September 2020 which led to the development of a draft 5 Level ‘Framework for Restrictive Measures in Response to COVID-19’. On 11th September, the NPHET attached the draft Framework for Restrictive Measures to its letter to me, for consideration as part of the development of the Government's Plan. These letters are available online: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/ba4aa0-letters-from-the-cmo-to-the-minister-for-health/#august-december-2020.

There was also engagement with the Department of Health and the HSE regarding the implications of the response to COVID-19 for the health service which also informed the Plan for Living with COVID-19.

Ireland is developing a National Recovery & Resilience Plan (NRRP) for approval by the European Union.  The Plan will set out the reforms and investments to be supported by the Recovery and Resilience Facility and will be submitted to the European Commission no later than 30 April 2021. 

I understand that the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, working together with the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Finance and the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, is responsible for the preparing the Plan with input from other Departments as necessary, and for ensuring coordination across Government.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (241)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

241. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if persons in mandatory hotel quarantine will be required to take daily exercise only on the campus of the hotel and not in the surrounding public area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16244/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Guests who are undergoing mandatory quarantine at a designated facility will not be permitted to leave the facility and so can take exercise either in their room or in the designated outdoor area provided.This will be a safe, secure space within the precincts of the facility.

All facilities in the mandatory quarantine system have a designated outdoor area on site which guests will be allowed to use on a scheduled basis up to three times daily, subject to their having received a negative result in their initial RT-PCR test. Additional time will be available to families with children should they request it.

Guests using the outdoor area will do so under the supervision of security staff who will escort guests to and from the area to promote adherence to the infection prevention and control protocols which underpin the mandatory quarantine system.

For persons who are unable to leave their room due to quarantine protocol restrictions, or do not wish to make use of the outdoor area, the service provider has also developed and supplied guided exercise programmes which can be undertaken in a guest's room as well as a number of other health and wellbeing initiatives to support guests' physical and mental wellbeing.

Covid-19 Tests

Questions (242)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

242. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health his views on the use of antigen testing as part of reopening society out of lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16252/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE has deployed ADTs for use in specific indications in the acute hospital setting, and as part of the response to outbreaks in the community setting in symptomatic vulnerable populations and their close contacts, supported by appropriate clinical governance and operational arrangements. This includes updating the case definition for SARS-CoV-2 to accept notification of positive results from ADTs undertaken in the public health system and reporting of such cases to the COVID Care tracker and to the Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting (CIDR) information system developed to manage the surveillance and control of infectious diseases in Ireland.

Considerable work has been undertaken to date to evaluate the use of ADTS in an Irish context and this will continue on an ongoing basis due to the role they can have in the national testing strategy. In particular, further setting-specific ADT validation work continues to be undertaken by the HSE. Antigen testing will not, however, replace the requirement for large scale PCR testing which remains the gold standard for community testing.

I have also set up a group, chaired by the government’s chief scientific adviser, Professor Mark Ferguson, to examine the use of rapid tests in the community, and I will be considering the recommendations of this group.

On an ongoing basis, NPHET considers and reviews, based on public health risk assessments, how best to target testing to detect, and mitigate the impact of, the virus across the population. This includes keeping Ireland’s national testing policy under continuing review.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (243)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

243. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health if the definition of a Covid-19 death will be amended or updated as more persons are vaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16254/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Hospital Facilities

Questions (244)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

244. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the projected timeline for the opening of the new national forensic mental health service hospital, Portrane; if recruitment has been successfully completed to ensure a full complement of staff for the new facility; if site identification has commenced for the two new 30-bed regional intensive care units in Cork and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16264/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Dental Services

Questions (245)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

245. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the availability of a cosmetic dentistry grant and the criteria for same or the financial assistance for urgent orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16265/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Vaccination Programme

Questions (246)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

246. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of the vaccine roll-out for non-registered carers and parents of vulnerable children with additional needs, especially if the parents have roles that force them to engage with the public (details supplied). [16266/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

The ongoing review process will continue to look at the other priority groups yet to be vaccinated, along with the competing needs of those working or living in high-risk situations, carers who deliver essential services to highly dependent individuals in the home setting, and those who are socially vulnerable/disadvantaged.

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.

Departmental Communications

Questions (247)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

247. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the dedicated email addresses for Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas to contact his Department and bodies under its aegis as outlined in circular 25/2016. [15998/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The details sought by the Deputy are as follows:

Department	[e-mail]
	[e-mail]
State Bodies
1. Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board	[e-mail]
2. Bord Iascaigh Mhara	[e-mail]
3. Marine Institute?	[e-mail]
4. Sea Fisheries Protection Authority	[e-mail]
5. Rásaíocht Con Éireann	[e-mail]
6. Horse Racing Ireland	[e-mail]
7. Irish National Stud	[e-mail]
8. Bord Bia	[e-mail]
9. Coillte	[e-mail]
	[e-mail]
10. National Milk Agency	[e-mail]
11. Teagasc	[e-mail]
12. Veterinary Council of Ireland	[e-mail]

Protected Disclosures

Questions (248, 249)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

248. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of protected disclosures received by his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number that were accepted as a protected disclosure; the number that were in part or fully examined by a third party or consultancy; the number of protected disclosures under investigation over this period; and the number that were finalised and the contents accepted and acted on. [16024/21]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

249. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of protected disclosures received by his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 from officials within his Department; the number of officials who made protected disclosures over the period and who are now not working in his Department; and the number of protected disclosures received from retired officials of his Department over the period. [16042/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 249 together.

As required under the relevant legislation, my Department has a Protected Disclosures Policy in place under which a staff member who wishes to make a protected disclosure may do so to any of the following confidential recipients:

- an independent confidential service engaged for this purpose,

- the Head of the Internal Audit Unit in the Department, or

- any member of the Department’s Management Board.

Contact details for all of the above confidential recipients, as well as procedures for making a protected disclosure, are contained in the policy document which has been circulated to all staff and which is also  available on the Department's intranet. 

The recipient carries out an initial review to establish whether the case meets the criteria for a Protected Disclosure. If it meets the criteria, the case is then assigned to a senior official who will take the appropriate action, for instance an investigation, depending on the subject matter of the case.

With one exception, all the Protected Disclosures have been investigated by senior DAFM officials who have had no previous involvement in the matters being disclosed. In one case, in order to avoid any conflict of interest, an outside consultancy has been asked to carry out the investigation.

Due to the confidentiality of the protected disclosures process, details are not retained centrally as to whether the discloser is a current or former member of staff.

The numbers and status of Protected Disclosures received in the Department to date are:

Year	Number	Current Status
2017	2	All closed
2018	1	One case ongoing (pending final follow up meeting which has had to be postponed during 2020 due to Covid-related public health restrictions)
2019	2	All closed
2020	4*	At the end of 2020 one case had been closed and three were on going (one of which was finalised in March 2021)
2021	Nil	None received yet. However, there can be a delay between receiving information, establishing that it is a protected disclosure and recording it as such.

*One of the four cases counted for 2020 was received in 2018 but was not acted on due to the discloser withdrawing another protected disclosure covering the same topic. Following an internal review of the matter in 2020, the Department commenced an investigation into the disclosure.

The Department is committed to taking action should evidence of wrongdoing be found on foot of an investigation arising from a Protected Disclosure.