Wednesday, 21 Apr 2021

Written Answers Nos. 1573-1591

Primary Care Centres

Questions (1573)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

1573. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the status of the planned primary healthcare centre being developed in Kilrush. [18294/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Primary Care Centres

Questions (1574)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

1574. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the status of the planned primary healthcare centre being developed in Ennistymon. [18295/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1575, 1580, 2428)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

1575. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the strategy for exiting lockdown restrictions; the level of patients in hospital and in intensive care units that is required to allow further easing of restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18300/21]

Neale Richmond

Question:

1580. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he considered sharing when the reopening of the country can proceed dependent on the number Covid-19 vaccines that have been administered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18325/21]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

2428. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he can remain cautiously optimistic in the context of the vaccination programme here as a facilitator for the reopening of business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20852/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1575, 1580 and 2428 together.

Significant progress has been made in recent months in suppressing the virus due to the huge effort of our citizens. By working together, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland. We all must continue to do everything possible to avoid the virus spreading.

As has been the case throughout the pandemic, there is no single metric or target that is considered; rather it is an assessment of a range of indicators and trends. In its revised Plan, COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – the Path Ahead, the Government set out four conditions to enable a significant easing of measures:

- Disease prevalence (case numbers/incidence) is brought to much lower levels that can be managed and controlled by public health and that the reproduction number (“R” number) is such that we can be confident we can continue to suppress the disease e.g. at or below 1.

- Hospital and critical care occupancy are reduced to low levels to protect the health service and allow for the safe resumption of non-COVID-19 care.

- Emerging information on variants of concern.

- Ongoing and steady progress on the vaccination programme such that the most vulnerable are protected through vaccination.

Modelling shows that the risk of a fourth wave can be very substantially reduced if we continue to keep the disease under control in April and May and allow a greater proportion of the population to be protected through vaccination. The situation will be subject to ongoing review taking account of the evolving epidemiological situation, the impact of the reopening of priority services, and available evidence in relation to vaccine deployment, uptake and effectiveness. The NPHET and the Government will consider the position again at the end of this month and it is anticipated that a roadmap for the further easing of measures over the coming months will be agreed.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (1576)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

1576. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who had an appointment for vaccination at the Aviva Stadium, Citywest Convention Centre, Helix Theatre, and Technological University Dublin campus, respectively, on 24 March; the number of persons who did not attend the appointment at each of these centres on that date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18309/21]

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 (1577, 1579, 1654)

Neale Richmond

Question:

1577. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he has considered sharing more information on the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccines with the general public such as the progress being made through the various priority groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18322/21]

Neale Richmond

Question:

1579. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he has considered sharing an approximate timeline of when each cohort can expect to receive a Covid-19 vaccine given that supply is set to ramp up considerably in the coming weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18324/21]

Neale Richmond

Question:

1654. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he has considered increasing public information on the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccines (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18576/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1577, 1579 and 1654 together.

Ireland’s COVID-19 vaccination programme strategy is to distribute all available vaccine as quickly as is operationally possible, prioritising those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19.

The programme is based on the principles of safety, effectiveness and fairness, with the objective of reducing severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 infection.

The HSE is continuing to undertake significant work in scaling-up the Vaccination Programme. The online registration system for vaccinations for those aged 65-69 opened on Thursday 15 April.

Further information on vaccines administered is published on the Government of Ireland’s COVID-19 Data Hub, and the HSE’s vaccination programme dashboard. This includes the number of doses administered by cohort, vaccine and a breakdown of the numbers of dose 1 and dose 2 administered.

The Government’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage gov.ie/covid19vaccine is continuously updated providing details on frequently asked questions regarding vaccines, delivery updates and information on the Vaccine Allocation Strategy.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (1578)

Neale Richmond

Question:

1578. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he has considered updating the Covid-19 tracker application vaccine information to contain both the cumulative number of vaccines administered and the daily total, the daily total per cohort and the daily total per vaccine type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18323/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As part of the continuous improvement of the COVID Tracker App a number of enhancements have been made since its introduction. Vaccination data is available on the Covid Tracker App since 10th February 2021 and includes the cumulative numbers of first and second dose vaccinations.

The HSE have advised my Department that they are considering the inclusion of further details in the next release of the Covid Tracker, in line with the vaccination data being made available on Ireland's COVID-19 Data Hub.

Question No. 1579 answered with Question No. 1577.

Question No. 1580 answered with Question No. 1575.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1581, 1727, 1804, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2010, 2099, 2190, 2235, 2303, 2309, 2314, 2316, 2388, 2408)

Neale Richmond

Question:

1581. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if people entering Ireland who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with a European Medical Agency approved vaccine will be exempted from mandatory hotel quarantine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18333/21]

Réada Cronin

Question:

1727. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if fully vaccinated persons with clear tests will be exempt from mandatory hotel quarantine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18814/21]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1804. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if a fully vaccinated person who travels into Ireland from abroad is subject to quarantine requirements; if an amendment of this requirement is being considered in the context of emerging evidence on the effect that vaccines have on transmissibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19028/21]

Marian Harkin

Question:

1986. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the options available to a person (details supplied) to return here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19503/21]

Joe O'Brien

Question:

1989. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to allowing persons who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 to be exempt from mandatory hotel-based quarantine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19517/21]

Bríd Smith

Question:

1990. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the position of persons in cases in which they have urgent family reasons to visit Ireland, for example, an extremely ill parent, are coming from a designated state, have been fully vaccinated and who have a negative PCR test prior to their departure; if such persons are required to undertake mandatory hotel quarantine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19521/21]

Thomas Pringle

Question:

1999. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if general practitioners from other EU countries who have come to Ireland for work, received both Covid-19 vaccinations and have a negative PCR test are exempt from the two-week mandatory quarantine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19539/21]

Thomas Pringle

Question:

2010. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if general practitioners from other EU countries who have come to Ireland for work, have received both the Covid-19 vaccinations and have a negative PCR test are exempt from the two-week mandatory quarantine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19555/21]

Seán Haughey

Question:

2099. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he will amend the Health (Amendment) Act 2021 in order to facilitate a return to Ireland by fully vaccinated hospital consultants and general practitioners training in Canada and allow them to take up medical positions here without having to undertake mandatory hotel quarantine; if he will consult the expert advisory group on travel in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19832/21]

Mick Barry

Question:

2190. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will consider revising the regulations on the mandatory Covid-19 detention for persons who can demonstrate that they are fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and have a negative PCR test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20084/21]

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Question:

2235. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health if a period of isolation or quarantine will be required for fully vaccinated healthcare workers who return from visiting close family in other countries; if so, if the HSE and other healthcare employers will be asked to facilitate such workers in working from home for the quarantine period as is the practice for those required to restrict their movements and work from home due to being a close contact of an infected person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20230/21]

Joe Carey

Question:

2303. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health if he will amend mandatory hotel quarantine policy to exempt persons who have been fully vaccinated for Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20523/21]

Marian Harkin

Question:

2309. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if a matter (details supplied) concerning the hotel quarantine will be clarified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20547/21]

Mick Barry

Question:

2314. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if a person returning from essential surgery from a category 2 State who is fully vaccinated and can supply negative PCR tests on arrival will be obliged to undergo mandatory Covid-19 detention upon return to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20561/21]

Brendan Smith

Question:

2316. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if the mandatory hotel quarantine requirement will be lifted in respect of persons travelling from designated countries who are fully Covid-19 vaccinated and have negative tests both in respect of their departure from the foreign destination and arrival in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20567/21]

John McGuinness

Question:

2388. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the rules on mandatory quarantine will be set aside for Irish citizens entering the country from one of the listed countries who have proof of being vaccinated, have a negative test and can isolate at home. [20667/21]

Mattie McGrath

Question:

2408. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a person who has been fully vaccinated must quarantine; the reason a person who has been fully vaccinated would be expected to quarantine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20739/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1581, 1727, 1804, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2010, 2099, 2190, 2235, 2303, 2309, 2314, 2316, 2388 and 2408 together.

Mandatory hotel quarantine has been introduced as one element of Ireland’s public health measures to combat the transmission of COVID-19 variants of concern.

The Health Act 1947, as amended, provides that all persons arriving in Ireland from a designated state, or having travelled through a designated state in the previous 14 days, are required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a designated facility unless they are an exempted traveller under the Act. All applicable travellers must reserve and pay for a place in mandatory hotel quarantine.

The Health (Amendment) Act 2021 identifies those who are exempt from mandatory hotel quarantine and a full list of exemptions can be accessed on gov.ie/quarantine.

The provisions of the Act also allow for travellers to request a review of decisions relating to their quarantine; however this can only be undertaken once quarantine has begun.

The Government continues to evaluate wider policy on international travel as informed by the epidemiological situation and public health advice. As of 17th April, travellers who are fully vaccinated and have documents to prove vaccination are exempt. However, this only applies to persons who are fully vaccinated with an EMA-approved vaccine and there will still be a requirement for them to quarantine at home following arrival into the State.

Neither I as Minister for Health nor my Department have any role in decisions relating to whether individual persons must enter mandatory quarantine or whether individual persons are exempted travellers. All such decisions are to be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1582)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

1582. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18341/21]

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 (1583, 1586)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

1583. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the progress made further to talks between a union (details supplied) and the HSE regarding the general practitioner provision of Covid-19 vaccines to persons in group 4 of the vaccine schedule; if GPs have been approved to provide these vaccines; and when persons in this group can expect to be scheduled to receive a vaccine. [18344/21]

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

1586. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the status of talks between a union (details supplied) and the HSE on the GP provision of Covid-19 vaccines to persons in group 7 of the vaccine schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18347/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1583 and 1586 together.

Since the commencement of the Covid-19 Pandemic in early 2020, the HSE through the Chief Clinical Officer has in place a forum for ongoing engagement for General Practice involving a senior group comprising clinical and management staff from the HSE with senior colleagues from the IMO and the ICGP. More recently, since early 2021 with the rollout of the vaccination programme a specific working group has been in place of HSE and GP representatives through which the operating guidance and a range of other clinical and logistical matters have been dealt with in supporting General Practice. The working group reports through the Chief Clinical Officer and the HSE Governance arrangements.

Specifically in relation to the rollout of Cohort 3 (over 70s) and Cohorts 4 and 7 (Medically Vulnerable), the HSE has in place an ongoing process of engagement with the IMO in dealing with the rollout of the vaccination programme in agreeing the arrangements and detailed plans to apply. Earlier in April 2021, a detailed plan was prepared and agreed with the IMO for the rollout of AstraZeneca for Cohorts 4 and 7. In line with discussions with the IMO, the HSE has put in place, a Covid support team to address issues arising on a day-to-day basis and to monitor and manage the impact of potential changes on various aspects of the programme (i.e. delivery schedules, consumable logistics, revised cohort start/finish dates etc.)

More recently, the HSE Covid-19 vaccination rollout plans have been updated in accordance with the new guidance issued by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) in relation to the AstraZeneca vaccine. The HSE has reached agreement with the IMO in relation to the vaccination of Cohort 4 (patients at very high-risk), and Cohort 7 (patients at high-risk) in line with this new NIAC clinical guidance and a re-calibrated plan was communicated by the IMO and a Webinar held with well over 2,000 participants. GPs are now identifying the number of patients to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine so that the delivery schedules can proceed.

A significant number of those in Cohort 4 have been vaccinated through the acute settings. While GPs may vaccinate any patients from within this cohort, GPs are asked to focus on those with Diabetes with HbA1c>58mmol in last 12 months, Obesity – BMI >40, Chronic Respiratory Disease – on home oxygen or hospitalised in the past 12 months. In respect of those in Cohort 7, GP’s have been asked to identify and administer vaccine to the majority of this cohort. If it emerges that for any reason some patients in the very high-risk Cohort 4 have not been captured, they will be accommodated as GP’s work through Cohort 7 patients. The overall approach envisages commencing in GP practices on the week of 26th April with the prioritisation of those in the very high-risk cohort (Cohort 4) in a 3 – 4 week period, and moving seamlessly onto those in the high-risk cohort (Cohort 7).

Vaccination Programme

Questions (1584)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

1584. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the way Covid-19 vaccines will be provided to group 4 persons who have a disability and are not in a residential setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18345/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Vaccination Programme

Questions (1585)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

1585. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the way Covid-19 vaccines will be provided to group 4 persons who are housebound; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18346/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Question No. 1586 answered with Question No. 1583.

Maternity Services

Questions (1587)

Kieran O'Donnell

Question:

1587. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure priority is applied for the return of full maternity services in all hospitals (details supplied) in the coming period as restrictions are eased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18350/21]

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 Staff

Questions (1588)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1588. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No.1579 of 24 March, if he will consider extending standardised travel and accommodation allowances, the pandemic placement grant and the final year internship payment to student radiographers on par with their counterparts in nursing and midwifery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18362/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As previously stated, radiography students do not receive an allowance to support time spent on placement as part of their course and there are no plans to change this.

Student nurses and midwives are unique in that there is, in the final year, a paid salary when they are specifically employed on an internship placement. In the context of COVID-19, I appointed Professor Tom Collins to undertake a short-term review of the current allowances available to student nurses and midwives. His report was submitted to me on 31 December 2020.

The key recommendation in this Report is that an additional and exceptional Student Nurse/Midwife Pandemic Placement Grant of €100 per week for each week spent on supernumerary placement be introduced from January 2021 for the duration of the pandemic. I have confirmed my full acceptance of the Report’s recommendations and my Department has directly engaged with nursing/midwifery union representatives in this respect.

The position on the implementation of the Collins Report remains that I have accepted the recommendations of the report and my Department officials are continuing to engage with representative bodies.

Again, I wish to acknowledge the extremely important work that student radiographers are doing at present and the valuable contribution they are making to the fight against Covid-19.

HSE Data

Questions (1589, 1590)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

1589. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of children and young persons from zero to 18 years of age who have a blind or vision impairment diagnosis in Ireland by community healthcare organisation, CHO, in tabular form. [18368/21]

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

1590. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of children and young persons from 0 to 18 years of age that have a blind or vision impairment diagnosis in Ireland by CHO in tabular form. [18369/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1590 and 1589 together.

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives.

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 (1591)

Réada Cronin

Question:

1591. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if he will prioritise all pharmacy staff for vaccination in which pharmacies will become central to vaccine roll-out not just pharmacists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18376/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.

On the 23rd of February, 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.

On the 30th of March, the Government approved a further update to the COVID-19 Vaccination Allocation Strategy. Based on clinical, scientific and ethical frameworks produced by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and my Department, following the vaccination of those most at risk, future groups will be vaccinated by age, in cohorts of 10 years (i.e., 64-55; 54-45, etc.).

The move to an age-based model better supports the programme objectives by:

protecting those at highest risk of severe disease first, which benefits everyone most;

facilitating planning and execution of the programme across the entire country; and

improving transparency and fairness.

Further details are available here:

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/93f8f-minister-donnelly-announces-update-to-irelands-vaccination-prioritisation-list/