Written Answers Nos. 1781-1799
1781. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on the level of excess mortality within nursing homes between January and February 2020; if an independent inquiry will be carried out to investigate the huge surge in deaths in nursing homes during this time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18959/21]
View answerNursing home providers are required to notify the Chief Inspector of HIQA, the independent regulator, about unexpected deaths in their services. These notifications, along with all relevant statutory notifications to the Chief Inspector, are assessed and risk-rated to determine if any regulatory actions are required. These notifications are an important component of the ongoing regulatory oversight of nursing homes.
HIQA is the national independent regulator of nursing homes and through its powers assesses whether residential services are providing high-quality, safe and effective services and supports for the people who live there.
HIQA has significant and wide-ranging powers up to and including withdrawing the registration of a nursing home facility, which means that it can no longer operate as a service provider. This responsibility is underpinned by a comprehensive quality framework comprising of Registration Regulations, Care and Welfare Regulations and National Quality Standards.
HIQA, in discharging its duties determines, through examination of all information available to it, including site inspections, whether a nursing home meets the regulations in order to achieve and maintain its registration status. Should a nursing home be deemed to be non-compliant with the Regulations and the National Quality Standards, it may either fail to achieve or lose its registration status. In addition, the Chief Inspector has wide discretion in deciding whether to impose conditions of Registration on nursing homes.
The Central Statistics Office publishes quarterly data on vital statistics, including deaths, and publishes an annual Vital Statistics Report, the most recent available being for 2018. Additionally, HIQA receives quarterly notifications data on expected deaths. HIQA publishes data on notifications on its website www.hiqa.ie/areas-we-work/Database-of-Statutory-Notifications.
In January and February 2019 there were 117 ‘unexpected deaths’ notified to the Chief Inspector. For the same period in 2020 there were there were 151 notifications of ‘unexpected deaths’. Providers are also required to notify the Chief Inspector of the number of ‘expected deaths’ which occurred in their nursing home at the end of each quarter. For January and February 2019 HIQA was notified of 1,283 “expected deaths” and for the same period in 2020 it was notified of deaths 1,324 “expected deaths.” This number does not include notifications submitted via post.
1783. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if essential workers such as a petroleum engineer based in Bashara, Iraq, will have to quarantine every time on arrival here. [18965/21]
View answer1821. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter in relation to mandatory hotel quarantine (details supplied) [19057/21]
View answer1855. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if essential workers who are working abroad, specifically petroleum engineers who work for periods of the year on oil rigs in listed countries, are required to hotel quarantine on their return. [19157/21]
View answer2029. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if it is possible to conduct the mandatory hotel quarantine in an alternative hotel (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19628/21]
View answer2214. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if an Irish chief engineer helicopter operator working in Lagos, Nigeria, is considered an essential worker and exempt from the hotel quarantine system. [20142/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1783, 1821, 1855, 2029 and 2214 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 Act provides for a number of exemptions from mandatory hotel quarantine;
- Arriving into the State in the course of duty and who hold a valid Annex 3 certificate (ensuring the availability of goods and essential services)
- Arriving in the State in the course of duty and are drivers of a heavy goods vehicle
- Airline pilots, aircrew, maritime master or maritime crew and who arrive in the State in the course of performing duties.
- Travelling to the State pursuant to an arrest warrant, extradition proceedings or other mandatory legal obligation.
- A member of An Garda Síochána or Defence Forces (or their equivalents from another state) and travelling to the State in course of duty.
- Travelling to the State for unavoidable, imperative and time-sensitive medical reasons and these reasons are certified by a registered medical practitioner or person with equivalent qualifications outside the State.
- Having been outside of the state to provide services to or perform the functions of an office holder (under any enactment or the Constitution) or a member of either house of the Oireachtas or the European Parliament.
- Diplomats and certain other categories of persons entitled to privileges and immunities in the State.
The provisions of the Act allows for travellers to request a review of decisions relating to their quarantine; however this can only be undertaken once quarantine has begun. The State Liaison Officer (Irish Defence Forces) in the designated facility can provide further information on how to apply.
Quarantine of persons arriving from areas with a high incidence of variants of concern is considered a deterrent against the emergence of such variants in the state and as such all persons arriving from a designated states are required to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine unless otherwise exempt.
The designation of states will be subject to ongoing review in line with the provisions of the Act.
The Government continues to evaluate wider policy on international travel as informed by the epidemiological situation and public health advice, including the possibility of future exemptions, such as for certain categories of essential workers. Public health will remain a paramount consideration.
As of 17th April, travellers who are fully vaccinated with an EMA approved vaccine and have documents to prove vaccination are exempt. Fully vaccinated travellers are still required to have a negative pre-departure RT-PCR test and complete a period of self-quarantine at home or wherever specified in their passenger locator form. Further information can be accessed on gov.ie/quarantine.
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.
1784. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the HSE or his Department has concluded its review into the mortuary services at University Hospital Waterford; the current status of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18970/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1786. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases for the months of February and March 2021, respectively; the number of these cases in which contact tracing was carried out; the number of cases in which the lookback and tracing was greater than 48 hours, five days and seven days, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18972/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1787. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the latest date in which he communicated with a group (details supplied) in relation to the setting up and operation of the CervicalCheck tribunal; the nature and type of communication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18973/21]
View answerI have had a significant level of engagement with the 221+ Patient Representative Group, working with them to progress issues they had raised in respect of the CervicalCheck Tribunal and CervicalCheck cases more generally. This engagement late last year included a number of meetings as well as detailed constructive correspondence on the issues raised. Significant progress was made through this engagement; however, it was not possible to resolve all of the issues raised by the group in the way that they wanted them to be addressed.
My most recent direct correspondence to the group regarding the Tribunal was in a letter of 28 November 2020, in which I notified the group that the Tribunal would be commencing its work the following week. In that letter I also acknowledged the Group’s position in respect of the Tribunal and indicated that I would be happy to meet with them to further discuss the issues raised.
I will continue to work with my Department to address the concerns the group have raised where possible and while there is no ongoing engagement with the group in respect of the Tribunal, engagement continues through other mechanisms such as the CervicalCheck Steering Committee, which has held three meetings this year, the most recent of which was on Wednesday 14 April.
1788. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if his Department has received complaints relating to breaches of data protection in relation to the setting up or operation of the CervicalCheck tribunal; if so, the number of complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18974/21]
View answerMy Department is committed to protecting the rights and privacy of data subjects and adhering to obligations under data protection legislation.
I can confirm that no complaints have been received by my Department about breaches of data protection relating to the setting up or operation of the CervicalCheck Tribunal.
However, a concern was raised that I had been provided with access to the data of women eligible for the CervicalCheck Tribunal by a third party. This concern arose following the issuing of a letter on my behalf by the National Screening Service (NSS) to women who appeared to be eligible for the Tribunal.
The criteria regarding eligibility for the Tribunal relates to a woman's screening history which is information held by the NSS. I do not have access to this information, nor does my Department. Accordingly, I requested that the NSS forward a letter on my behalf to each of the women who appeared to be eligible for the Tribunal based on their screening history, and the NSS agreed to do so.
1789. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an age breakdown of Covid-19 vaccines administered to the population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18976/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1790. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the arrangements in place to provide free IVF treatment through the public health system, as promised and for which €3 million has been announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18978/21]
View answer1796. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if there are financial supports available for IVF treatments; the timeline for the possible introduction of a publicly funded IVF programme in view of the fact that Ireland is the only country in Europe without such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18994/21]
View answer2111. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the analysis his Department has carried out into the financial cost of IVF treatment for persons and couples undergoing the treatment given that this treatment is not currently provided through the public health system; the analysis his Department has carried out into the cost to the State providing IVF treatment under the public health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19886/21]
View answer2231. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of the publicly funded model of care for fertility treatment, as promised in the programme for Government; the timeline for the completion of phases one and two of the roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20203/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1790, 1796, 2111 and 2231 together.
As the Deputy is aware, there is a commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce a model of care for infertility. This model of care was developed by officials in my Department in conjunction with the HSE’s National Women and Infants Health Programme and will ensure that infertility issues will be addressed through the public health system at the lowest level of clinical intervention necessary.
Phase One of the roll-out of the model of care has commenced and involves the establishment, at secondary care level, of Regional Fertility Hubs in maternity networks, which will facilitate the management of a significant proportion of patients presenting with infertility issues. Funding of €2m was provided to the HSE to commence Phase One of the roll-out of the model of care in 2020. This was utilised specifically in respect of the development of the first four Regional Fertility Hubs – namely, Cork Maternity University Hospital, the Rotunda Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital and the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital.
Additional funding of just over €1m has been made available to enable the continuation of Phase One of the roll-out in 2021, including through the setting-up of the final two Regional Fertility Hubs, one to be located within the Saolta Hospital Group and one within the University of Limerick Hospital Group.
Phase Two of the roll-out will see the introduction of advanced infertility interventions including IVF, in the public health system. Phase Two will not commence until such time as infertility services at secondary level have been developed across the country, required resources have been allocated, and the assisted human reproduction (AHR) legislation is commenced.
The underlying aim of the policy to provide a model of funding for AHR, within the broader AHR regulatory framework, is to improve accessibility to AHR treatments, while at the same time embedding safe and appropriate clinical practice and ensuring the cost-effective use of public resources.
Our initial focus is to build up secondary level infertility services, which will give us a clear picture of the need for more advanced treatments (e.g. IVF) and enable us to establish the definitive funding requirement for same. When these services are developed and waiting lists for advanced AHR treatments established, my Department will be in a better position to estimate the demand for tertiary AHR services and the funding necessary to commence these services (taking note of access criteria and treatment packages for public funding).
While AHR treatment, such as IVF, is not currently funded by the Irish public health service, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Arrangements administered by the HSE. Medicines covered by the High Tech Arrangements must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and authorised for supply to the client’s nominated community pharmacy by the High Tech Hub managed by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the client’s eligibility, i.e., Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme.
Given the costs associated with certain fertility medicines, these schemes can have a material impact on the total cost of AHR treatment for individuals who avail of them.
In addition, there is other support available in that patients who access IVF treatment privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme.
1791. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure maternity and maternity support services such as ante-natal classes are returned to normal as soon as possible following the end of the level 5 lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18983/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1792. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a person with a positive Covid-19 test as of 26 March 2021 which will remain positive for three months can enter the country from Canada without the need to self-isolate. [18985/21]
View answerThe Government is continually giving consideration to travel policy informed by the epidemiological situation internationally and public health advice, including regarding recovered patients.
At present, Canada is a designated state for the purposes of mandatory hotel quarantine. A person travelling from Canada is required upon arrival to Ireland to present evidence of a completed COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form, to present evidence of a negative / non-detected pre-departure RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival and to observe mandatory quarantine in a designated facility.
1793. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied). [18989/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
1794. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to the difficulties faced by couples who are currently separated and living in different countries due to Covid-19; the plans that exist to allow such couples to visit each other in coming months as lockdown restrictions are eased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18991/21]
View answerThe Government is applying more stringent measures applying to international travel in order to mitigate against the risk of new variants being imported through travel and to protect the progress we are making in suppressing transmission domestically.
While the Government advises against non-essential international travel, there is no particular prohibition on travel to Ireland.
However anyone who arrives to the State having been overseas, with very limited exemptions, is required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form, to present evidence of a negative / non-detected pre-departure RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival and to observe mandatory quarantine.
1795. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to the need to promote increased movement and physical exercise as Covid-19 restrictions ease; the plans that exist to reverse patterns in which students and workers are spending long hours in front of computer screens; the plans that exist for the reopening of dance and sport activities which have now been restricted for over a year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18992/21]
View answerThe promotion of physical activity has been a priority for my Department in the context of the implementation of Healthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013 – 2025. This was evidenced by the publication of Get Ireland Active - the National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP) in 2016, and its subsequent implementation.
The NPAP contains 60 actions intended to promote increased physical activity levels across the population. The Plan is being implemented, overseen by a cross-sectoral Implementation Group co-chaired by the Departments of Health and Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The Departments of Education, Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth, Housing, Local Government & Heritage, and Rural & Community Development are also represented, along with Sport Ireland, the HSE, the Federation of Irish Sport, the LGMA and the academic sector.
Key initiatives underway, co-sponsored by Healthy Ireland, include the Active School Flag programme, led by the Department of Education and programmes for walking, running, swimming and cycling, in partnership with Sport Ireland and the relevant National Governing Bodies of Sport.
Increasing physical activity levels in children and young people is a priority focus. Improving physical activity in women and girls has also been identified as an early priority area by the Women’s Health Taskforce. Implementation of the current National Physical Activity Plan will be reviewed this year with a view to charting the future direction of the Plan.
While the restrictions imposed in response to Covid 19 have impacted on sports facilities, team sports and other group or indoor sporting activities, research published by Sport Ireland in mid-2020 showed that individual outdoor adult activity levels had risen, with more people participating in walking, cycling, running and open water swimming.
Presentations at the Irish Physical Activity Research Collaboration conference in January made clear that regular physical activity can boost positive immune responses while reducing markers of inflammation, and regular exercise is also effective in reducing the severity of symptoms associated with anxiety and depression.
Recent research carried out by DCU regarding the Department of Education’s Active School Flag programme, which is co-sponsored by Healthy Ireland, shows positive effects of this programme on school activity levels, but also on attendance, behaviour and learning outcomes.
Now, more than ever before, it is clear that physical activity is effective, not just in terms of protecting against non-communicable disease, but also in terms of reducing the risks of adverse outcomes from infectious disease also.
Bearing in mind the vital role of physical activity in terms of protecting key elements of both physical and mental health and wellbeing, the Keep Well national citizen engagement campaign was launched in autumn 2020 as part of the Government’s Resilience and Recovery Plan. This campaign aims to promote resilience and to provide a range of supports for our citizens. The campaign has several themes, one of which is “Keeping Active”. This is in clear recognition of the role of physical activity in supporting positive mental health and improving mood and reducing anxiety, in addition to keeping people fit and healthy and improving their general wellbeing.
Sport Ireland is leading a series of initiatives that are supporting people in keeping active and exercising within their own local areas. In addition, sporting organisations and clubs are developing ways to support local communities within the public health regulations. Details of these supports are available through www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/healthy-ireland/and www.sportireland.ie/keepwell.
My Department is currently working with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to support the role out of the Healthy Campus Framework which aims to promote health and wellbeing across all Higher Education Institutions in Ireland.
Guidance for Working Remotely is available from the Department of Enterprise and Employment website which also encourages employers and employees to link in with the Healthy Ireland Keep Well Campaign. Many workplaces are also supporting employees to keep active with online activity classes.
My Department recognises the role that guidelines on screen time have to play in children's health and wellbeing, including in combatting childhood obesity.
Currently advice to parents is provided through the "START" child obesity campaign and the mychild.ie website. The "START" child obesity campaign, developed by the Department, safefood and the HSE and underpinned by ‘A Healthy Weight for Ireland: Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016 – 2025’, is designed to deliver a system-wide approach to tackling overweight and obesity. The campaign aims to promote healthy habits that are critical in helping those children who are a healthy weight now, stay a healthy weight and those who are overweight or obese achieve a healthier weight as they grow and develop. One of the key healthy habits is to have less screen time.
The message to promote less screen time includes:
- Try to avoid screen time completely for under 2s;
- Try to keep screen time for 2-5 year olds to one hour each day;
- For children over 5, have clear limits and a good guide is no more than two hours each day.
More advice and information is available from the "START" campaign at www.safefood.net/start/reducing-screen-time?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj-6CpYz57wIVIUiRBR073AunEAAYASAAEgIKcfD_BwE.
In terms of the gradual easing of Covid-19 restrictions and resumption of sporting activities, more information is available here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/.
Outdoor sports facilities will re-open and outdoor underage training in pods will recommence from April 26th. Outdoor sports facilities will re-open and outdoor underage training in pods will recommence from April 26th. For a detailed breakdown of activity allowed, further information can be obtained for the National Governing Body for the sport in question. The further reopening of sporting activities is a matter for Cabinet decision.
1797. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when front-line healthcare staff under sequence group 2 at a centre (details supplied) will be vaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18997/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1798. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of front-line healthcare staff in direct patient contact who have still to receive the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine; when they will be called for vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18998/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1799. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an operation can be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18999/21]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The HSE is currently recommending that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken at this time due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to COVID-19.
This decision was made arising from the rapid increase in COVID-19 admissions and to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for COVID-19 related activity and time-critical essential work.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
On 23 March the HSE published the “Safe Return to Health Services Plan”. This plan outlines a three phased approach for the proposed restoration of services across Community Services, Acute Hospital Operations, Cancer Services and Screening Services. It sets target times for their safe return and details the conditions and challenges that will have to be met.
Every phase of the plan has been informed by clinical guidance and putting patient and staff safety first.
Decisions in relation to the type and volume of activity will be made at site level based on local COVID-19 numbers, available capacity and guidance from national clinical leads.
The schedule outlined in the plan for resumption of services will be regularly monitored by the HSE and updated as appropriate, dependant on public health advice and healthcare capacity.
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy is a standardised approach used by the HSE to manage scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures. It sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists and was developed in 2014 to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
