Cathal Crowe
Question:1933. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will examine a case of patients unable to get the Covid-19 vaccination (details supplied) in County Clare [19334/21]
View answerVaccination Programme
Questions (1933)
Written 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 (1934)
Emer Higgins
Question:1934. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the details of the way in which alternative therapies used to treat speech and language difficulties such as music and equine therapies are certified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19341/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Hospital Services
Questions (1935)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:1935. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 749 of 17 November 2020, if the feasibility study on St. Stephen’s Hospital, Glanmire has recommenced; if not, the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19344/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Departmental Strategies
Questions (1936)
Mark Ward
Question:1936. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of actions of the 87 to 96 in the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2017 to 2021 that have been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19347/21]
View answerWritten answers
The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 (NTRIS) is the Government policy framework for addressing the health and other needs of Travellers and Roma. Monitoring of the NTRIS is led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. A Steering Committee meets quarterly to report on the implementation of the strategy, chaired by Minister O’Gorman. The Department produces an annual report which reports on progress by relevant departments on the 149 actions in the strategy.
A review of NTRIS was recently presented to the Steering Committee, which will inform the preparation of a successor strategy.
The specific actions mentioned by the Deputy fall to the HSE. All are ongoing.
I am committed to working with the HSE and the Minister of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on the implementation of the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1937)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:1937. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to establish eye clinic liaison officer positions in ophthalmology clinics outside of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19348/21]
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.
Hospital Staff
Questions (1938)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:1938. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he plans to establish an eye clinic liaison officer position at Waterford University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19349/21]
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.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1939)
Mattie McGrath
Question:1939. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to whether an Irish citizen returning here in difficult circumstances, humanitarian grounds for example if a family member is dying or has died has to undergo 14 days mandatory hotel quarantine if a negative PCR test can be supplied; if, and the way in which an Irish citizen can apply for an exemption; the procedure in place for citizens to get an exemption to the MHQ; if he will confirm whether or not someone who has been vaccinated has to undergo MHQ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19350/21]
View answerWritten answers
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. The full list of exempted travellers is available on gov.ie/quarantine.
Mandatory hotel quarantine is also necessary in circumstances where passengers coming from non-designated states do not provide evidence that they have a negative or ‘not detected’ result from a COVID-19 Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test carried out no more than 72 hours before arrival into Ireland.
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 your designated hotel can provide further information on how to apply.
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 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.
Neither myself or my Department have any role in deciding which persons must enter mandatory quarantine or which persons are exempt from entering mandatory quarantine. All such decisions are to be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (1940)
Mark Ward
Question:1940. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the options a person has with a history or a family history of thrombosis in choice of Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19351/21]
View answerWritten answers
While a person can, of course, refuse any offer of vaccination on religious, conscientious or other grounds, provision of one or other authorised COVID-19 vaccine(s) during the immunisation programme will be based on clinical expert guidance, including from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, to ensure the optimal stewardship of scare resources and equitable access to safe and effective vaccine(s) for a given population.
On 7 April 2021, the European Medicine Agency (EMA) announced that they had concluded an investigation into a number of very rare, unusual blood clots occurring with low platelets in people following vaccination with Vaxzevria (formerly COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca). The EMA’s safety committee (PRAC) concluded that unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as very rare side effects of Vaxzevria/AstraZeneca but that the benefits of this vaccine continue to outweigh the risks.
On the 12th of April, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) revised recommendations for the use of Vaxzevria/AstraZeneca. In line with these recommendations:
- All of those aged 60 years and older can get any authorised COVID-19 vaccine, including Vaxzevria/AstraZeneca;
- Vaxzevria/AstraZeneca is not recommended for those aged under 60 years including those with medical conditions with very high or high risk of severe COVID-19 disease;
- For people who have already received Vaxzevria/AstraZeneca:
- Those aged 60 years and older should continue to receive their second dose 12 weeks later as scheduled,
- Those aged under 60 years with an underlying condition (those identified in cohort 4 and cohort 7) should continue to receive their second dose 12 weeks later as scheduled,
- Those aged under 60 years with no underlying condition (therefore not identified in cohort 4 and cohort 7) should have the scheduled interval between their first and second doses extended to 16 weeks to allow for further assessment of the benefits and risks as more evidence becomes available,
- Those who have developed unusual blood clots with low platelets after the first dose of Vaxzevria/AstraZeneca should not be given a second dose.
My Department will continue to monitor the roll-out of Vaxzevria/AstraZeneca in Ireland and internationally in collaboration with the HPRA and the NIAC.
Departmental Funding
Questions (1941)
Niall Collins
Question:1941. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health his views on a proposal for funding (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19359/21]
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.
Departmental Advertising
Questions (1942)
Carol Nolan
Question:1942. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the amount expended by the HSE on advertising related to Covid-19 awareness campaigns from March 2020 to date in 2021; the print, online and broadcasting media organisations contracted to provide this service; the amount provided to each in the timeframe concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19360/21]
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.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1943, 1944)
David Cullinane
Question:1943. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if merchant navy, seafarers and professionally trained maritime crew travelling abroad for work-related purposes fall within the grouping of essential international travel under the proposed Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19370/21]
View answerDavid Cullinane
Question:1944. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will revise the listing of professions involved in international travel that are exempted from mandatory hotel quarantining during the Covid-19 pandemic; if he will consider merchant navy, seafarers and professionally trained maritime crew as an essential travel category that falls under exemption form mandatory hotel quarantine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19371/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1944 and 1943 together.
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. The full list of exempted travellers is available on gov.ie/quarantine.
The provisions of the Act also allows for travellers to request a review of decisions relating to their quarantine. However this can only be undertaken once quarantine has begun.
The Act refers to a "...maritime master or maritime crew who arrives in the State in the course of performing his or her duties" as an exempted traveller.
Similarly, maritime masters and maritime crew travelling in the course of their duties are exempt from the obligations under SI No. 135/2021 regarding pre-departure testing and mandatory home quarantine. S.I. 45 / 2021 exempts maritime crew from the obligation to present evidence of a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form upon arrival.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1945)
David Cullinane
Question:1945. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given for merchant navy, seafarers and professionally trained maritime crew to quarantine at home instead of hotel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19372/21]
View answerWritten answers
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. The full list of exempted travellers is available on gov.ie/quarantine.
The provisions of the Act also allows for travellers to request a review of decisions relating to their quarantine. However this can only be undertaken once quarantine has begun.
The Act refers to a "...maritime master or maritime crew who arrives in the State in the course of performing his or her duties" as an exempted traveller.
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.
Dental Services
Questions (1946)
Sorca Clarke
Question:1946. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of dental staff currently employed by the HSE in County Longford in tabular form. [19373/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Dental Services
Questions (1947)
Sorca Clarke
Question:1947. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of dental staff currently employed by the HSE in County Westmeath in tabular form. [19374/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Dental Services
Questions (1948)
Sorca Clarke
Question:1948. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently waiting on orthodontic treatment in counties Longford and Westmeath by age in tabular form. [19375/21]
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.
HSE Data
Questions (1949)
Sorca Clarke
Question:1949. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists employed by the HSE on a full-time basis in County Longford. [19376/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Questions (1950)
Matt Carthy
Question:1950. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the intended timeframe for the opening of the remaining 11 beds in Monaghan General Hospital, per the winter plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19384/21]
View answerWritten answers
The RCSI Hospital Group has advised that the final 11 beds of the 23-bed Intermediate Care Unit in Monaghan Hospital are now available for patients.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (1951)
Matt Carthy
Question:1951. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the primary legislation, statutory instrument or other legal mechanism or requirement underpins the need for those applying to deliver vaccines against Covid-19 requires that leaving certificate results be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19385/21]
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.