Holly Cairns
Question:1952. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if the P1 variant of Covid-19 has been detected in any meat plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19386/21]
View answerCovid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1952)
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.
Medical Internships
Questions (1953)
Holly Cairns
Question:1953. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if all student nurses and midwives that are on placement are receiving the €100 allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19392/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, 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.
I confirmed my full acceptance of the Report’s recommendations, including the key recommendation of an additional and exceptional Student Nurse/Midwife Pandemic Placement Grant. The Report recommended a rate of €100 per week for each week spent on supernumerary placement, to be introduced from January 2021, for the duration of the pandemic. I have confirmed my intention to backdate payment of this Grant to the start of the academic year, September 2020.
Earlier this month, following extensive negotiations between my Department and Representative Trade Unions (INMO, PNA and SIPTU), agreement was reached on progressing the Collins Report’s recommendations.
The agreement means that the Pandemic Placement Grant to student nurses and midwives on supernumerary clinical placement will now be implemented. My Department and the HSE are currently engaging on this matter and I expect that the process for payment of the Grant to eligible student nurses and midwives will be confirmed shortly.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1954)
Holly Cairns
Question:1954. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of the P1 variant of Covid-19; the attributed source for these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19393/21]
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.
Eating Disorders
Questions (1955)
Seán Haughey
Question:1955. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he will improve the treatments available for person's with an eating disorder; if he is committed to implementing in full the eating disorder treatment plan announced in 2018 including the provision of treatment hubs; the reason the funding provided for this condition in 2018 and 2019 was not fully utilised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19408/21]
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.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (1956)
David Stanton
Question:1956. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the availability of general practitioner services in the area of Midleton, County Cork is sufficient to cater for current local demand; if not, his plans to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19411/21]
View answerWritten answers
GPs are self-employed private practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the selection process to find a replacement GP. As of 1 April 2021, there are no GMS GP vacancies in Midleton, County Cork.
The Government, aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, has implemented a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice. These include changes to the entry provisions to the GMS scheme to accommodate more flexible/shared GMS GP contracts, and to the retirement provisions for GPs under the GMS scheme, allowing GPs to hold GMS contracts until their 72nd birthday as well as the introduction of supports for rural GP practices.
Following agreement with GPs in 2019 on a range of service developments and reforms, the Government has committed to increasing investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) over the period 2019 and 2023.
The Agreement provides for significant increases in capitation fees for GPs who participate in the reform programme and the introduction of new fees and subsidies for additional services such as the chronic disease programme. There is also increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas as well as improvements to maternity and paternity leave arrangements.
In addition, the number of GPs entering training has increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 213 in 2020, with a further increase foreseen in 2021. The ICGP noted a record number of applications for the 2021 GP training programme.
I am confident that these measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1957)
Neale Richmond
Question:1957. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if residents in mandatory hotel quarantine with specific dietary requirements allergies, kosher and so on will receive meals in line with their requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19421/21]
View answerWritten answers
The safety, wellbeing and comfort of all guests quarantining in a designated facility is a priority of the mandatory quarantine system, along with the ultimate goal of protecting public health by limiting the potential spread of COVID-19 variants of concern.
All reasonable efforts will be made by both service provider staff and the on-site health team to facilitate a comfortable stay in a designated facility, including meeting dietary needs.
Additionally, all guests undergoing mandatory quarantine in a designated facility are being provided with access to a 24/7 on-site healthcare team who hold clinical responsibility for their wellbeing during their stay. The on-site healthcare team are available to address any wellbeing concerns of guests, such as notification of allergies, through both scheduled daily check-in calls during a guest's stay as well as through direct engagement if requested.
The State Liaison Officer (SLO) will have staff onsite 24/7 at each designated facility to liaise between guests and the service provider if required.
Questions Nos. 1958 and 1959 answered with Question No. 1756.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1960)
Alan Farrell
Question:1960. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if revised guidelines can be expected for businesses with regard to the need for social distancing once the Covid-19 vaccination programme is completed in the third quarter of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19431/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
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.
With regard to the issue of revised guidelines on social distancing once the COVID-19 vaccination programme is complete, it should be noted that the level of people fully vaccinated remains low and there is not yet full evidence in relation to the impact of vaccines on transmission, the period of vaccine induced immunity, and the risk of reinfection, as well as the impact of variants on vaccine effectiveness.
As with all issues in relation to COVID-19, this issue will be kept under review by the NPHET.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1961)
Alan Farrell
Question:1961. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the measures that are being developed by his Department to address an increased demand on mental health services in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19432/21]
View answerWritten answers
While there is no doubt that Covid-19 has posed significant challenges, including isolation, bereavement, anxiety and loss of income and work for many, we do not yet fully understand the impact of Covid-19 on mental health, the extent of subsequent supports that may be required or how this may affect longer term demand for services. However, a negative mental health outcome for our population from this pandemic is not inevitable if we set about responding to the challenge in a cohesive manner.
The HSE has a range of proactive responses for any rise in mental health service need, including online and other telehealth psychosocial supports. The Department of Health and HSE continue to plan for any surge in demand as it arises.
The HSE Psychosocial Framework, published in January 2021, builds on a range of supports introduced last year in response to Covid-19, including self- help and psychological first aid supports for staff. The Framework acknowledges the impact of the pandemic on mental health in all areas of society and identifies priority groups, including health care workers and people bereaved due to Covid-19.
The report's framework sets out 6 levels of structured psychosocial response, which enable the HSE to effectively integrate the wide range of wellbeing and mental health supports available across the health sector.
The focus of the framework is to provide tailored psychological supports at earlier levels i.e. 1-4, where the aim of services is on preventing psychological impacts from Covid-19 in to potentially developing into more significant mental health problems.
Work on levels 1 to 4, is aimed at planning, funding and delivering services appropriate for different levels of population need, but with the same preventative aim. It is in these areas that the HSE staff have been working hard to augment existing services and introduce new supports, which take into account the health restrictions of Covid-19.
Mental Health services at levels 5 & 6, are targeted at providing appropriate support to people who more significant mental health support needs.
€2.2 million was provided to the HSE in 2020 for a mental health promotion and well-being campaign, through enhanced online supports to improve population health outcomes. Telehealth services are fully established including YourMentalHealth.ie, which offers a wealth of information on mental health supports and coping with difficult situations during Covid-19; the information line 1800 111 888, the crisis textline, 50808 and NGO online supports such as those provided by MyMind, Turn2Me, Jigsaw and many others.
I would also like to draw your attention to the Government's well-being campaigns, including Keep Well to promote physical and mental well in the safest possible ways.
Furthermore, all aspects of mental health services will be improved and developed, through implementation of the national mental health policy Sharing the Vision. Sharing the Vision aims to enhance the provision of mental health services and supports across a broad continuum from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, during the period 2020-2030.
The NIMC Steering Committee, tasked with overseeing the implementation of Sharing the Vision and chaired by Mr John Saunders was established in December. The work of Steering Committee is progressing.
Mental Health continues to be a priority for me in my role as Minister with responsibility for mental health and for Government as a whole. As part of Budget 2021, I secured an additional €50 million funding for mental health, bringing the annual budget to in excess of €1 billion. Of the additional €50 million, €23 million is allocated to implementation of many of Sharing the Vision’s short-term recommendations and €15m to address the additional challenges posed by Covid-19.
I would like to assure the Deputy that I and the Government remain fully committed to enhancing the provision of mental health services and supports.
Suicide Incidence
Questions (1962)
Alan Farrell
Question:1962. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the considerations that are being given to improve data collection regarding suspected cases of suicide which will help develop proactive suicide prevention policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19433/21]
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.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1963)
Marian Harkin
Question:1963. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider the need for mandatory quarantining passengers who transit from countries on the mandatory hotel quarantine list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19435/21]
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.
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 those designated states are required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a designated facility, unless otherwise exempt.
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.
Suicide Prevention
Questions (1964, 1965, 1966, 1967)
Sorca Clarke
Question:1964. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of paid providers of safe talk suicide awareness courses in counties Longford and Westmeath. [19437/21]
View answerSorca Clarke
Question:1965. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of safe talk programmes that were delivered in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in counties Longford and Westmeath in tabular form. [19438/21]
View answerSorca Clarke
Question:1966. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of assist programmes that were delivered in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021 in counties Longford and Westmeath in tabular form. [19439/21]
View answerSorca Clarke
Question:1967. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the funds that have been allocated for safetalk programmes in counties Longford and Westmeath. [19440/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1964 to 1967, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1968)
David Cullinane
Question:1968. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when frontline staff at a facility (details supplied) in County Mayo will be vaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19456/21]
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.
Medical Cards
Questions (1969)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:1969. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is being requested to provide documentation previously forwarded to the client registration unit in order to process a medical card application; the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19457/21]
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 (1970)
John Brady
Question:1970. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if IVF patients that have to travel abroad for treatment are exempt from mandatory hotel quarantine given that IVF treatment is extremely time sensitive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19460/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
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 allow for travellers to request a review of decisions relating to their quarantine in a designated facility; however, this can only be undertaken once quarantine has begun.
The Act identifies those who are exempt from mandatory hotel quarantine, and a full list of exemptions can be accessed on gov.ie/quarantine.
Exemptions for medical reasons pertain to a person who travels to the State for an unavoidable, imperative and time sensitive medical reason and that reason is certified by a person who is a registered medical practitioner or a person holding an equivalent qualification outside the State.
The safety, wellbeing and comfort of all guests quarantining in a designated facility is a priority of the mandatory quarantine system, along with protecting people living in Ireland from COVID-19 variants of concern.
All guests undergoing mandatory hotel quarantine have access to a 24/7 on-site healthcare team during their stay. Guests requiring any specific, urgent or emergency care which cannot be provided on-site may also be referred to a dedicated medical facility by the on-site healthcare team.
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.