Written Answers Nos. 124-143
124. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if antigen testing is being considered as a means for allowing pregnant women to be accompanied by a partner in hospital for the entirety of their labour and birth. [22443/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
125. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the location where healthcare workers who are returning from maternity leave and who have not yet been vaccinated such as a person (details supplied) will receive their vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22444/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
126. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure a person (details supplied) will receive funding from the HSE to secure an extension to their treatment. [22445/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
127. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if drugs for the treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum will be included in the drugs payment scheme or medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22467/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
128. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if Ireland will send emergency oxygen and PPE to the health service in India as a matter of urgency in response to the crisis there. [22470/21]
View answerI along with my colleagues the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney TD, the HSE and a number of Departments and state agencies are working to provide assistance to India in response to the current severe COVID-19 outbreak there. An emergency donation of vital emergency material, comprising 700 oxygen concentrators, has been made by Ireland to India through the European Civil Protection Mechanism with further donations under discussion. The initial donation was made from stocks originally purchased by the HSE for use in a field hospital setting, as part of pandemic preparations. The plane carrying this donation departed on Wednesday.
Ireland’s contribution forms part of a coordinated EU response to provide rapid and tangible support and solidarity with India in response to a request from India. The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (part of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage) is coordinating Ireland’s aid effort, through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, working with the Department of Health, the HSE, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Irish Aid, the Department of Transport, Revenue and others.
We have all seen the rapidly deteriorating situation in relation to COVID-19 in India and I am pleased that Ireland was in a position to make this emergency donation. The oxygen concentrators that have been provided will support frontline healthcare workers in India to deliver care to patients who need it.
129. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons whose origin country of travel was India that arrived into Ireland in January, February, March and to 25 March 2021, in tabular form. [22471/21]
View answerAll passengers arriving into the state are required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form (PLF) in accordance with SI 45/2021. There are limited exemptions from this requirement, as set out in the regulations, such as for international transport workers or for diplomats. The Passenger Locator Form is used to support a system of engagements with arriving passengers including the targeting of public health messaging by SMS and may be used for contact tracing.
It should be noted that PLF data does not constitute formal arrival data into the state, due to the different intended purpose for the system and also the number of exempted persons as set out above. In addition, some passengers may complete a PLF in advance but be unable to travel as intended, and the data below may include some duplicates for certain travellers. Passengers may have completed a PLF and continued their journey without staying overnight in the state or having transiting onto Northern Ireland.
The data below is an indicative number of passengers who stated India as either their country of departure or country visited in the previous 14 days from 6 February to 21 April, within the data that is available to the Department.
150,046 Passenger Locator Forms were completed during this period from all countries of departure for relevant travellers. 3.6% of the Passenger Locator Forms indicated India in their travel history.
The data in the table below includes the number of accompanying children under 16 declared on the PLF. No further information is recorded on passengers under 16 years of age.
The figures below are subject to change due to ongoing data cleansing e.g. duplication where passengers completed the PLF twice.
|
6 - 28 February |
1 - 31 March |
1 - 21 April |
Total |
|
1,896 |
2,062 |
1,727 |
5,685 |
130. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the indicative timeframe for the delivery of a new community nursing unit at St. Columba's Hospital, Thomastown, County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22474/21]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
131. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of CAMHS teams operating in north County Tipperary; if one team is carrying out work in two areas in the area; the distribution of CAMHS teams across north County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22488/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
132. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of private dentists in each county and in each CHO area who accepted public patients under the DTSS on 1 January in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [22490/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
133. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the date for the reopening of weddings and hotels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22494/21]
View answerI recognise the significant impact that the restrictions on weddings have had on people given the importance and significance of such a special occasion. However, Level 5 restrictive measures currently remain in place. Any measures introduced at any level of the Plan are aimed at limiting the spread and damage of COVID-19 and are necessary to protect our key priorities of supporting and maintaining health and social care services, keeping education and childcare services open and protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities.
The Government announced a phased easing of some restrictions over April in recognition of the significant impact that the extended period of Level 5 restrictions is having on people. The focus of this easing of measures is on enabling more outdoor activities in order to improve the health and wellbeing of society.
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 later this week and it is anticipated that a roadmap for the further easing of measures over the coming months will be agreed, including in relation to weddings and hospitality.
Significant progress has been made on 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 Government's guidelines for weddings at all levels of the Framework are available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/resilience-recovery-2020-2021-plan-for-living-with-covid-19/
134. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the procedures in place in circumstances in which a person is unable to attend a Covid-19 appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22499/21]
View answerI understand the deputy is referring to an appointment for a COVID-19 Vaccination.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
135. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the reason life-long required mental health medications are only free of charge for those under 18 years of age on the life-long illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22500/21]
View answerThe Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the scheme are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme, including mental illness in a person under 16 years of age.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme or the age limit in relation to mental illness at this time. However, I wish to inform you that it is proposed that the LTI Scheme would be included as part of a review of the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, to be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.
In the meantime, for people who are not eligible for the LTI scheme, there are other arrangements which protect them from excessive medicine costs.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €114 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
In addition, people who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. The HSE afford applicants the opportunity to furnish supporting documentation to determine whether undue hardship exists and to fully take account of all relevant circumstances that may benefit them in assessment, including medical evidence of costs and certain expenses.
In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge. Further information on the medical card scheme and the application process are available at www.hse.ie.
Finally, persons may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses. This includes medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%. Details on how to claim are at www.revenue.ie.
136. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health his plans to establish a walk in Covid-19 test centre in the Ballymun, Finglas local electoral area given it has the third highest incidence rate in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22507/21]
View answerAs part of the HSE’s enhanced COVID-19 testing for local communities, from Thursday March 25th, a number of temporary ‘walk-in, no appointment necessary’ testing centres have been established to actively look for cases of COVID-19. These centres, which are opening in areas where the number of positive cases is particularly high, will allow people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 to get a free test without having to contact their GP first. Around 20% of people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic. The HSE aims to carry out 300-500 COVID-19 tests per day at each walk-in centre and any detected cases will be referred to contact tracing in the same way as detected cases that were referred through by a GP.
The locations where centres are being opened have been decided based on local disease prevalence and on the advice of public health directors. The locations will change week-on-week. Decisions on future locations of walk-in centres will be made following assessments made by the Directors of Public Health in the HSE based on the prevailing incidence rates. Further information including the current test centre locations and dates of operation are available on the HSE website through the following link:
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/testing/covid-19-walk-in-test-centres.html.
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.
139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the way in which home support can be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); if the matter will be urgently examined having particular regard to the need for home support in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22512/21]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
140. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the basis and policy reason on which some international non-consultant hospital doctors who are permanent residents of Ireland and stamp 4 visa holders are treated disadvantageously when it comes to applying for specialist training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22514/21]
View answerThe allocation of postgraduate medical training places is based on the application of the Employment Equality Act, 1998 and the EU Directive 2004/38/EC (Free Movement Directive), as part of the national policy of self-sufficiency. The goal of my Department and the HSE is to develop a sustainable medical workforce to staff the health service with the appropriate number of NCHDs in training and consultants to deliver the service. Ireland is committed under the World Health Organization’s Global Code on the Recruitment of International Health Personnel to strive for self-sufficiency with regard to the training and supply of medical specialists.
The policy on the application of EU community preference in the recruitment process for postgraduate medical training places was put in place in 2013 following a request by the Department of Health, supported by the HSE, to support this policy of self-sufficiency. Available specialist training places are allocated by the training bodies in the first instance to those candidates who at the time of application are citizens of Ireland or nationals of another Member State of the European Union. This includes non-EEA nationals who are deemed to be qualifying or permitted family members of nationals of a Member State under the EU Directive 2004/38/EC (Free Movement Directive) as transposed into Irish domestic law, European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015. S.I. No 548 of 2015 and have been granted the right of residence or permanent residence (i.e., holders of GNIB Stamp 4 EUFAM).
It is recognised that non-EEA nationals play a significant role in the Irish health service and in November 2020 I announced changes to the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, which has removed the barriers faced by some non-EEA doctors in applying to national training programmes. Since November 2020, all doctors who are currently registered in, or have established eligibility for registration in, the General Division of the Medical Council’s register, are now eligible for registration in the Trainee Specialist Division. All EU and non-EEA NCHDs, if they meet the eligibility criteria set out by each postgraduate training body, are eligible to apply to postgraduate medical training programmes.
The HSE has requested a formal review of the current policy on the application of EU community preference to be undertaken with the Department of Health. My Department has agreed to this review which will be undertaken in advance of the commencement of the recruitment process for the July 2022 intake this autumn.
141. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his Department will review the EU preference rules for specialist training schemes for non-consultant hospital doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22515/21]
View answerThe policy on the application of EU community preference in the recruitment process for postgraduate medical training places was put in place in 2013 to support a policy of self-sufficiency.
The HSE has requested a formal review of the current policy on the application of EU community preference to be undertaken with the Department of Health. My Department has agreed to this review which will be undertaken in advance of the commencement of the recruitment process for the July 2022 intake this autumn.
142. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the number of specialist training positions in Ireland are currently adequate to meet the projected number of specialists required by the HSE national doctors’ training and planning specialty workforce reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22516/21]
View answerIn 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.
143. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the requirements of the European Working Time Directive are considered in the medical workforce planning process which determines the number of specialist training positions available to non-consultant hospital doctors. [22517/21]
View answerIn 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.
