Tuesday, 11 May 2021

Written Answers Nos. 757-776

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (757)

Barry Cowen

Question:

757. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment for orthopaedic surgery. [24017/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

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.

Dental Services

Questions (758)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

758. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the dental practices in Dublin 18 that accept medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24022/21]

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.

Medical Cards

Questions (759)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

759. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will consider providing free medical cards for persons with epilepsy during the period in which they are disallowed from driving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24023/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without undue hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure.

The issue of granting medical cards based on having a particular disease or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.

However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from the social and medical impacts of an illness.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (760, 761)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

760. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the basis of assessing a person as being fully vaccinated regarding the vaccine bonus four weeks after the first dose of a vaccine (details supplied); the incentive to return for the second dose if a person is deemed fully vaccinated after one dose; and the implications of not receiving the second dose. [24024/21]

Sorca Clarke

Question:

761. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the basis of assessing a person as fully vaccinated regarding the vaccine bonus one week after the second dose of a vaccine (details supplied) when it has been reported that it has an efficacy of 69% after 21 to 44 days of one dose rising to 96% after the second dose. [24025/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 760 and 761 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, as part of the easing of public health restrictions on the 10 May, people that have been vaccinated are being advised that they can meet up with others in a private home setting under certain conditions. This ‘vaccine bonus’ is in recognition of the protection provided by vaccination and to enable those that have that protection to start meeting family and friends again.

It is important however to be really clear on the difference between being fully vaccinated and being able to avail of the vaccine bonus.

On the basis of clinical trials, a person is considered fully vaccinated 7 days after receipt of the second Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) dose, 14 days after receipt of the second Moderna dose; 15 days after receipt of the second Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) dose, and 14 days after the single dose of Janssen. It is essential that all individuals receive a full course of vaccination, as per the vaccination schedule if they are to be fully protected.

All clinical trials for both Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) and Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) are based on a two-dose schedule and therefore it is not clear how long someone’s immunity will last when only getting one shot versus two. Booster shots, in general, allow our immune system to retain memory or knowledge of a virus for a longer period of time. In the case of both vaccines, there is an increase in efficacy following the second dose. In the case of Vaxzevria, the efficacy rate rose from approximately 76% to 82.4% when there was at least a 12-week interval before the second dose. In relation to Comirnaty, data shows single-dose effectiveness of this vaccine is between 60% and 70%, rising to 95% one week after receipt of the second dose.

Current public health advice is that, in general, a person can avail of the vaccine bonus if they are fully vaccinated in line with the above timelines. However, in recognition that the efficacy is equivalent to that of one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Janssen, the public health advice is that a person can avail of the vaccine bonus (as distinct from being fully vaccinated) four weeks after receiving a first dose of Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca). However, as set out above, it is essential that they receive a second dose of the vaccine to ensure full protection.

Question No. 761 answered with Question No. 760.

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Questions (762, 763)

Mark Ward

Question:

762. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of employing a dual diagnosis team to consist of a substance misuse counsellor and psychiatric nurse in each drug and alcohol service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24040/21]

Mark Ward

Question:

763. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing cross sectoral training for dual diagnosis for all existing staff in each drug and alcohol service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24041/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 762 and 763 together.

Improving outcomes for people with co-morbid severe mental illness and substance misuse problems is an action in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery.

Sharing the Vision , the Government’s mental health strategy, recognises that an individual with an addiction has a right to access relevant mental health supports within primary care. The Health Service Executive has set up a National Clinical Programme for Dual Diagnosis, to support patients who have mental illness and substance misuse issues. This clinical programme aims to provide a comprehensive model of care based on the need for integrated services across primary care and specialist mental health services.

My colleague, Minister Butler, secured an additional €50 million in Budget 2021 for mental health services, bringing the total 2021 mental health budget to €1.114 billion. This emphasises the Government’s continued commitment to mental health and the priority it deserves in these unsettling times.

The additional allocation includes €23 million to commence implementation of many of the short-term recommendations in Sharing the Vision , including expansion of clinical care for dual diagnosis.

€1m is allocated to Dual Diagnosis in 2021 funding. This €1m is currently held by the Department of Health and it is anticipated that this funding will be issued to the HSE once the draft Model of Care has been finalised and the pilot sites for the programme have been identified.

I understand from the HSE that the Model of Care being developed by the National Clinical Programme for Dual Diagnosis is expected to provide recommendations in relation to dual diagnosis training requirements for existing staff, and the multidisciplinary team members required for the Specialist Dual Diagnosis Team. Once approved, the funding associated with the Dual Diagnosis Model of Care will be submitted for the consideration of the Department of Health as part of the Estimates process. Officials are in close contact with the Executive in relation to progress on the draft Model of Care.

I recognise the link between drug addiction and mental health. In order to strengthen collaboration between addiction services and mental health services, I have nominated a representative of the national oversight committee for the national drugs strategy to the implementation and monitoring arrangements for Sharing the Vision .

Question No. 763 answered with Question No. 762.

Ambulance Service

Questions (764)

Mark Ward

Question:

764. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of purchasing nine ambulances including staff consisting of a driver and psychiatric nurse to provide a crisis de-escalating team in each CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24042/21]

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.

Eating Disorders

Questions (765)

Mark Ward

Question:

765. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to honour the commitment in the Programme for Government to provide specialist eating disorder teams in each CHO area including inpatient services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24043/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Sport Ireland

Questions (766, 767, 768)

Mark Ward

Question:

766. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of delivering mental health first aid training to all sporting organisations affiliated to Sport Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24044/21]

Mark Ward

Question:

767. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing Safe Talk to all national governing body sporting organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24045/21]

Mark Ward

Question:

768. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to providing ASIST suicide prevention training to all sporting organisations affiliated to Sport Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24046/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 766 to 768, 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.

Question No. 767 answered with Question No. 766.

Question No. 768 answered with Question No. 766.

Mental Health Services

Questions (769)

Mark Ward

Question:

769. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of the increased capacity required to clear current waiting list for mental health counselling at primary care for adult services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24048/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Mental Health Services

Questions (770)

Mark Ward

Question:

770. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of the increased capacity required to clear current waiting list for mental health counselling at primary care for child and adolescent services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24049/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Mental Health Guidelines

Questions (771, 772, 773, 777, 778, 779)

Mark Ward

Question:

771. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to deliver Safe Talk training to all existing teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24050/21]

Mark Ward

Question:

772. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of delivering ASIST training to all existing teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24051/21]

Mark Ward

Question:

773. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to deliver mental health first aid training to all existing teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24052/21]

Mark Ward

Question:

777. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of delivering Safe Talk training to all gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24056/21]

Mark Ward

Question:

778. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of delivering ASIST training to all gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24057/21]

Mark Ward

Question:

779. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of delivering mental health first aid training to all gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24058/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Question No. 772 answered with Question No. 771.

Question No. 773 answered with Question No. 771.

Mental Health Services

Questions (774)

Mark Ward

Question:

774. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of reappointing a national director for mental health for a one year basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24053/21]

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.

Health Services Staff

Questions (775)

Mark Ward

Question:

775. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of filling all current vacancies for psychologists in the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24054/21]

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.

Health Services Staff

Questions (776)

Mark Ward

Question:

776. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of filling all vacancies for psychiatrists in the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24055/21]

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.