Written Answers Nos. 532-551
532. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to administer second doses of a vaccine (details supplied) for those already with the first dose after the contract with the company expires in June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25581/21]
View answerIreland is participating in a Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission on behalf of Member States to procure suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19.
Up to Friday 11th June, 812,000 doses of the vaccine have been delivered. It should also be noted that an 8 week interval between doses of Vaxzevria is now recommended by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and is being operationalised by the HSE over the coming weeks.
The European Commission has decided not to enter into another contract with AstraZeneca for Vexzevria, however the initial contract remains valid until all vaccine doses that have been ordered are delivered.
533. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25582/21]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
534. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if provisions will be made for those who have received the first shot of a Covid-19 vaccination (details supplied) prior to their 70th birthday but are due the second dose after their birthday given that the vaccine is not recommended for persons over 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25583/21]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
535. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of times the long-term illness scheme has been updated since the introduction under the Health Act 1970; the number of additional conditions that have been added to the scheme since it was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25590/21]
View answer536. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will consider adding Crohn's disease, a life-long and incurable illness to the long-term illness scheme; if the condition has been considered for addition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25591/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 535 and 536 together.
The Long Term Illness Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the scheme.
The conditions covered 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.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the scheme at this time. However, a review of the current eligibility framework, including the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, will be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.
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.
Those who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. Those who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of GP consultations.
Tax relief is also available on the cost of medical expenses. This includes medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%, and further information is available at www.revenue.ie.
537. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of all vaccination centres that have been closed; and the sites of any future centres in the Dublin 7 and 15 area. [25600/21]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
538. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will request maternity care hospitals to permit birth partners to attend all aspects of the pregnancy journey that require attendance in person. [25604/21]
View answer“As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
539. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the date he plans to bring the nursing home support scheme (amendment) Bill before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25608/21]
View answerThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme, commonly referred to as the Fair Deal Scheme, has been in operation for over 10 years and there is broad agreement that the Scheme operates well and continues to provide appropriate financial assistance where it is required.
However, it is recognised that the Act, in its current form, does not place caps on the financial assessment of family owned and operated farms or businesses when calculating the means to pay for nursing home care. This places a potentially onerous burden on family successors and could challenge the future viability of these productive assets.
Therefore, the Department of Health has proposed a policy change to the Scheme, to cap contributions based on farm and business assets at three years where a family successor commits to working the productive asset. The stated policy objective of the legislation is to introduce additional safeguards in the Scheme to further protect the viability and sustainability of family farms and businesses that will be passed down to the next generation of the family to continue to work them as productive assets to provide for their livelihood.
This change was approved by Government and underwent pre-legislative scrutiny in the last Dáil. Progress on the development of the Bill was negatively impacted by the dissolution of the last Dáil and by the COVID-19 pandemic. The response to the pandemic has been and continues to be a national and public health priority. However, the Programme for Government committed to introducing this amendment to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme and I am pleased to say that Cabinet approved the publication of the Bill on the 11th May. The Bill completed Second Stage in Dáil Éireann 18th-20th May and has been referred to the Select Committee on Health. It is my intention to begin Committee Stage before the end of June.
540. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25613/21]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
541. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to directives underway in each hospital children’s ward in which parents who must stay overnight with their child for operations or observation are not allowed to swap out with the other parent who is already in a home bubble and where the child is already in a separate room within the hospital. [25614/21]
View answer“As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
542. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he has reviewed the administration of vaccines by clinics and vaccination centres to identify cases of vaccination unreasonably given outside of the sequencing order set out in the national strategy and secondary documents; if he has considered sanction in these instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25616/21]
View answerIreland’s COVID-19 vaccination programme strategy is to distribute all available vaccine as quickly as is operationally possible, prioritising those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19.
The programme is based on the principles of safety, effectiveness and fairness, with the objective of reducing severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 infection. The HSE are administering vaccine in line with the COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy.
The importance of observing allocation sequencing for leftover vaccine doses continues to be emphasised. The HSE has issued clear guidelines for vaccine centres including the need to draw up standby lists of people among the currently prioritised groups who can receive leftover vaccine doses if the need arises.
543. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he and the HSE have considered plans submitted by a society (details supplied) relating to a dedicated unit to treat and rehabilitate patients with intestinal failure; if he has made a decision on the proposal for such a unit at a location such as St. James’ Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25617/21]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
544. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assistant psychologists that are currently working on a voluntary capacity within the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25622/21]
View answer“As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
545. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his views on the recruitment of assistant psychologists in an unpaid capacity; if the review has been carried out; if the results of the review will be made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25623/21]
View answer“As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
546. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to expand the current national pilot assistant psychology programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25624/21]
View answer“As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
547. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the details of all primary care centres which have been opened in each year since 2011; the location of each; the number of general practitioners in each centre; the details of the HSE services that are being provided from the centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25625/21]
View answer“As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
548. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of full and partial lower limb amputations that were carried out in 2020; the number of these patients that had diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25637/21]
View answer“As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
549. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of full and partial lower limb amputations that were carried out in each of the years 2018 to 2020; the number of these patients by county that had diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25638/21]
View answer“As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
550. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of patients by county treated for foot ulcerations which did not require a full or partial limb amputation in 2020; the number of those patients that had diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25639/21]
View answer“As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
551. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of patients under the age of 65 years of age by county treated for foot ulcerations which did not require a full or partial limb amputation in 2020; the number of those patients that had diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25640/21]
View answer“As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
