Written Answers Nos. 256-275
256. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if clarification will be provided on a series of matters regarding the recent advertisement of seven unpaid assistant psychologists roles for HSE services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26006/21]
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.
257. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the person or body responsible for the placing of advertisements for the recruitment of positions (details supplied); the number of assistant psychologists currently working in a voluntary capacity within the public health services; and if such positions will be now readvertised with similar opportunities in a paid capacity. [26023/21]
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.
258. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the policy in respect of the recruitment and hiring of assistant psychologists in an unpaid capacity. [26024/21]
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.
259. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will extend the current national pilot assistant psychologist programme; and if so, when. [26025/21]
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.
260. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of abolishing prescription charges; the estimated cost of reducing prescription charges to €1; the estimated cost of reducing prescription charges to 50c; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26031/21]
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.
261. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of the removal of inpatient charges for public hospital care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26032/21]
View answerNormal patient activity has been affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic and as a result 2020 is not representative of normal services, and therefore the 2019 position would currently be the best representation of the likely costs associated with abolishing those service charges.
In 2019, €30.6 million was raised through the statutory inpatient charge in the Acute Hospitals.
Therefore, it would cost approximately €30.6 million to abolish these charges.
262. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of reducing the drugs payment scheme threshold to €100 per month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26033/21]
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.
263. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the introduction of ethically-produced vaccines to Ireland that are developed without the use of foetal cell lines; the efforts being made to introduce such vaccines to allow those who have a conscientious objection to the use of vaccines which have been developed using foetal cell lines; the status of a vaccine (details supplied) which has been ethically produced being approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26035/21]
View answerIreland is participating in an EU Procurement process with a view to accessing a portfolio of candidate vaccines against COVID-19 which are being negotiated with vaccine manufacturers by the Commission acting on behalf of Member States. Emergency Support Instrument (ESI) funding has been leveraged by the Commission to facilitate its negotiations with vaccine manufacturers, including with regard to production costs and securing a reduced per dose cost for Member States.
This process has provided Ireland with access to vaccines (at a reduced cost) that it would find it difficult to access otherwise within a year after the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the WHO. Four of the vaccines in the EU portfolio have already been awarded Conditional Marketing Authorisation (CMA) by the Commission.
Ireland supports efforts made by the Commission to safeguard the production and delivery of doses of vaccine in the quantities agreed with vaccine suppliers and to ensure that up-front funding provided through ESI has been properly used.
Covid 19 vaccines can only be approved and used if they comply with all the requirements of quality, safety and efficacy set out in the EU pharmaceutical legislation. No vaccine will be used until Market authorisation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is obtained and any authorised vaccine will be subject to ongoing monitoring in Ireland by the Health Product Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
The delivery of vaccines under APAs that the Commission has negotiated on behalf of Member States are predicated upon a CMA being obtained from the Commission (on the basis of a positive recommendation being awarded by the EMA).
The awarding of a CMA provides a high level of assurance that a vaccine has undergone rigorous testing and has met the requirements of the independent regulatory process as regards demonstrating its quality, safety and efficacy.
Ireland has opted into an APA with CureVac and the EMA has started a rolling review of the CureVac COVID-19 Vaccine but it has not been awarded a CMA to date.
For more information on COVID-19 Vaccines in development, please see the EMA website for more information:
www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory/overview/public-health-threats/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/treatments-vaccines-covid-19
264. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if developments have taken place with regard to the broadening of the eligibility criteria for the long-term illness card with a view to extending the category of illnesses that would be deemed eligible for application for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26036/21]
View answerThe 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.
265. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will address concerns raised by local businesses (details supplied) in respect of matters which will significantly impact their business in the months ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26038/21]
View answerThe COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.
On the 23rd of February, I announced an update to Ireland’s COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy. In comprising the initial Vaccine Allocation Strategy, the NIAC listed several conditions associated with increased risk of severe disease and death. In the intervening period, national and international evidence has become available which has enabled a more detailed analysis of underlying conditions that may increase the risk of developing severe disease or death. The NIAC has now been able to more comprehensively identify those medical conditions and to distinguish between those which place a person at very high or high risk of severe disease if they contract the virus. Medical conditions and the magnitude of the risk they pose will continue to be monitored and periodically reviewed.
On the 30th of March, the Government approved a further update to the COVID-19 Vaccination Allocation Strategy. Based on clinical, scientific and ethical frameworks produced by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and my Department, following the vaccination of those most at risk, future groups will be vaccinated by age, in cohorts of 10 years (i.e., 64-55; 54-45, etc.).
The move to an age-based model better supports the programme objectives by:
- protecting those at highest risk of severe disease first, which benefits everyone most;
- facilitating planning and execution of the programme across the entire country;
- improving transparency and fairness.
Further details on the updated allocation strategy are available here:
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/93f8f-minister-donnelly-announces-update-to-irelands-vaccination-prioritisation-list/
You may wish to note that vaccine registration for those aged 35 to 39 is now open.
The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is the responsibility of the HSE. You can find more information on the rollout of the vaccine and the progress of vaccinations here:
www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/rollout/
It is important to emphasise that vaccination is only one part of our response to the prevention of COVID-19 infection. People who are vaccinated need to continue with all the public health measures that have been proven to reduce the risk of infection, i.e., limiting our social contacts, physical distancing, wearing a mask, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and avoiding non-essential travel until a sufficiently large proportion of the population are immune.
266. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason a Covid-19 vaccination centre (details supplied) is only administering 2,000 vaccines per week when it has the capacity to vaccinate 7,000 persons per week.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26043/21]
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.
267. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when an indicative date will be given for the reopening of outdoor funfairs to the public given that the threat of Covid-19 is reduced somewhat and as the operators will need a considerable lead in time to prepare for such a reopening and as these involve outdoor activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26045/21]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputies that outdoor funfairs and amusement parks reopened on 7 June.
268. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26049/21]
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.
269. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the reason a company (details supplied) is not funded at source; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26050/21]
View answer270. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the work currently under way to ensure funding at source for persons prescribed a drug manufactured by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26051/21]
View answer271. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if he will consider including a treatment by a company (details supplied) in the cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26052/21]
View answer272. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the supports that are in place for persons prescribed a treatment manufactured by a company (details supplied) who do not have the required funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26053/21]
View answer273. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the work currently ongoing to ensure funding at source for persons prescribed a treatment manufactured by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26054/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 269 to 273, inclusive, together.
The products referred by the Deputy are manufactured by the dispensing pharmacy in the Netherlands. Owing to Dutch government restrictions cannabis-based oils may not be commercially exported to pharmacies or wholesalers however they will allow the filling of individual prescriptions for collection by the patient, the patient’s family or a representative.
Since April 2020, owing to the pandemic the Department has been collecting patient’s prescriptions form the Netherlands and delivering them to patient’s homes. These collections approximately every four weeks and will continue post-pandemic.
As a result of the prohibition of commercial export of the cannabis-based products the manufacturers cannot apply to the Health Products Regulatory Authority to have the products included in the Medical Cannabis Access Programme.
Patients currently access the Dutch products through their clinicians being licensed under the Misuse of Drugs Act to treat their patients with a controlled substance. The patients or their families pay the dispensing pharmacy in the Netherlands and may make an application to the Primary Care Reimbursement Service to refund the cost of the products.
Under Section 10B of the Health Act 2004 (as inserted by section 6 of the Health Service Executive (Governance) Act 2013) the Minister for Health, may not give a direction under section 10, or specify a priority or performance target under section 10A, as respects—
(a) any function of the Executive relating to the provision of treatment or a health or personal social service to any particular person,
(b) any function of the Executive relating to a decision concerning—
(i) whether or not a particular person is eligible for a particular health or personal social service (including the payment of a grant or allowance), or
(ii) the extent to which and the manner in which a person is eligible for any such service,
(c) any function of the Executive relating to a decision concerning the making or recovery of a charge for the provision of a health or personal social service by or on behalf of the Executive to a particular person or concerning the amount of such charge,
(d) any function of the Executive that has been specified in an enactment to be a function of the Director General relating to functions referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c).
I have asked officials in the Department to examine this issue.
274. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the details of risk assessments carried out in various settings for maternity care and the ongoing restrictions imposed on pregnant and birthing mothers and their partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26057/21]
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.
275. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be given a date for a cataract operation. [26058/21]
View answerUnder 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.
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.
