Written Answers Nos. 446-460
446. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if clarity will be provided regarding the public health requirements for travel and quarantining for a fully vaccinated Irish citizen who has been working abroad for six months and who will be returning home in summer 2021. [26421/21]
View answerThe Government has applied measures to international travel in order to mitigate against the risk of new variants being imported through travel and to protect the progress we are making in suppressing transmission domestically.
The Government continues to advise against non-essential international travel.
Passengers who are fully vaccinated with an EMA approved vaccine are exempt from hotel quarantine but are still subject to other travel restrictions, such as the need to provide a negative pre-departure PCR test and to complete a period of self-quarantine at home or wherever specified in their passenger locator form.
These travel measures are kept under continuous review based on public health advice and the international epidemiological situation. The Government has announced revised travel policies to take effect from 19 July in keeping with the EU Digital Covid Certificate. Work to give effect to these measures is progressing on a cross-departmental basis.
447. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the status of the project to redevelop a location (details supplied); the number of beds that will be available in the facility on completion; when the project will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26426/21]
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.
448. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the measures he plans to put in place to reduce the waiting time for dialectical behaviour therapy, a time sensitive therapy, which is currently standing at two years in the Louth-Meath HSE area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26427/21]
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.
449. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the advertisement for seven unpaid assistant psychologist roles in the health service (details supplied); his views on the readvertising of these positions as paid positions; the way many assistant psychologists are currently working in a voluntary capacity within HSE services; his views on the extension of the current national pilot assistant psychologists programme; when a decision on this extension will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26432/21]
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.
450. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the progress which has been made to date on reviewing and renewing the national carers’ strategy committed to in the programme for Government. [26433/21]
View answerIreland’s National Carers' Strategy is designed around a core vision which recognises and respects carers as key care partners who are supported to maintain their own health and well-being, care with confidence and who are empowered to participate as fully as possible in economic and social life.
Under the Strategy, a range of measures have been introduced or extended by my Department to support family carers in recent years. Most recently, the Government allocated €2 million in Budget 2021 to advance the implementation of the National Carers' Strategy, with a focus on providing a more standard package of supports to family carers in every region. My Department is currently working on the details of this allocation with the HSE.
The Programme for Government contains a firm commitment to progress the review and update of the National Carers’ Strategy, and this is a priority for me, as Minister for Health. Consideration will need to be given by the Department of Health with regard to the approach to the update, including the convening of a steering group and the breadth of stakeholder consultation. Meetings have taken place between the Department of Health and representative organisations in relation to the carers strategy and work will progress on this in 2021.
451. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for a procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26457/21]
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.
452. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health if he will seek clarity from the HSE on the further easing of maternity hospitals restrictions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26461/21]
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.
454. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of assistant psychologists currently working in a voluntary capacity in HSE services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26559/21]
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.
455. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his views on the recruitment of assistant psychologists in an unpaid capacity by HSE services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26560/21]
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.
456. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will extend the national pilot to establish the efficacy of the assistant psychologist grade as a paid grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26561/21]
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.
457. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the actions he is taking in response to the advertisement of seven unpaid assistant psychologist roles for HSE services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26562/21]
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.
458. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his views on the high perinatal mortality rates among ethnically African mothers or expectant mothers living in Ireland as recorded in the 2017 perinatal statistics report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26563/21]
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.
459. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will provide ten days of compensatory leave for healthcare workers due to fatigue and overwork throughout the Covid-19 pandemic as requested by a union (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26564/21]
View answerThe Government is committed to recognising the great dedication that frontline healthcare workers showed during the pandemic, and work is ongoing to determine how best we do that.
Concerning the detail of this specific question, I note that a conciliation process is under way between health service management and representative unions at the Workplace Relations Commission on this matter. I and the Government are supportive of efforts being made to resolve this matter as it progresses through the established industrial relations processes. Accordingly, further public comment from me or the Government would be inappropriate at this time.
