Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021

Written Answers Nos. 515-538

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (515)

Robert Troy

Question:

515. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an appointment. [27212/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Questions (516, 519)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

516. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will accede to the request to meet with representatives from an organisation (details supplied) to discuss the suitability of products that will be available under the medical cannabis access programme for use in epilepsy. [27218/21]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

519. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he has received correspondence from a patient and clinical representative group (details supplied) regarding the medical cannabis access programme; his plans to address the issues raised; if a meeting will be arranged regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27228/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 516 and 519 together.

The correspondence referred to was received. The letter addresses a range of issues in relation to the Medical Cannabis Access Programme which are under currently under consideration by officials in the Department. A response shall issue shortly. The letter is available at the link: data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debateRecord/dail/2021-06-29/supportingDoc/2021-06-29_pq516-29-6-21_en.pdf.

Medicinal Products

Questions (517)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

517. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 458 of 13 May 2021, the timeline for the publication of the terms of reference for the inquiry into the prescribing of sodium valproate during pregnancy. [27219/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Details of the proposed inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate in Ireland are currently being considered by officials within the Department of Health.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (518)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

518. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the actions his Department is taking to improve the track and trace operation in relation to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27222/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Testing and contact tracing continues to be a key component of the Government’s and the country’s response to the pandemic. Under the guidance of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), the HSE has worked intensively to put in place a comprehensive, reliable and responsive testing and tracing operation and the contact tracing programme undergoes ongoing evaluation and development in response to changing demands and the evolving evidence relating to the pandemic. 

The Contact Tracing Centres are operating 12 hours a day, 7 days a week and are fully rostered every day. Recruitment of a dedicated workforce is a key part of the ongoing process improvement. The HSE has put in place a workforce dedicated to testing and tracing ensuring a high-level of support to our public health system who manage our more complex tracing operations.

The Government is committed to the implementation of the National Operating Model for COVID-19 Test and Trace, with funding of €445million allocated to the HSE for delivery of the service in 2021. A further strengthening of prevention and intervention measures will be undertaken in respect of track and trace, use of new testing technologies, and research and innovation throughout 2021.

A number of new initiatives have been implemented including the collection of a more detailed history of source investigation for cases identified as ‘community transmission’ along with the provision of walk-in testing facilities at static and pop-up test centres nationally and the subsequent establishment of alternative pathways for testing with the introduction of an online portal which allows pre-booking of a test appointment on the day of booking or for the following day. Process improvement includes a number of automation processes being put in place including the issuing of text messages to relay test results in order to decrease turnaround times.

The Contact Management Programme (CMP) has introduced a follow-up call for cases on Day 4 which provides an opportunity for the contact tracers to reach out and reiterate some of the public health guidelines, to ask people if they are managing to follow the guidelines, managing to self-isolate/restrict their movements and to direct them to additional support resources at HSE.ie.

Due to the risk posed by the transmission of the Delta variant, enhanced contact-tracing protocols are in place for all detected positive cases with a travel history from Great Britain, and the HSE has opened an online booking portal whereby travellers arriving in Ireland can pre-book a free 5-7 day PCR test up to 48 hrs prior to travelling.

Work has commenced on updating the national testing strategy which will set out the testing and tracing considerations and priorities in the future and establish plans in relation to testing capacity and testing modalities and how these may be best deployed, and integrated, within the wider public health response, based on the potential demands that may arise over the coming months.

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 and tracing policy under continuing review.

Question No. 519 answered with Question No. 516.

Covid-19 Tests

Questions (520)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

520. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if rapid antigen testing will become more widely available in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27229/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

Considerable work has been undertaken to date to evaluate the potential use of rapid antigen detection tests (RADTs) in an Irish context and this will continue on an ongoing basis. In the health sector, the HSE has deployed rapid antigen tests for use for specific indications in the acute hospital setting, and as part of the response to outbreaks in the community setting, supported by appropriate clinical governance and operational arrangements. This includes updating the case definition for SARS-CoV-2 to accept notification of positive results from rapid antigen tests undertaken in the public health system and reporting of such cases to the COVID Care tracker and to the Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting (CIDR) information system developed to manage the surveillance and control of infectious diseases in Ireland.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, supported by the HSE, has implemented an antigen testing programme in food processing facilities, supplementing the PCR serial testing programme there. These tests are being carried out under clinical governance arrangements put in place by the Department of Agriculture. A further rapid testing pilot scheme began on June 14th in four universities including NUI Galway, Trinity College Dublin, UCD, and UCC. Operational planning is also underway in the HSE in relation to the piloting of testing using RADTs in other education and childcare settings. This includes development of guidance documentation, a training programme and other related templates and resources to support the testing pathway for educational facilities.

The “Report of the COVID-19 Rapid Testing Group” which was chaired at my request by the Government’s chief scientific adviser, Professor Mark Ferguson, and published on 1 April 2021, made a number of recommendations for sectors outside the health sector and these are a matter for the Ministers and Departments with responsibility for the sectors concerned.

The HSE has recently published the report of the Antigen Test Validation Project which validated a number of rapid antigen detection tests (ADTS) intended for testing samples for SARS-CoV-2 antigen. The products evaluated were chosen as those expected to represent the best available products based on the manufacturers claims and other available evidence. The recommendations in this report will assist in the consideration of any other potential applications of rapid antigen detection tests to support the overall national testing strategy. 

On an ongoing basis, the National Public Health Emergency Team considers and reviews how best to target testing to detect, and mitigate the impact of, the virus across the population. This includes keeping Ireland’s national testing and tracing policy under continuing review.

Hospital Staff

Questions (521)

John McGuinness

Question:

521. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital porters employed at St. James’s Hospital, Dublin 8; if there is a panel in place to fill casual vacancies that might arise; if there was a recent recruitment process; and if so, if that process is now completed. [27236/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (522)

John Brady

Question:

522. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting over 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively, for an autism spectrum disorder assessment in County Wicklow in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27248/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Anne Rabbitte)

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.

Health Services Staff

Questions (523)

Matt Shanahan

Question:

523. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the advertisement that has taken place to date in relation to the replacement of an interventional cardiology post previously occupied by a person (details supplied) with a substitute whole-time equivalent position which was approved by the Consultant Applications Advisory Committee many months ago; the status of this outstanding post; if an interview panel has been convened; if a shortlist of candidates is being generated; if candidates have been approached; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this appointment is needed to extend the present service hours of the existing service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27249/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Covid-19 Paindéim

Questions (524)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

524. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Sláinte an gcuirfear vaicsín malairteach seachas vaicsin (sonraí tugtha) ar fáil do dhaoine idir 60 agus 70 bliain d’aois mar tá stair slainte acu de fadhbanna croí agus téachtán fola; má chuirfear, an bealach is ceart do dhuine mar sin iarratas a dhéanamh ar mhalairt vaicsín; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [27254/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Tá an clár imdhíonta in Éirinn bunaithe ar chomhairle NIAC. Tá moltaí NIAC bunaithe ar leitheadúlacht an ghalair ábhartha agus ar na dea-chleachtais idirnáisiúnta is fear maidir le himdhíonadh. Déanann NIAC moltaí ar pholasaithe maidir le vacsaíniú chuig mo Roinn. Déanann NIAC athbhreithniú ar an bhfaisnéis go léir maidir le vacsaíní ar bhonn leanúnach.

Tugann NIAC comhairle maidir lena n-úsáid in Éirinn sa doiciméad Treoirlínte Imdhíontaí d’Éirinn.

Is féidir leat na treoirlínte a léamh ag: www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf.

Cé gur féidir le duine diúltú d’ofráil vacsaíne de bharr a gcuid creidimh reiligiúnach, coinsiasacha nó ar chúiseanna eile, beidh soláthar ceann amháin nó ceann eile de na vacsaíní údaraithe seo le linn an chláir imdhíonta bunaithe ar threoir na saineolaithe cliniciúla, chomh maith le treoir an NIAC, ar mhaithe le maoirseacht optamach na nacmhainní cúraimí agus rochtain cothromasach ar vacsaíní sábháilteachta agus éifeachtúla do phobal áirithe a dheimhniú.

Moltar aon bhuairt a phlé leis an lia cóireála, mar is iadsan atá san áit is fear le comhairle chí a thabhairt duit. Is féidir tuilleadh a léamh faoi vacsaíní Covid-19 anseo: https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/.

Tá an clárúcháin ar líne do vacsaíniú Covid-19 fós ar oscailt chun an deis a thabhairt dóibh siúd atá idir aois 35 agus 69 clárú don vacsaín ag am ar bith

Covid-19 Paindéim

Questions (525)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

525. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Sláinte cé méid duine atá sa tír de réir an príomh oifig staidrimh idir 60 bliain d’aois agus 70 bliain d’aois; and líon acu sin atá tar éis vaicsin a fháil go dáta in aghaidh Covid-19 nó atá tar éis clárú dó; an plean atá ann spreagadh a thabhairt don chuid eile acu an vaicsin a ghlacadh; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [27255/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Toisc go mbaineann an cheist pharlaiminteach le saincheist oibríochtúil, is le Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte (HSE) a bhaineann sí. Mar sin féin, moltar de bhaill an Oireachtais nach bhfuil an HSE ábalta rochtain a fháil ar an bhfaisnéis le ceisteanna a fhreagairt mar gheall ar an cibearionsaí a tharla le déanaí agus a dhún síos na córais theicneolaíochta faisnéise (IT systems) go sealadach. Tá an cur isteach seo ag leanúint go fóill agus tá an HSE ag obair go crua ar mhaithe lena chórais IT a athbhunú agus a ghnáthsheirbhísí a thosú arís. Cuirfear comhairle ar bhaill an Oireachtais a luaithe is atá an HSE ábalta freagraí a thabhairt ar cheisteanna parlaiminteacha agus moltar dóibh a gcuid ceisteanna a athaighniú ag an bpointe sin.

Health Services

Questions (526)

John McGuinness

Question:

526. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if it is stipulated by his Department or the HSE that individuals contracted by the HSE for the provision of counselling services through an outside agency (details supplied) are required to set up a limited company for this purpose; the reason this is occurring given that it causes unnecessary bureaucracy and costs and acts as a discouragement to some counsellors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27257/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (527)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

527. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if volunteers working at the Covid-19 vaccination centres will be vaccinated along with all other workers considered essential to the vaccination programme; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27258/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The 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 are available here: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/93f8f-minister-donnelly-announces-update-to-irelands-vaccination-prioritisation-list/.

Cybersecurity Policy

Questions (528)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

528. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if any private cyber security firms have been contracted to his Department or the HSE since 12 May 2021; if so, if a contract has been entered into; and the cost of same to the Exchequer in tabular form. [27260/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department has not contracted any cyber security firms since 12 May 2021. Existing contracts were used in respect of security requirements.

This Parliamentary Question also relates to operational issues 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.

Disability Services

Questions (529)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

529. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE has instructed service providers of respite for families with children with autism in the Dublin area to change their respite contract from once weekly to once fortnightly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27261/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Anne Rabbitte)

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.

Health Services

Questions (530)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

530. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when the intravitreal injections service will commence in Letterkenny, County Donegal for those service users being treated by their ophthalmologist for wet age related macular degeneration given the service was due to commence before the end of 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27266/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Cybersecurity Policy

Questions (531)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

531. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if a schedule will be provided of IT and email security costs incurred over the past five years to date; and the contractor engaged to deliver the services and or system. [27280/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department has contracts relating to IT security with several contractors. The following table outlines costs over the past five years.

Capita Business	Provision of anti-virus end user licenses	€ 40,811
Grant Thornton	Security partner	€ 13,821
IP Options	Provision of security infrastructure	€ 191,784
PlanNet21 communications	Provision of email security appliances	€ 20,608
Trilogy Technologies	Anti-virus license renewals	€ 60,886
ITForce	Provision of network security infrastructure	€ 162,850

Departmental Investigations

Questions (532)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

532. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he has received an interim and or final report in respect of vaccines given out by a private hospital (details supplied). [27293/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 ongoing, 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.

Data Protection

Questions (533)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

533. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if his Department is fully compliant with GDPR EU requirements and the EU network and Information Security Directive and standards with respect to his Department’s IT infrastructure including article 29 of GDPR which requires that data processors access only the data they need for their task; if ISO 27001 annex 9 standards on privileged access are fully met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27302/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department is committed to protecting the rights and privacy of data subjects and adhering to obligations under data protection legislation. The Department of Health processes personal data to carry out the tasks required for the performance of its functions and to comply with certain legal obligations, and may receive personal data, including health data, directly from members of the public and from elected representatives seeking information or a service.

Improved IT security measures have already been put in place within my Department. A complete security review of the infrastructure is being finalised to confirm access controls and specialised software has been installed to mitigate against malicious software.

My Department continues to liaise closely with our security partner, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the National Cyber Security Centre to ensure conformity with standards, and that best practice is followed in relation to all aspects of Cybersecurity.

Data Protection

Questions (534)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

534. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if the HSE IT systems are fully compliant with GDPR EU requirements and the EU network and Information Security Directive and the standards with respect to the HSE IT infrastructure including article 29 of GDPR which requires that data processors access only the data they need for their task; if ISO 27001 annex 9 standards on privileged access are fully met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27303/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Proposed Legislation

Questions (535)

Dara Calleary

Question:

535. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the status of promised legislation in relation to the introduction of an opt-out system for transplant patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27305/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to "Enact the Human Tissue Bill".

The drafting of the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill is a priority for the Government. The proposed legislation will include provisions for a soft-opt out system of consent for deceased organ donation and an opt-out register.?

My Department is progressing work on the drafting of the Bill in collaboration with the Office of Parliamentary Council with a view to ensuring that Government approval is secured to publish the Bill as soon as possible in 2021.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (536)

Denis Naughten

Question:

536. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will facilitate the provision of Covid vaccine via community pharmacists to maximise the vaccine uptake; if an evaluation has been carried out as to the reason some cohorts of the population are below the national average when it comes to uptake; if availability in rural areas and travel distances is a factor; if consideration could be given to community pharmacies targeting those who have not yet availed of the vaccine within their age cohort; if he plans to utilise pharmacists in the vaccine roll-out; if so, when they can expect to be providing vaccines to persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27349/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Community Pharmacists have now joined the Vaccination Programme, providing Janssen for people 50 and over who have not yet been vaccinated. Participating pharmacies have commenced scheduling appointments with members of the public.

There is an initial commitment of 60,000 vaccines to be distributed to 750 pharmacies that registered interest in providing a COVID-19 vaccination service. This will be reviewed as more Janssen supply becomes available and as priorities develop further.

Deliveries commenced week beginning 14th June and continued each day during this week delivering to approximately 650 pharmacies with the balance to receive deliveries on the week beginning 21st June when they have fully registered.

The HSE is running a communication campaign in collaboration with the Irish Pharmacy Union around the Janssen programme in Pharmacies. Uptake remains strong overall for the vaccination programme.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (537)

Denis Naughten

Question:

537. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for their vaccinations; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27350/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Data Protection

Questions (538)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

538. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if any state or semi state bodies which report to his Department are fully compliant with GDPR EU requirements and the EU network and Information Security Directive and standards with respect to their IT infrastructure including article 29 of GDPR which requires that data processors access only the data they need for their task; if ISO 27001 annex 9 standards on privileged access are fully met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27360/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The information in respect of state bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Under the GDPR, data controllers are responsible for compliance with data protection law in respect of the personal data which they process. State bodies and agencies are accordingly directly responsible for compliance in their own right under legislation. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document, should the Deputy wish to contact the aegis bodies directly with his query.

Aegis Bodies Contacts for compliance PQ
Aegis Bodies
Dental Council	[e-mail]
Food Safety Authority of Ireland	[e-mail]
Food Safety Promotion Board - Safefood	[e-mail]
Health Information and Quality Authority	[e-mail] (general queries) [e-mail] (concerns about a health or social care service) [e-mail] (head of communications and stakeholder engagement)
Health Insurance Authority	[e-mail]
Health Products Regulatory Authority	[e-mail]
Health Research Board	[e-mail] [e-mail]
Health Service Executive	[e-mail]. [e-mail](for medical card queries)
Health and Social Care Professionals Council	[e-mail]
Irish Blood Transfusion Service	[e-mail]
Medical Council	[e-mail]
Mental Health Commission	[e-mail]
National Cancer Registry Board	[e-mail]
National Paediatric Hospital Development Board	[e-mail]
National Treatment Purchase Fund Board	[e-mail]
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland	[e-mail]
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland Council	[e-mail]
Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council	[e-mail]
VHI Healthcare	[e-mail]