Written Answers Nos. 203-219
203. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the person or body responsible for the creation of a job advertisement for unpaid assistant psychologist roles within HSE services; and if these positions will be readvertised as paid positions. [26725/21]
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.
204. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify a matter (details supplied) regarding abortion laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26749/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 sets out the law governing access to termination of pregnancy in Ireland; section 11 of the Act permits a termination of pregnancy to be carried out in cases where there is a condition present affecting the foetus that is likely to lead to the death of the foetus before or within 28 days of birth.
However, the purpose of the legislation is not to dictate the practice of obstetrics. Indeed, it would not be appropriate for me, as Minister for Health, to dictate medical procedures or treatment plans; such decisions are a matter for the treating clinicians in any given case.
The Deputy can however be assured that medical practitioners are bound through professional regulatory mechanisms to operate in accordance with best medical practice.
205. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of each of the Changing Cardiovascular Health: National Cardiovascular Health Policy 2010-2019 recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26765/21]
View answerThe cardiovascular policy, “Changing Cardiovascular Health 2010-2019”, built on the first national cardiovascular health strategy, entitled “Building Healthier Hearts” (Department of Health 1999). The reorganisation of care was reflected in the national cardiovascular strategy in 2010 which proposed the centralisation of cardiovascular services in order to maximise access, expertise and population coverage which formed part of the consideration of the current National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services.
The National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services commenced in January 2018 with Professor Phillip Nolan as Chair of the Steering Group. This Review aims to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive by establishing the need for an optimal configuration of a national adult cardiac service. This aligns with the Sláintecare reform programme.
While substantial progress has been made on the Review, the COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted on the progress of the review, as the Chair has played a key role in the national COVID-19 response, both as a member of the NPHET and Chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group. However, it is intended that the Review will continue and work is now underway to progress this over the coming months.
All recommendations in the “Changing Cardiovascular Health 2010 – 2019” have an identified lead organisation. The Health Service Executive is the lead for a significant number of the recommendations.
As part of this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the Health Service Executive (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.
206. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the status of his plans to enact the human tissue Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26775/21]
View answerThe 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.
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.
207. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health when a parent can travel to see their child who lives in the UK without needing to use up annual leave to quarantine for two weeks on their return or to have a need to pay for expensive PCR tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26800/21]
View answerThe Government has applied more stringent measures applying 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.
At present, passengers arriving from the UK are required to complete a passenger locator form, to provide a negative pre-departure PCR test and to complete a period of quarantine at the address specified in their passenger locator form.
Due to concerns around the Delta variant, passengers travelling from Great Britain, who are not fully vaccinated, are asked to continue to quarantine until another negative is returned from a PCR test taken after day 10.
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.
208. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the supports and supplies that can be provided to parents of older children suffering with bladder incontinence. [26808/21]
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.
209. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant whole-time equivalent posts in the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar. [26812/21]
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.
210. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the alternative arrangements that are being made by the HSE to source an alternative vaccination centre for south County Wicklow; the stage discussions are currently at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26835/21]
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.
211. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27713/21]
View answerThe matter raised by the Deputy is a commercial matter for Vhi. In my role as Minister for Health I have a governance and oversight role over the Vhi, which is defined by the Voluntary Health Insurance Acts 1957-2018 and the 2016 Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.
I do not have a role in the commercial decision-making of any of the companies within the Vhi Group as this is the role of the statutory Vhi Board. I am therefore not in a position to request Vhi to provide cover for any particular procedure or service other than those outlined in minimum benefit regulations which provide for a broad level of cover which all health insurance products sold in the State must fulfil.
As the matter described in the correspondence provided by the Deputy is of a commercial nature between a private provider and Vhi I cannot intervene as Minister for Health.
213. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for an appointment for paediatric occupational therapy appointments in counties Roscommon and Galway; the number of children currently awaiting a first appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27716/21]
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.
214. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the research carried out in advance of the minimum unit pricing Bill particularly in the context of the possible loss of business cross-Border. [27717/21]
View answer215. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when minimum unit pricing legislation will be introduced in Northern Ireland. [27718/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together.
Provision for minimum unit pricing is contained in the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. The measures in the Act were first approved by Government for drafting in 2013. Research was carried out on a range of measures proposed for inclusion in the Bill including public attitudes to the proposed measures, labelling provisions and minimum unit pricing. Research on minimum unit pricing was carried out by Sheffield University Alcohol Research Group and by CJP Consultants. No specific research on potential impacts on cross-border trade was carried out at that time as the Government Decision approving the drafting of the Bill envisaged that the measure would be introduced simultaneously in Northern Ireland and in the Republic.
Earlier this year, my counterpart in Northern Ireland, Minister Robin Swann set out that his Department would not have the capacity to implement minimum unit pricing during his mandate. In order to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with the way alcohol is currently consumed here, including the loss of over 1000 lives each year, the Government decided to act on minimum unit pricing without waiting for Northern Ireland to introduce the measure.
In relation to impacts on border trade the Government took into account the evidence from Scotland which introduced minimum unit pricing in 2018 and which borders England which has not introduced the measure.
To examine any potential impacts on border retailers, NHS Health Scotland commissioned Frontier Economics to evaluate the impact of minimum unit pricing on producers and retailers of alcoholic drinks in Scotland in the nine months following its introduction. The report, “Evaluating the impacts on the alcoholic drinks industry in Scotland: baseline evidence and initial impacts”, published in October 2019, found that no retailers or producers reported closing stores or production facilities, reducing staff numbers, or reducing investment because of minimum unit pricing. It also found no evidence of minimum unit pricing having a significant impact on the profitability, turnover or employment of Scottish retailers located near the border.
The timing of the introduction of minimum unit pricing in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.
216. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the reason that network disability teams in the south-east Dublin early intervention team have not yet been allowed to see children for in-person appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27719/21]
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.
217. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if individual dance training classes can take place from 7 June 2021 in line with the reopening of gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres which are opening for individual training from that date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27720/21]
View answer243. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his rationale for excluding solo dancing from the list of individual training activities allowed as it is a non-contact, physically distanced sport with no shared equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27774/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 243 together.
There has been considerable progress in reducing infection levels since the peak of the wave of infection in late 2020/early 2021 because of the widespread adherence by the public to the public health measures in place, and this progress has been sustained during recent phases of reopening in April and May. While there is still a high level of infection nationally, the situation is considered reasonably stable and significant progress is being made in relation to the roll-out of our vaccination programme.
On 28 May, Government decided to move ahead with the process of lifting restrictions further. A range of measures were eased in June, and it has signalled a further easing of measures in July and August subject to the epidemiological situation at the time.
I can confirm to the Deputies that solo dancing and individual dance instruction are included as activities under individual training and restarted on the 7 June.
While there has been scope to continue with the easing of public health measures, our approach must continue to be cautious, gradual and on a phased basis, with sufficient time between any easing of measures to assess the impact. This will be critical to ensure that our progress in controlling the virus is maintained.
Significant progress has been made on suppressing the virus over recent months due to the huge effort of people across the country. By working together, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland. To protect the gains of recent months we must continue to practice basic preventative behaviours and to follow public health guidelines.
218. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the status of the recruitment of a child psychologist for County Galway; the waiting times for children to see a child psychologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27721/21]
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.
219. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his position in relation to the recent HSE commitment to recruit medical and nursing students as vaccinators; if these positions will be reimbursed; if the HSE can outline the eligibility criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27722/21]
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.
