Written Answers Nos. 319-333
319. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if the recent capacity review of disability services report and the report by a company (details supplied) on the Cost of Disability will be provided. [28265/21]
View answerThe Review of Disability Social Care Demand and Capacity Requirements to 2032 has been completed, and publication is expected in the near future. The provision of alternative formats which are accessible to people with different forms of disability is being prepared: as well as a Framework for an Action plan to progress implementation, in line with the Programme for Government commitments.
As we progress towards the vision outlined by Sláintecare, it is essential that over the next number of years, the State moves to a population-based planning approach, based on demographic and geographic considerations, that reflects both the health and social care needs of those within our population, including those who require specialist disability services.
I therefore hope to be in a position to publish the Disability Capacity Review Report in the very near future, as this will inform the planning for the specialist disability services to meet evolving needs.
The Cost of Disability report is not within the remit of the Department of Health and is a matter for the Department of Social Protection.
320. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the progress made to develop elective-only hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28266/21]
View answerThe development of elective hospital facilities in Dublin, Cork and Galway is in line with the National Development Plan 2018, the 2018 Health Service Capacity Review and was recommitted to in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy & Action Plan 2021-2023 (May 2021).
In 2019 the Sláintecare Programme Implementation Office (SPIO) established an Elective Hospitals Oversight Group, under the joint governance of the Health Service Executive, Department of Health and Sláintecare, to guide the development of the elective sites. The Elective Hospitals Oversight Group has the following terms of reference:
1. To develop the elective hospital capacity with a ten-year horizon of need, which facilitates the separation of scheduled and unscheduled care.
2. To provide quicker, higher quality, safer care for selected, elective patients.
3. To create capacity for acute hospital sites and reduce/eliminate outlier boarding (trolleys).
4. To drive down waiting lists, both outpatient, inpatient and day case.
5. To reduce cancellations.
6. To reduce acute hospital footfall.
The Oversight Group is following the process outlined in the Public Spending Code, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Guide setting out the value for money requirements for the evaluation, planning and management of large public investment projects in Ireland. As required under the Code, a Strategic Assessment Report has been completed and approved for the development of Elective Hospital facilities. This sets out the rationale for investment, the alignment of the programme with strategic requirements of Government, some initial options and potential costs, and the governance of the programme.
The Preliminary Business Case (PBC), in accordance with the Public Spending Code, is also under preparation. As part of the PBC process, the Elective Hospitals Oversight Group made a public call for site submissions from members of the public, the HSE and Land Development Agency. The closing date for this call was 4 June. Sites submitted are undergoing evaluation to examine their suitability, including a multi-criteria assessment and cost effectiveness assessment with a view to the Preliminary Business Case recommending a single preferred site option in each of the three locations.
Once completed, under the Public Spending Code, the PBC will be assessed by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform and submitted to Government for its consideration.
321. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of claims made to the CervicalCheck Tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28267/21]
View answerThe CervicalCheck Tribunal was established on 27 October 2020 under the CervicalCheck Tribunal Act 2019. Establishment of the Tribunal was finalised with the appointment of the nominated members to the Tribunal with effect from 1 December 2020.
The Tribunal has indicated to my Department that it has received five claims.
The Tribunal is the most appropriate venue to hear and determine CervicalCheck claims. It has been specifically designed for that purpose. It is, of course, entirely up to eligible women as to whether or not they use it.
322. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the status of the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28268/21]
View answerThe Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018 and commenced on 1 January 2019. Section 7 of the Act states that “The Minister shall, not later than 3 years after the commencement of this section, carry out a review of the operation of this Act."
The review is being progressed this year and will be led by an independent expert. It is anticipated that it will take a three-part approach to reviewing the operation of the Act, with strands focusing on service users, service providers and a public consultation. Research to inform the service user and service provider strands will be commissioned and carried out independently, and a public consultation will be held.
Upon completion, a full report, with any necessary recommendations, will be submitted to me, as Minister, for consideration.
I have held a number of meetings with stakeholder groups to discuss the approach for the review; this will be finalised in due course.
323. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the status of the medical cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28269/21]
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.
324. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the crisis in the dental treatment services scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28270/21]
View answerThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. These services are provided by independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE. Patients may choose to have their treatment undertaken by any dentist who participates in the Scheme.
I am aware that there has been a reduction in the numbers of dentists participating in the DTSS since the beginning of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Some people are experiencing problems in accessing a service close to their home. However, I have been assured by the HSE that their local services on the ground will assist any persons who are experiencing problems in accessing a service.
I am committed to ensuring the sustainability and viability of the DTSS, which will need to be revised to align it with modern evidence. There was an intention to commence a review of the DTSS contract last year. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, this was not possible. Officials in my Department are currently engaging with the Irish Dental Association to commence this process.
326. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the details of easing of restrictions on partners attending appointments in maternity hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28285/21]
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.
327. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when the inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28412/21]
View answer329. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when the stakeholder group currently reviewing safety and risk measures in relation to the prescribing and distribution of sodium valproate will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28414/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 327 and 329 together.
Officials in my Department are considering the terms of reference for the proposed inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate in Ireland, as well as the establishment of a stakeholder group to address ongoing concerns relating to the use of this drug.
328. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when the four currently unfilled epilepsy nurse specialist posts approved in 2018 to manage the mandatory patient safety requirements for women who are prescribed sodium valproate will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28413/21]
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.
330. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of hearings of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board that have resulted in an investigation of a trainer by his Department and have resulted in a prosecution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35012/21]
View answerThe Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016 which amends the relevant part of the Irish Horse racing Industry Act 1994 provides for the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) to be responsible for “making and enforcing the Rules of Racing”. On this basis, the IHRB holds hearings to enforce the rules of racing. Such hearings of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) have not resulted in the investigation and prosecution of a trainer by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
In practice, when IHRB officials suspect offences relevant to the Department, these may be discussed with the relevant Departmental officials and any investigations required would be likely to have commenced in advance of any related IHRB hearing.
331. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 197, 198, 199 and 203 of 19 May 2021, if he will complete a needs analysis survey of the industry to develop metrics of the requirements for licensing and scheme approvals in the private sector which can inform project woodland given that it is not possible to say with any certainty, the number of licenses that must issue to achieve various targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35020/21]
View answerUnder Project Woodland, Working Group (WG) 1 are tasked with making recommendations to the Project Board in relation to deliverables and milestones in relation to processing sufficient licences for the sector and dealing with the current backlog of licences. Working Group 1 has a wide representation of stakeholders that are well placed to carry out these tasks and will receive any assistance they require in terms of their work in determining the requirement of the sector in terms of the Departments licensing and scheme approvals. In addition, WG 3 are working on a customer charter for applicants.
I expect recommendations on both of these to issue soon to the Project Board overseeing the implementation of Project Woodland who will give it their full and immediate attention.
332. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209 and 210 of 19 May 2021, if he has informed working group 2 of the failure in public consultation procedures that occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35021/21]
View answer333. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 204 205, 206, 207,208, 209 and 210, of 19 May 2021, if, given that many of the comments were just suggested textual changes to improve the practical implementation of various measure set out in the documents; the reason for not releasing the submissions received to the public domain to prove same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35022/21]
View answer334. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209 and 210 of 19 May 2021, if any TFL issued with conditionality of adhering to the standards for felling and reafforestation are enforceable by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35023/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 332 to 334, inclusive, together.
New interim ‘Standards for Felling and Reforestation’ were circulated to the sector in October 2019 and this is still the current document today. These Standards immediately replaced the measures relating to felling which were set out in ‘Forest Harvesting & the Environment Guidelines (2000)’.
The 2019 document sets out the standards that apply to all felling (thinning and clearfelling) and reforestation projects on all sites throughout Ireland, undertaken under a felling licence issued by the Department under the Forestry Regulations, 2017 (S.I. No. 191/2017).
When released in October 2019, comments on the document were sought from stakeholders and I understand ten submissions were received. Many of the comments suggested textual changes to improve the practical implementation of various measures set out in the document.
The Department has, in the past, released submissions received in relation to its consultation processes. In relation to the consultation process around the Standards for Felling and Reforestation, when requests for submissions were sought, it was not stated that these submissions would be made public and, therefore, they were not made public. To make these submissions public, the Department would first have to seek the permission of the consultees.
Where stated as a condition of a felling licence, they are a legal requirement. Failure to adhere to a condition of a licence may result in a licence being suspended or revoked. This is enforceable.
Under the ‘Implementation of the Mackinnon Report’, the updating of 2019 Forest Standard documents is a key deliverable. The Department is committed to updating this document and appropriate consultation will be put in place to support this.
