Written Answers Nos. 493-517
493. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health if a letter of offer has been issued to either of the two applicants for the child psychologist post for CAMHS Wexford south; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29687/21]
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.
494. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29688/21]
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.
495. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied). [29689/21]
View answerThe HSE's National Cancer Control Programme, in conjunction with St. Vincent's University Hospital (SVUH), have confirmed that the patient in question was referred to SVUH from St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, and has subsequently had a liver biopsy carried out in St Vincent's.
496. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the moneys returned unspent to the Exchequer from the HSE ophthalmic health budget per year between 2017-2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29690/21]
View answerThere have been no moneys returned unspent to the Exchequer from the HSE ophthalmic health budget between 2017 and 2020.
497. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an estimated costing for the expansion of psychology teams by ten full-time psychologists specialising in adult services, ten full-time psychologists specialising in children and adolescent services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29691/21]
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.
498. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the status of pay restoration for section 39 workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29692/21]
View answerSection 39 agencies are agencies under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004 where the HSE provides a grant to allow the agency to provide services similar or ancillary to the HSE. They were not and are not party to the Public Service Agreements and are therefore not covered by the pay restoration provided for in these Agreements.
In October 2018, an agreement was reached by the parties at the Workplace Relations Commission in relation to a process of pay restoration for staff employed in a pilot group of 50 section 39 organisations who are funded by way of a Service Level Agreement (SLA). Pay restoration commenced with an annual pay increase of up to €1,000 in April 2019. Any outstanding balance was and will be paid in two equal amounts in October 2020 and October 2021.
The agreement reached at the WRC noted that some of the organisations (approximately 250) which did not form part of the pilot phase are also likely to have pay restoration issues. A further WRC engagement followed in December 2020 in relation to a final phase of 250 SLA funded organisations who were identified as part of the earlier agreement. A payment arrangement consisting of three phases was agreed with the first two payments to be made in 2021.
Pay restoration was applicable to Section 39 organisations who met certain criteria, rather than types of individual workers that are employed in them. The list of section 39 organisations that was compiled, included only agencies that had service arrangements in place back in 2013 and that were still under service arrangements in 2019. Only organisations who received in excess of an agreed, specified amount from the HSE by way of the Service Level Agreement process were included.
Pay restoration is absolutely limited and only applicable to those included in the WRC agreement.
I can also confirm that there is no scope to revisit the eligibility criteria for the process.
499. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the moneys returned unspent to the Exchequer from the HSE CAMHS budget per year between 2017-2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29693/21]
View answerThere have been no moneys returned unspent to the Exchequer by the HSE from the HSE CAMHS budget between 2017 and 2020.
500. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of day care centres; and when a centre (details supplied) will reopen. [29694/21]
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.
Day centres are fundamental to the health and well-being of our older population and play a key role in enabling older people to live independently in their own communities. The pandemic and associated restrictions has had a profound impact across society and especially for our older population.
All Community Health Organisations through the National Older Persons Office were requested in April 2021 to provide information on the status of their Day Care Services in order to ascertain the level of service that could resume on receipt of updated public health guidance. As a result, it was intended that approximately 100 day centres would re-open week beginning 5 July. It was also intended that an additional 55 centres would resume in July and August, with a further 90 centres that require works expected to reopen before the end of the year. It was indicated that these dates may be subject to change as the HSE continues to deal with the significant challenge of the on-going cyber attack.
Since then updated Public Health guidance to support the re-opening of Day Care Services for Older People was provided in June 2021 to facilitate re-opening plans. Following on from this a further information request issued to HSE Services to obtain an update on re-opening plans. Their responses are currently being analysed and further detail regarding the re-opening of services is expected imminently. It is intended that the re-opening of centres will commence this month.
A Day Care Focus Group which was established in 2020 will remain in place (representative of both HSE and voluntary sector) to oversee the resumption of day care services and provide feedback in relation to both service delivery and users of the services.
While services may have to operate at a reduced capacity, initially, this is a huge step forward in the resumption of day centres for older people. It follows extensive planning by the HSE and has been made possible by the advanced stage and positive impact of the COVID-19 vaccination programme among our older population.
501. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health when the six epilepsy nurse specialists will be recruited as committed to in 2018 as part of the Pregnancy Prevention Programme in relation to the risk associated with sodium valproate. [29695/21]
View answer513. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the expected timeframe for the appointment of the four epilepsy nurse specialist posts to manage the patient safety requirements for women who are prescribed sodium valproate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29738/21]
View answer524. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health when the four additional epilepsy specialist nursing posts approved in 2018 to help manage the mandatory safety checks for women prescribed sodium valproate will be filled. [29788/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 501, 513 and 524 together.
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.
502. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health when an inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate also known as epilim will take place given the commitment made to hold such an inquiry in October 2020 of which no progress has been made in the interim. [29696/21]
View answer512. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the expected timeframe for the establishment of the inquiry into the historical licencing and prescribing of sodium valproate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29737/21]
View answer523. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health when the inquiry into the historical licencing and prescribing of sodium valproate announced in November 2020 will be established. [29787/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 502, 512 and 523 together.
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.
503. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 119 of 29 April 2021, if an error (details supplied) in relation to the case will be examined as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29697/21]
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.
504. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons with a documented anaphylaxis to trometamol or to GBCAs should not receive a vaccine (details supplied); if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that persons who have been refused this vaccine due to anaphylaxis have been offered the same vaccine again; his views on whether that on refusal these persons are advised that they will go to the bottom of the list; and if he will provide clarification on the matter. [29698/21]
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.
506. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the requirements regarding mandatory hotel quarantine for Irish citizens returning to Ireland from Bahrain in summer 2021 who have been working and have been fully vaccinated there with a vaccine (details supplied) which has been WHO approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29700/21]
View answerMandatory hotel quarantine has been introduced as one element of Ireland’s public health measures to combat the transmission of COVID-19 variants of concern.
The Health Act 1947, as amended, provides that all persons arriving in Ireland from a designated state, or having travelled through a designated state in the previous 14 days, are required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a designated facility unless they are an exempted traveller under the Act. All applicable travellers must reserve and pay for a place in mandatory hotel quarantine.
Mandatory hotel quarantine is also necessary in circumstances where passengers coming from non-designated states do not provide evidence that they have a negative or ‘not detected’ result from a COVID-19 Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test carried out no more than 72 hours before arrival into Ireland.
As of 17th April, passengers who are fully vaccinated and have the documents to confirm this are no longer required to complete mandatory hotel quarantine on arrival in Ireland. Dependents, including children, will also be exempted from the requirement to complete mandatory hotel quarantine in this instance.
Please note that the 4 EMA approved vaccines currently accepted have specific definitions for when a person would be considered fully vaccinated.
The following table sets out the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’;
|
Type of Vaccine |
You are regarded as fully vaccinated after |
|
Pfizer-BioNtech |
7 days after 2nd dose |
|
Moderna |
14 days after 2nd dose |
|
Oxford-AstraZeneca |
15 days after 2nd dose |
|
Johnson & Johnson/Janssen |
14 days after single dose |
Fully vaccinated travellers are still required to have a negative pre-departure RT-PCR test and complete a period of self-quarantine at home or wherever specified in their passenger locator form.
Ireland supports the EU Procurement Process, the purpose of which is to secure safe and efficacious vaccines for EU citizens.
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 safety and efficacy.
The Sinopharm vaccine has not been awarded a CMA to date.
507. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid 48-hour contact back tracing procedures that were carried out in April and May 2021; the number and variants of cases identified by this method in each month; the number of Covid 7-day contact back tracing procedures that were carried out in April 2021 and May 2021; the number and variants of cases identified by this method in each month; the number of Covid 14-day contact back tracing procedures that were carried out in the month of April and May 2021; and the number and variants of cases identified by this method in each month in tabular form. [29701/21]
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.
508. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way he plans to deal with the likelihood of the spread of the Covid-19 Indian variant from Britain to and across Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29702/21]
View answerThe Government has introduced a range of measures to mitigate the risk of importing variants of concern including mandatory testing and quarantine requirements for passengers arriving from designated countries. Under the current measures, travellers arriving into Ireland from overseas (including from Great Britain) are required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form, to present evidence of a negative pre-departure RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival and to observe mandatory quarantine.
Travellers from non-designated countries, including Great Britain, must observe 14 days of Home Quarantine which can be shortened on receipt of a not-detected RT-PCR test result 5 days after arrival. Those who travel from Great Britain, who are not fully vaccinated are now requested to remain in quarantine and seek a further test at least 10 days after arrival in Ireland, in addition to the day 5 test. Day 5 tests can be booked in advance via an online portal, and Day 10 tests can be availed of at the HSE walk-in testing centres. An online portal for booking day 10 tests is currently in development by the HSE
Additional messaging to incoming travellers, particularly from Britain, is being put in place to emphasise the home quarantine requirement and to encourage uptake of the 5-day post arrival test. There is continued collaboration between all relevant State stakeholders to maintain and further strengthen measures aimed at optimising compliance with the 14-day home quarantine requirement.
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. We continue to closely monitor for spread of Delta through the national programme of Whole Genome Sequencing with 42% of confirmed cases sequenced in week 20. All suspected cases of the Delta variant are managed as per enhanced public health investigation and control for Variants of Concern.
In addition, given the risks posed by the Delta variant, in particular to those who are not yet fully protected though vaccination, the Government decided last week that a range of higher risk indoor activities, including organised events, service in bars and restaurants, group training, exercise and dance will not commence as planned on the 5th July, pending the implementation of a system to verify vaccination or immunity status.
509. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health when he expects 80% of the adult population to have had a first dose of vaccines (details supplied); the proportion of persons who receive the different vaccines; when he expects 80% of the adult population to have had a second dose of the vaccines; the proportion of persons who receive the different vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29703/21]
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.
510. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if those Irish citizens who have received their vaccines in Northern Ireland or in the UK will be in a position to avail of the green cert vaccine passport for travel to other EU states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29704/21]
View answer529. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if Irish citizens who reside here but work in Northern Ireland and have been vaccinated as part of the system in Northern Ireland will be in a position to apply for an EU Covid-19 digital green certificate when it is introduced here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29793/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 510 and 529 together.
The Digital COVID Certificate Regulation is intended to facilitate people’s fundamental right to move and reside freely and help to support the lifting of restrictions currently in place in a coordinated manner within the EU.
As the Minister for Health, I am supporting the work of my Department in collaborating with relevant Departments under the leadership of the Department of Taoiseach to assist in the implementation of this Regulation to prepare for the introduction of EU Digital COVID Certificates both for those travelling to the country and those travelling from the country.
511. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in processing medical card renewals in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29736/21]
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.
514. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if he plans to establish a stakeholder group to review safety and risk measures regarding the prescribing and distribution sodium valproate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29739/21]
View answer525. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if he will establish a stakeholder group to review safety and risk measures in relation to the distribution and prescribing of sodium valproate. [29789/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 525 together.
The establishment of a stakeholder group to address ongoing concerns relating to the use of this drug is currently being considered by officials within the Department of Health.
515. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the services currently in place to support families who have been affected by the use of sodium valproate; and the details of his plans to expand support services. [29740/21]
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.
516. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if he plans to make medical cannabis accessible through the medical cannabis access programme to persons with epilepsy and their clinicians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29741/21]
View answerThe Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) will make it possible for a medical consultant registered with the Irish Medical Council to prescribe a listed cannabis-based treatment for a patient under his or her care for the three conditions covered by the programme, where the patient has failed to respond to standard treatments:
The three specified therapeutic indications covered by the programme:
- Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis resistant to all standard therapies and interventions.
- Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, despite the use of standard anti-emetic regimes.
- Severe, refractory epilepsy that has failed to respond to standard anticonvulsant medications.
The programme is included in the HSE Service Plan for 2021, will operate on a five-year pilot basis and is expected to commence shortly.
517. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the current position on the installation of a permanent public MRI machine in Wexford General Hospital as committed to by the HSE in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29742/21]
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.
