Written Answers Nos. 1648-1672
1648. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the status of the recommendations made by the National Trans Healthcare Steering Committee in 2020; the progress on the provision of transgender healthcare in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34607/21]
View answerGovernment policy in relation to LGBTI+ citizens is set out in the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy and the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy, which fall under the responsibility of the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth. Together these strategies play an important part in achieving the Government's broader commitment to continue to strive for the full inclusion of LGBTI+ people in Irish society. Actions relating to the health of LGBTI+ citizens fall to the Department of Health and the HSE.
The Department of Health is committed to the development by the HSE of a well-governed and patient-centred health care service for adults and children in the transgender community, in line with the Programme for Government. A proposed model of care for transgender children, adolescents and adults has been developed by the HSE Quality Improvement Division. The model provides the framework for the development of National Gender Clinics and MDTs for children and adults.
The final report of the Steering Committee on the Development of HSE Transgender Identity Services was published by the HSE in December 2020. There has been ongoing engagement by the National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead for Mental Health with the National Gender Service regarding the development of a seamless interface and integrated service.
I understand that the HSE is working on the further development of multidisciplinary gender care delivery in Ireland (including gender clinics) both in services for Children & Adolescents and for Adults. The HSE is also working on the establishment of a Child & Adolescent service, including the recruitment of a Consultant Psychiatrist with a special interest in Gender Identity as part of the model of care.
Considerable progress has been made in the establishment of a Clinical Governance Group in the National Gender Service, with membership composed of representatives from the Adult Endocrine and Mental Health Services and from the Children’s Endocrine Service. Further progress is underway to develop a Service User Forum for the NGS, with support provided by the HSE Head of Mental Health Engagement & Recovery in relation to service user involvement and representation.
1649. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently in ICU in the State who have been diagnosed as having the Delta variant of Covid-19. [34656/21]
View answerThis information isn't collected centrally. However, it is worth noting that the Delta variant is now the dominant variant in Ireland. It is currently estimated to represent over 93% of all cases (using S-Gene Target Failure as a proxy for Delta detection) and will grow further in the coming weeks.
While there will always be a lag time between a rise in cases and any subsequent rise in admissions to hospital and intensive care, it can be expected that the majority of admissions in the coming weeks will be cases of the Delta variant.
1650. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health when a day care centre (details supplied) will be reopening day care services for Alzheimer's patients. [34669/21]
View answerDay 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 ongoing 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. The process for reopening of the centres has already commenced and it is expected that more centres will reopen in the coming weeks.
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 shutdown 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.
1651. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has engaged private investigation companies or persons in the past three years to date; and if so, the cost, duration and purpose of these engagements of this type of contractor. [34743/21]
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.
1652. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if his Department has received a report on the most recent cost estimate and timescale for the completion of the new national children’s hospital. [34744/21]
View answerA thorough analysis of the New Children’s Hospital project was sought by the Minister for Health in the summer of 2020 and the National Paediatric Hospital Develop Board (NPHDB) undertook an assessment of the project to determine the implications of any delay(s) and to determine the most effective pathway to ensure the timely completion of this critical project.
The NPHDB’s analysis was submitted to the Department of Health at the end of January 2021. Further analysis was required to provide the appropriate assurances and validation to Government, and other stakeholders, that there has been a robust analysis of the way forward.
The Department continues to work with the NPHDB towards completion of this analysis and once completed, it will then be submitted to the Minister, who commissioned the analysis.
Since the analysis relates to a live contract, it is commercially sensitive and must remain confidential to ensure that the contractual relationships and the project are not adversely affected.
Updates are continually shared with all key stakeholders through the established reporting and governance structures – primarily the Children’s Hospital Project & Programme Steering Group and Board, which members include the Department of Health, the HSE and Children’s Health Ireland.
1653. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the plans that will be put in place for Temple Street and Crumlin Children’s Hospitals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34745/21]
View answerIt is of sincere regret that children can experience a long waiting time for hospital appointments and treatment, and I remain conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families. It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last sixteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack.
While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021, and the resultant curtailment of acute hospital services, is reflected in the most recently available waiting list figures to 13th May 2021.On 23 March 2021 the HSE published the “Safe Return to Health Services Plan”, outlining a three phased approach for the proposed restoration of services across Community Services, Acute Hospital Operations, Cancer Services and Screening Services. It sets target times for their safe return and details the conditions and challenges that will have to be met. However, the implementation of this plan has been suspended pending the resolution of the recent ransomware attack, which had a significant impact on acute hospitals, including Children's Health Ireland (CHI).
The HSE has been working since 14th May last to recover the effects of the cyber attack on its systems. The HSE advise that at present most systems are operational and services are returning to normal activity. There is a challenge in back entering data and there are still a number of areas of ongoing concern. The HSE was already seeking to recover from the Covid peak in the first quarter of this year and the ransomware attack has delayed this and had the effect of increasing access delays for services. My Department does not have full access to information on the impact of this ransomware attack on elective waiting lists but will provide an update as soon as one is available.
CHI has advised the Department of Health that their systems have been significantly impacted by the attack and they are currently running a press and communication campaign to advise patients of the service disruption. Up to date information on current services is also provided on the Children’s Health Ireland website.
CHI continues to engage with the Department of Health in relation to improving access to scheduled care and reducing waiting lists through regular governance meetings. CHI continues to work with the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify and support solutions to improve access to care, particularly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent cyber-attack.
In 2020, Children’s Health Ireland engaged with the HSE and identified the HSE Care Facility in City West as an option to hold off-site Outpatient clinics and/or Day Case Procedures. Activity commenced in September last year and initiatives such as Clinical Immunology and Allergy Team Day Case procedures, Orthoptic Clinics, and Orthopaedic Active Clinical Triage Model Outpatient Clinics took place. Building on the success of the 2020 initiatives, CHI continued to use City West in 2021 for Orthopaedic, Rheumatology and Speech and Language Clinics.
More broadly, an additional €240 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for an access to care fund, €210m of which has been allocated to the HSE and a further €30m to the NTPF. This will be used to fund additional capacity to address the shortfall arising as a result of infection control measures taken in the context of COVID-19, as well as addressing backlogs in waiting lists.
Furthermore, my Department, the HSE and the NTPF are currently in the process of finalising a Multiannual Waiting List plan to address waiting lists and bring them in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming year.
1654. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the system that is in place for holiday cover in home care services when annual leave is being taken given that patients are being left without care each morning and evening, services which are being provided by a company (details supplied). [34746/21]
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.
1655. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if advice will be provided on a matter in relation to Irish persons who received a vaccine abroad (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34747/21]
View answerFor the purposes of travel, an individual is considered fully vaccinated if they have been vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency with the recommended number of days after the final dose, set out below.
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2 doses of Pfizer-BioNtech Vaccine: BNT162b2 (Comirnaty®) |
Plus 7 days |
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2 doses of Moderna Vaccine: CX-024414 (Moderna®) |
Plus 14 days |
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2 doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine: ChAdOx1-SARS-COV-2 (Vaxzevria® or Covishield) |
Plus 15 days |
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1 dose of Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Vaccine: Ad26.COV2-S [recombinant] (Janssen®) |
Plus 14 days |
1657. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the increase in ICU capacity that has been introduced in Ireland since March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34749/21]
View answerAt the start of last year, permanent adult critical care capacity was 255 beds, according to the National Office of Clinical Audit. Funding for 40 additional beds was provided in March 2020, initially on a temporary basis, as part of the response to Covid-19.
The Strategic Plan for Critical Care aims to bring permanent capacity to 321 by the end of 2021 and to 446 in the longer term. Budget 2021 allocated €52m to the implementation of this Strategic Plan. This will retain permanently the 40 beds provided in 2020 and will add further new build capacity to bring baseline permanent capacity to 321 beds by year end. This funding also allows for workforce planning and education initiatives to grow the critical care workforce.
The HSE's Critical Care Programme has advised that 42 of the 66 beds funded for 2021 are now permanently in place. The number of beds open on any given day fluctuates as a result of a variety of factors. Recruitment and capital works are ongoing to open the remaining beds as soon as possible.
1658. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of speech and language therapists employed by the Cork North Lee CDNT; and the number that would be considered a full cohort. [34750/21]
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.
1659. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists employed by the Cork North Lee CDNT; and the number that would be considered a full cohort. [34751/21]
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.
1660. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of physiotherapists employed by the Cork North Lee CDNT; and the number that would be considered a full cohort. [34752/21]
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.
1661. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed by the Cork North Lee CDNT; and the number that would be considered a full cohort. [34753/21]
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.
1662. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the progress made by the HSE and his Department in provision of a new additional 50-bed ward block and emergency department at Mayo University Hospital as part of a major capital scheme for the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34756/21]
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.
1663. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if there is a legal basis for the refusal to accept referrals to the HSE for orthognathic surgery from private orthodontic practitioners; if the only referral method for public treatment for this procedure is through the HSE pathway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34757/21]
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.
1664. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a student returning from studies in South Africa must undergo a period of hotel quarantine. [34758/21]
View answerAny person, other than an exempted traveller, who has been in a designated State within 14 days of arriving in Ireland must complete mandatory hotel quarantine.
At present, the Minister for Health has designated South Africa as a designated state. The list of designated states is under constant review.
The Health (Amendment) Act 2021 provides for exemptions from mandatory hotel quarantine. The full list of exemptions are as follows:
- arriving into the State in the course of duty and who hold a valid Annex 3 certificate (ensuring the availability of goods and essential services)
- arriving in the State in the course of duty and are drivers of a heavy goods vehicle
- airline pilots, aircrew, maritime master or maritime crew and who arrive in the State in the course of performing duties
- travelling to the State pursuant to an arrest warrant, extradition proceedings or other mandatory legal obligation
- a member of An Garda Síochána or Defence Forces (or their equivalents from another state) and travelling to the State in course of duty
- travelling to the State for unavoidable, imperative and time-sensitive medical reasons and these reasons are certified by a registered medical practitioner or person with equivalent qualifications outside the State
- having been outside of the State to provide services to or perform the functions of an office holder (under any enactment or the Constitution) or a member of either house of the Oireachtas or the European Parliament
- diplomats and certain other categories of persons entitled to privileges and immunities in the State
The Act also empowers the Minister to prescribe other classes of person who should be exempted. The following is the full list of exemptions implemented since mandatory hotel quarantine went into operation:
- SI 134 of 2021 brought in an exemption for passengers transiting through an Irish port or airport
- SI 181 of 2021 brought in an exemption for athletes competing in events of international standing
- SI 183 of 2021 brought in an exemption for new-born infants born abroad returning to the State together with their families; this was amended by SI 211 of 2021 to better reflect the intention of the measure
- SI 183 of 2021 brought in an exemption for travellers who are fully-vaccinated against Covid-19
- SI 216 of 2021 brought in an exemption for travellers returning to the State after receiving unavoidable, imperative and time-sensitive medical treatment, together with carers or dependants travelling with them
- SI 241 of 2021 brought in an exemption for travellers providing essential services in the State
- SI 366 of 2021 brought an exemption for travellers in possession of a Digital Covid Certificate (DCC) demonstrating that they have been vaccinated, travellers in possession of a DCC providing evidence of recovery from Covid, and travellers with a certificate of recovery issued by a third state where it contains the same information as is contained in a DCC.
Neither the Minister for Health nor the Department of Health have a role in decisions relating to whether individual persons must enter mandatory quarantine or whether individual persons are exempted travellers. All such decisions are to be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
Exemptions are granted by the Border Management Unit (BMU) on arrival at immigration. Passengers need to be able to provide documentation supporting their case for exemption to the immigration officers at the port of entry. If an exemption is not granted, the passenger will be taken to Mandatory Hotel Quarantine.
1666. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the reason the National Learning Network in Letterkenny which is a disability service for young adults including a person (details supplied) with an intellectual disability is still running on a reduced capacity which is causing severe difficulties for the service users and their families. [34255/21]
View answerDay services re-opened at 39% capacity at service locations throughout August and early September of 2020, and by end of January 2021 this had increased to 51%. The combination of supports in the location, outreach supports, and remote supports provides an overall quantum of support to service users of over 60% at the end of January. The increase in day service capacity was supported by additional funding of €30 million provided in Budget 2021 to increase capacity in buildings and provide extra staff. This funding provided an increase in day services by an average of one day a week for 14,940 people against September 2020 service levels.
For the duration of the COVID-19 emergency day service capacity is reduced, this is due to the physical limitations of the buildings available, the lack of mainstream community activities, and the continued restrictions imposed by social distancing guidance. Many people with disabilities have underlying health conditions, and as the threat of COVID-19 remains, unfortunately so too does the need for these restrictions.
The vaccination process for staff and service users is well underway across day services, and all service providers should now be delivering a minimum of 60% of pre-COVID levels of location-based supports. For those in residential services, currently their day service supports are largely being provided in their residence, however some service users have returned to their day service location, and it is now expected that all residential service users that received their day service at a location pre-COVID should begin to resume location-based day service supports.
The HSE is in the process of establishing the vaccination status of all staff and service users in day services. Once established, the HSE will engage with Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) on what further easing of restrictions can appropriately be applied to day services. Those attending day services have been vaccinated as part of cohort 4, people aged 16-69 years and at very high risk of severe COVID-19 disease. The administration of the second vaccine dose for this cohort began in the week beginning May 10th and is expected to be complete by early July.
The IPC guidance are kept under constant review and updates will be provided in the months ahead on further restoration of day services.
It should be noted that the National Learning Network also provides services funded by the Education and Training Boards, which are not under the remit of the HSE, and where alternative arrangements may be in place.
1667. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a pay award to senior managers in the HSE suggested by the review body report No. 42 will now be approved by his Department; the background to the issue; the reason the issue has not been resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34296/21]
View answerPrevious Public Service Stability Agreements did not allow for any cost increasing claims to be sanctioned. Under the current Public Service Agreement, Building Momentum, Sectoral Bargaining has been identified as the mechanism to deal with any outstanding claims.
Section 2.1 of Building Momentum states that ''a Sectoral Bargaining Fund will be established to be allocated within sectors under this Agreement. The purpose of the Sectoral Bargaining Fund process is to deal with outstanding adjudications, commitments, recommendations, awards and claims within the terms of the Fund and within the Exchequer funding limit in place. All public servants covered by the
Agreement will be encompassed by this process''. Grade or sector based pay claims and outstanding adjudications and awards will have to be resolved within this process.
The HSE and Department are engaging with the representative bodies in the Health sector regarding the implementation of the Sectoral Bargaining provisions set out in Building Momentum.
1668. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of terminations provided at each maternity unit for each year since the commencement of services by county; the number of maternity units which do not or cannot provide termination services; when each unit is timelined to commence services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34882/21]
View answerUnder section 20(1) of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, a notification of each termination of pregnancy carried out under the legislation must be notified to the Minister for Health within 28 days of it being carried out.
As part of the notification process, as set out in Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (Notifications) Regulations 2018 (Statutory Instrument No. 597 of 2018), only certain designated information is provided to the Minister for Health, including the county of residence, or place of residence (where the woman resides outside of the State) of the woman concerned. However, apart from the information designated in Statutory Instrument No. 597 of 2018, no other information is notified to the Minister for Health. The Annual Reports on Notifications 2019 and 2020 are available on the Department of Health’s website.
Under the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 services for termination of pregnancy are available in this country in both hospital and community settings. There is regular ongoing engagement between the Department of Health and the HSE to facilitate the smooth-running of the service and to resolve any issues that may arise. Terminations up to 9 weeks of pregnancy are provided in the community setting. Terminations up to 12 weeks of pregnancy are currently available in 10 of the 19 maternity hospitals/units in the country.
It is Government policy that termination of pregnancy services, under the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, should be provided in all nineteen maternity hospitals. My Department continues to engage with the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme in relation to plans for the further rollout of termination services in additional maternity hospitals/units.
1670. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way in which pharmacists have been chosen to deliver Covid -19 vaccines; if he invited pharmacies to opt in and or is the onus on the pharmacy to make contact with his Department and or the HSE; and the way in which he will ensure balanced geographical spread in relation to the pharmacy delivering vaccines. [34884/21]
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.
1672. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if permission for the use of a drug will be granted in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34886/21]
View answerEpidiolex has been an approved medicine since September 2019, is not licence required and the decision to prescribe the product is a matter for the clinician and their patient.
It is important to note that the medical decision to prescribe or not prescribe any treatment, including cannabis-based treatment, for an individual patient, is strictly a decision for the treating clinician, in consultation with their patient. The Minister for Health has no role in this clinical decision-making process.
