Michael Healy-Rae
Question:1673. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a home care package for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34910/21]
View answerHome Care Packages
Questions (1673)
Written answers
As 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 to 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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (1674)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:1674. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34911/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Question No. 1675 answered with Question No. 1585.
Equality Issues
Questions (1676)
Holly Cairns
Question:1676. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the way his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit fulfil their obligations under section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34913/21]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is committed to the fulfilment of its Public Sector Duty. Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 imposes a statutory obligation on public bodies in performing their functions to have regard to the need to:
- Eliminate discrimination;
- Promote equality of opportunity and treatment for staff and persons to whom it provides services; and
- Protect the human rights of staff and services users.
The Department of Health Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 commits to “a culture of respect, collaboration and innovation, where staff feel empowered in their roles and supported in the pursuit of a healthy work/life balance.” During this strategic cycle, it explicitly commits to the following actions:
1.To undertake a Public Sector Duty Self-Assessment
2. Engage with bodies under our aegis to ensure that they comply with the Public Sector Duty
3. To implement Department of Health actions within relevant National Strategies
4. To report on achievements in our annual report
We are currently undertaking a detailed self-assessment with the following objectives:
1. To better understand how the Duty is currently understood and implemented within the Department.
2. To identify the key equality and human rights issues for the Department of Health to prioritise during the strategic period 2021-2023.
3. To prioritise these issues and develop an action plan.
4. To increase awareness of the Duty amongst Department of Health staff.
My Department is proactive in promoting human rights and equality in the day-to-day culture and work of the organisation. Examples include:
- Gender Mainstreaming: Undertaken as part of the work of the Women's Health Taskforce, the Women's Health Policy Platform is a policy development tool designed to ensure that women's health is given due consideration in policy development.
- Public Sector Duty Lead: A Department Lead for the Public Sector Duty has been appointed at Principal Officer level.
- Staff Networks: Networks are supported and encouraged across grades and cross-departmentally e.g. Civil Service Women's Network. An Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) network is in the process of being established.
- Resources: Resources in relation to human rights and equality issues are provided on the Departmental intranet service e.g. guidelines around accessibility available via the Disability Liaison Officer.
- Governance: The Department of Health is committed to complying with legislation such as the Employment Equality Act 1998 and codes of practice such as the Annex on Gender Balance, Diversity and Inclusion (annex of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies).
- Values and Behaviours: In 2019, under the Organisational Development Action Plan 2018-2019, staff worked collaboratively to develop a statement promoting communication, support, inclusivity and collaboration, with respect at the heart of all we do. This statement is included in HR packs for new joiners, and staff are encouraged to include it in meeting agendas and relevant documents in the regular course of their work.
- Health and Wellbeing: A number of initiatives are run by HR to promote health and wellbeing in the Department. Dignity at Work provides a procedure for staff to resolve issues related to bullying, harassment and sexual harassment. The Activity and Wellbeing Programme promotes general wellness initiatives in the organisation.
Equality Proofing of Policies
Questions (1677)
Holly Cairns
Question:1677. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the way his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit undertake disability impact assessments; the process by which these assessments are monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34914/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Cabinet Handbook requires that Memorandums for the Government should indicate clearly the impacts of the proposal under a number of headings, including employment; gender equality; poverty or social exclusion; people with disabilities; and rural communities. In addition, when conducting a Regulatory Impact Analysis, the impact of the legislative proposal, including the costs and benefits of each option, must be considered under various headings including the impact on the socially excluded or vulnerable groups.
Disability proofing of all substantive proposals requiring Government approval is mandatory, and Disability Impact Assessment is the process used for carrying out such disability proofing. It involves a comprehensive examination of how any proposed policy, legislation, programme or service impacts on a person with a disability. The analysis should consider all potential impacts, both positive and negative. It is a requirement that all substantive Memoranda should indicate the impact on people with disabilities.
Information in respect of the bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.
Question No. 1678 answered with Question No. 1562.
Medicinal Products
Questions (1679)
Johnny Mythen
Question:1679. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2261 of 21 April 2021, the estimated timeframe for the completion of the formal pricing and reimbursement assessment process in relation to the xonvea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34916/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Care of the Elderly
Questions (1680)
Alan Dillon
Question:1680. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health when day care services are to resume at a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34917/21]
View answerWritten answers
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 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 shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is ongoing, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
Home Help Service
Questions (1681)
Alan Dillon
Question:1681. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health when HSE home help will resume in a case (details supplied); if the HSE has replaced the agency that previously covered the home help in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34918/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (1682)
Alan Dillon
Question:1682. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if a booster shot will be available to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34919/21]
View answerWritten answers
The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) is currently reviewing future vaccination requirements, including the potential need for booster shots and is expected to make recommendations in this regard shortly. Following receipt of the NIAC advice, my Department and the HSE will consider the appropriate operational measures to implement the recommendations.
Public Sector Staff
Questions (1683)
Catherine Murphy
Question:1683. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the rate of pay and grade a person (details supplied); the duration of their contract; the impact of same on their previous employment in the public service in the context of pension and related end of career entitlements; if an open or internal competition was held for the role; if a recruitment competition for the role has ensued since; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34920/21]
View answerWritten answers
Where unique skills and experience are required urgently, such as the emergency arising from the impact of Covid-19, it is sometimes necessary to rehire retired civil or public servants. Retired persons engaged by the civil and public service are subject to abatement of their public sector pension unless a waiver of this abatement is approved under the relevant legislation. Any such abatement requires the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
The person concerned has extensive relevant skills and experience in an Irish and international context which was not otherwise available to the Department in the context of the critical and urgent needs arising from the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The specific, relevant expertise and experience of the individual concerned are considered invaluable both in Ireland and abroad, and there was and continues to be significant demand internationally for expertise of this nature. The person concerned is employed on a specified purpose contract linked to the response to Covid-19 in order to advise and assist the work of the Department and the National Public Health Emergency Team. The individual is employed in a civil service grade analogous with their previous public sector employment.
In 2020, in the context of the unique and rapidly evolving Covid 19 pandemic this Department required the skills and specialist experience of the individual concerned immediately. Given the significant contribution which the individual continues to make to the work of the Department, their ongoing retention in the role continues to be required.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (1684)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1684. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the average daily number of doses of Covid-19 vaccines that were administered over the past four weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34921/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
Proposed Legislation
Questions (1685, 1728, 1747)
Holly Cairns
Question:1685. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the date to which his Department is working towards to introduce the safe access to termination of pregnancy services Bill to the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34922/21]
View answerHolly Cairns
Question:1728. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the status of the safe access to termination of pregnancy Bill which is listed in the Summer 2021 Legislative Programme as preparatory work underway. [35202/21]
View answerHolly Cairns
Question:1747. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the status of the safe access to termination of pregnancy Bill which is listed in the Summer 2021 Legislative Programme as preparatory work underway. [35424/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1685, 1728 and 1747 together.
Ensuring access to termination of pregnancy services remains an ongoing priority for the Department of Health.
It was originally intended to provide for safe access to termination of pregnancy services in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. However, a number of legal issues were identified which necessitated further consideration.
Since services under the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 commenced in January 2019, there has been a limited number of reports of protests or other actions relating to termination of pregnancy. This is an extremely positive development. It suggests that these services have bedded in relatively smoothly to date and are becoming a normal part of the Irish healthcare system, as intended.
Where problems do arise with protests outside healthcare services, there is existing public order legislation in place to protect people accessing services, staff and local residents.
The Department of Health has liaised with An Garda Síochána on safe access to services. The Garda National Protective Services Bureau issued a notice to all Garda Stations raising awareness about the issue. It directed that any protests be monitored, and breaches of existing law dealt with. The Department has provided information on existing public order and other relevant legislation to the HSE for appropriate distribution.
Termination of pregnancy services have continued to function during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is regular ongoing engagement between my Department and the HSE to facilitate the smooth-running of the service and to resolve any issues that may arise.
Public Sector Pensions
Questions (1686)
Alan Dillon
Question:1686. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the reason there is a significant delay in issuing pensions such as in a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34923/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
Health Services
Questions (1687)
Kathleen Funchion
Question:1687. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the reason children (details supplied) have had their developmental checks cancelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34924/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Appointments to State Boards
Questions (1688, 3173)
Neale Richmond
Question:1688. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health his views on whether there is to be a conflict of interest in the appointment of a person to a position at a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34925/21]
View answer
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:3173. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if he has any ethical concerns regarding the appointment of the adviser at Safefood (details supplied); the way he will ensure that there will not be a conflict of interest in relation to this appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40576/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1688 and 3173 together.
The British-Irish Agreement Act, 1999 provides for Safefood to have both an Advisory Board and an Advisory Committee.
Safefood Advisory Committee (SAC) members are selected by Safefood following a publicly advertised invitation for expressions of interest from suitably qualified professionals?.
The role of the SAC is advisory. It meets on average twice a year and provides expert advice to Safefood when it considers new and emerging issues on food safety, healthy eating, and on strategic and cost-effective communications mechanisms for fostering positive change in these areas.
Safefood developed a code of practice for SAC members and procedures for conflict of interest is included. Appointees must disclose any information or personal connections which, if appointed, could lead to a real or perceived conflict of interest. Members must highlight any potential for such conflict and step back from any discussions on those issues
SAC members act in a voluntary capacity and are there to bring their expertise to topics for discussion. Safefood advises that all SACs appointed to date have included food industry representatives.
The Department of Health and the HSE are responsible for breastfeeding policy in Ireland. Safefood has no policy remit in this regard. The HSE Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Action Plan is the framework for progressing supports for breastfeeding in Ireland.
Proposed Legislation
Questions (1689)
Claire Kerrane
Question:1689. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on plans to introduce statutory homecare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34926/21]
View answerWritten answers
Enabling people with care needs to continue to live independently at home for as long as possible is a priority for the Government. To advance this, the Government is committed to establishing a new, statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services, which the Department of Health is currently developing. It is envisaged that the new scheme will provide equitable access to high-quality services based on a person’s assessed care-needs.
Work is on-going within the Department to determine the optimal approach to the development of the new scheme within the broader context of the Sláintecare reforms. This work encompasses the development of the regulatory framework for the new scheme; the examination of the options for the financing model for the scheme; and the development of a reformed model of service-delivery. With the aim of ensuring that all service-users are provided with a standard, high-quality level of care which is safe, effective, and person-centred, it is envisaged that the regulatory framework will encompass primary legislation for the licensing of providers, minimum standards, and national quality standards.
The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy and Action Plan 2021–2023 commits to the advancement of the development of the new home-support scheme in 2021 and to the commencement of its implementation in 2022. Funding was secured in 2021 for the HSE to progress the roll-out of interRAI as the standard assessment tool for care-needs in the community; the pilot of a reformed model of service-delivery for home-support; and the establishment of a National Office for Home Support Services.
Mobilisation of the pilot of a reformed model of service-delivery is expected to commence in Q3, supported by the National Office. The pilot will deliver an additional 230,000 hours of home-support in four community healthcare network (CHN) sites over a six-month period. In addition, approximately 130 posts have been funded for the national rollout of the interRAI Ireland system, which the home-support pilot will test as the standard assessment tool for care-needs.
While the new home-support scheme is under development, the Government is prioritising improving access to home-support services. As part of Budget 2021, funding for an additional 5 million hours of home-support was provided. This increased investment will contribute to meeting the Programme for Government commitment to providing equitable access to home-support services.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1690)
Claire Kerrane
Question:1690. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to difficulties being experienced by homecare providers contracted by the HSE in sourcing care workers and the lack of persons coming through as care workers; if he has considered barriers which may be preventing persons from taking up a caring course due to cost; if he will consider providing grants to support persons in entering this area given the demand for homecare and the growing need that is there and will increase in the years ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34928/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government (2020) commits to the introduction of “a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high-quality, regulated home care.” In this regard, the Department is in the process of developing a statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support. It is intended that the new scheme will provide equitable and transparent access to high-quality services based on a person’s assessed care-needs.
As part of this work, the Department is examining the potential demand and cost of introducing such a scheme. Following this, work will be undertaken to examine the associated workforce requirements for the introduction of such a scheme and my Department will engage with other sectors as required in this regard.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1691)
Claire Kerrane
Question:1691. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of private homecare providers in the State; the way these companies are regulated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34929/21]
View answerWritten answers
Home care services are not currently formally regulated. Services are delivered either directly by HSE employed staff, or on its behalf by a combination of private and ‘Section 39’ organisations (i.e. voluntary/not-for-profit) providers who operate under service agreements with the HSE. Providers are monitored through Service Level Agreements with the HSE and are required to provide a range of information in relation to the services they provide. There are also home support users who self-fund entirely or who self-fund additional support to supplement the support provided via the HSE. My Department does not have information on the number of private providers of homecare.
However, the Department is currently developing a regulatory framework for home support providers with the aim of ensuring that all service users are provided with a standard, high quality level of care which is safe, effective and person-centred. This framework will comprise (i) primary legislation for the licensing of public and private home support providers; (ii) minimum requirements (regulations); and HIQA National Standards for Home Support Services.
It is expected that the primary legislation will give the Minister for Health the power to make regulations in respect of minimum requirements which will form the criteria against which a provider’s eligibility to hold a licence will be determined.
On 27 April 2021, Government gave approval to draft a General Scheme and Heads of a Bill to establish a licensing framework for home support providers. This will be progressed as a priority by the Department with a view to bringing it through the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1692)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:1692. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the quarantine rules that would apply in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34443/21]
View answerWritten answers
Mandatory hotel quarantine has been introduced as one element of Ireland’s public health measures to combat the transmission of COVID-19.
Passengers who are fully vaccinated and have the documents to confirm this are not 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 outlines the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ in order to qualify for an exemption.
|
A full course of any one of the following vaccines |
Regarded as fully vaccinated after |
|
2 doses of Pfizer-BioNtech Vaccine: BNT162b2 (Comirnaty®) |
7 days |
|
2 doses of Moderna Vaccine: CX-024414 (Moderna®) |
14 days |
|
2 doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine: ChAdOx1-SARS-COV-2 (Vaxzevria® or Covishield) |
15 days |
|
1 dose of Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Vaccine: Ad26.COV2-S [recombinant] (Janssen®) |
14 days |
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).
At present, the Sinovac vaccine has not received EMA approval.
You may wish to note that as of 16 July, persons arriving from the United Arab Emirates are no longer automatically subject to Mandatory Hotel Quarantine. However, they are still subject to other travel restrictions such as home quarantine, supplying passenger locator form information and ensuring they have evidence of a negative RT-PCR test conducted within the 72 hours prior to their arrival in Ireland.
It is important to note that the list of designated states will be subject to change at short notice and passengers are required to check the list before travelling to Ireland, to be sure of their obligations.
Neither the Minister for Health or the Department of Health have any role in deciding which persons must enter mandatory quarantine or which persons are exempt from entering mandatory quarantine. All such decisions are to be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
Healthcare Policy
Questions (1693)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:1693. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the cost of delivering the Sláintecare commitment to establishing a statutory homecare scheme; the timeframe involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34281/21]
View answerWritten answers
Enabling people with care-needs to continue to live independently at home for as long as possible is a priority for the Government. To advance this, the Government is committed to establishing a new, statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services, which the Department of Health is currently developing.
It is envisaged that the new scheme will provide equitable access to high-quality services based on a person’s assessed care-needs. The new scheme will build on the HSE’s continual enhancement of existing service-provision and on emerging good practice across the current system of health and social care delivery. It will also integrate effectively with other health and social care services, including the Nursing Homes Support Scheme and primary care services.
Work is on-going within the Department to determine the optimal approach to the development of the new scheme within the broader context of the Sláintecare reforms. This work encompasses the development of the regulatory framework for the new scheme; the examination of the options for the financing model for the scheme; and the development of a reformed model of service-delivery. With the aim of ensuring that all service-users are provided with a standard, high-quality level of care which is safe, effective, and person-centred, it is envisaged that the regulatory framework will encompass primary legislation for the licensing of providers, minimum standards, and national quality standards.
The Sláintecare Implementation Plan commits to the establishment of the statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services by the end of 2021. Work planned in 2020 was adversely affected by the impact of COVID-19 on delivery mechanisms for home-support and by the diversion of resources to respond to the pandemic. This has had an impact on the final timeline for the completion of this ambitious programme of reform.
Nevertheless, the successful development of this scheme remains a key priority for me. In order to accelerate this work, my Department is working closely with the HSE to ensure that the required resourcing—including personnel, governance structures and other requisite resources—are scaled up to ensure that significant progress is achieved by the end of 2021.
Health Services
Questions (1694)
John McGuinness
Question:1694. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 986 of 28 April 2021, as yet unanswered, the reason funding was refused under the treatment abroad scheme in the case of a person (details supplied) given that a previous application was approved on 20 September 2019; if the procedures are available in Irish hospitals; if so, the hospitals that carry out same; if there is a waiting list; if so, the timeframe involved; if he will examine the case of the person as a matter of urgency with a view to ensuring that the two procedures recommended by their consultants are expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34980/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Nevertheless, my officials were in contact with the HSE and I refer the Deputy to my reply (Parliamentary Question 417) to this matter which issued on the 15th July 2021.
Nevertheless, the HSE has advised that a response on this matter, as raised in Parliamentary Question 986 of 28th April 2021, was issued to the Deputy on 13th May 2021. The HSE indicated that as the procedure is available in Ireland it does not fall under the qualifying criteria for the Treatment Abroad Scheme. A multidisciplinary National Specialist Centre has been developed over two sites, at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) and the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) Dublin, and these sites have received specific funding from the HSE for the provision of these services. Full details of MESH removal services and contact information for relevant hospitals are available on the HSE website at www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/vaginal-mesh-implants/. The National Women and Infants Health Programme can also be contacted for general queries at smi.nwihp@hse.ie.
Question No. 1695 answered with Question No. 1585.
Child Protection
Questions (1696)
John McGuinness
Question:1696. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the status of the public consultation process relative to the proposed national standards for children’s services; if it is the intention to have a separate standard for foster care similar to the 2003 document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34982/21]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that national standards for children’s services is a matter for the Department of Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (1697)
David Cullinane
Question:1697. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the provisions that are being made for the allocation of unused Covid-19 vaccinations administrated by pharmacies; if consideration has been given to allowing under 50s who are willing to avail of the vaccine to receive unused vaccines in the pharmacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34983/21]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE is currently offering everyone who registers online an mRNA vaccine - either the Moderna or Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine - when it is available. People waiting for their first vaccination appointment also have a choice to opt-in or out of getting the AstraZeneca vaccine if it is available earlier than an mRNA vaccine. If opting for this vaccine, a person may be vaccinated sooner, depending on the availability of supply.
Alternatively, an individual can get a COVID-19 vaccine at a local pharmacy if not already vaccinated and are aged:
50 or over18 to 34
Availability of pharmacy vaccines will depend on supply. Many pharmacies are offering people in these age groups the Janssen vaccine.
The latest group who can register online to get a COVID-19 vaccine are people aged 16 to 17.
If over 18, people can still register if they haven't already.