David Cullinane
Question:1875. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the additional funding provided in Budget 2021 for the National Cancer Strategy; and the way in which it was used. [35676/21]
View answerBudget 2021
Questions (1875)
Written answers
The implementation of the National Cancer Strategy is a Programme for Government commitment, and is part of the implementation of Sláintecare. We have seen significant progress on the implementation of the Strategy over the past three years, with clear evidence-based policy direction from my Department and strong implementation by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme.
An extra €20m has been allocated for the continued implementation of the National Cancer Strategy in 2021.
This funding is being used to support ongoing initiatives and drive improvements across all stages of the cancer continuum, including:
- progress cancer prevention initiatives;
- improve performance of Rapid Access Clinics (RACs) for breast, lung and prostate cancers. The aim is to see all patients within the agreed KPIs;
- improve access to diagnostics for patients with cancer tumours not covered by an RAC (only covers breast, lung and prostate);
- address the increasing, and more complex, demand for radiation oncology, including the provision of essential staffing requirements for the new facility in CUH, and the development of the new facility in UHG;
- enhance medical oncology services to meet the growing need;
- improve services in the Hereditary Cancer Programme;
- development of the Cancer Genetics Service;
- increased use of previously approved cancer drugs with increasing patient numbers;
- further centralisation of cancer surgery; and
- continue the development of survivorship services, including psycho-oncology services, to improve quality of life of those living with and beyond cancer.
Furthermore, an additional €12m has been allocated specifically for the restoration of cancer services in the context of Covid-19. This funding is supporting hospitals in addressing backlogs, extending clinic times, providing additional clinics, increasing diagnostic capacity and providing locum support. It is also supporting virtual clinics and more accurate triage, and is facilitating infrastructure improvements and equipment purchases to increase capacity across Rapid Access Clinics and surgical, medical and radiation oncology services.
Medical Cards
Questions (1876)
David Cullinane
Question:1876. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35677/21]
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 Staff
Questions (1877)
David Cullinane
Question:1877. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of staff brought on in the first half of 2021 and to be brought on in the second half of 2021 and in 2022 for community healthcare networks; the number of staff which will be reassigned from within the HSE in each of those periods; the staffing composition across grade and occupation in whole-time equivalent terms by community health network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35678/21]
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 Staff
Questions (1878)
David Cullinane
Question:1878. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of non-training NCHD posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35679/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue and the provision of data, 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 Staff
Questions (1879)
David Cullinane
Question:1879. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of training NCHD posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35680/21]
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.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Questions (1880)
David Cullinane
Question:1880. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the investments planned to upgrade the newly designated major trauma centres for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35681/21]
View answerWritten answers
The level of Capital investments for Health projects and programmes in 2022 will be determined as part of the capital planning process. Each year the HSE must develop a National Service Plan and Capital Plan upon receipt of notification from my department of annual allocations.
The HSE Capital Plan determines the projects that can progress in any given year having regard to the total available capital funding and the relevant priority of each project.
All capital development proposals must progress through a number of approval stages, in line with the Public Spending Code, including detailed appraisal, planning, design and procurement before a firm timeline or funding requirement can be established.
Approval must be received for each individual stage to ensure that the proposal delivers value for money and remains affordable, and that sufficient funding is available to fund the project to completion, including equipping and commissioning costs.
The delivery of capital projects is a dynamic process and is subject to a number of key considerations, including service prioritisation, clarification of scope, determination of affordability, as well as the successful completion of the various capital project approval stages, which can impact on the timeline for delivery.
Legislative Measures
Questions (1881)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1881. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost in a full year if the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 was fully commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35697/21]
View answerWritten answers
The commencement of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 does not come within the remit of the Department of Health and to advise the Deputy that her question may be more appropriate for the Department of Education and Skills.
Voluntary Sector
Questions (1882, 2607)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1882. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost in 2022 and in a full year of fully implementing the Catherine Day report of the independent review group established to examine the role of voluntary organisations in publicly funded health and personal social services. [35698/21]
View answerRóisín Shortall
Question:2607. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his estimate of the cost in 2022 and in a full year of fully implementing the Catherine Day report of the Independent Review Group established to examine the role of voluntary organisations in publicly funded health and personal social services. [38359/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1882 and 2607 together.
The Report of the Independent Review Group established to examine the role of voluntary organisations in publicly funded health and social services, published in February 2019, highlighted the important contribution that voluntary organisations have made and continue to make in the delivery of health and social care services across the country.
The key finding in the Report is the need to strengthen the relationship between the State and the voluntary sector. To this end, a Dialogue Forum with Voluntary Organisations was established in December 2019 as recommended in the Report as a key mechanism for strengthening this relationship. The aim of the Forum is to build a stronger working relationship between the State and the voluntary healthcare sector for the benefit of patients and service users and to facilitate regular dialogue with the voluntary sector on future policy and strategic developments. While the work of the Forum was paused due to the Covid-19 pandemic, full Forum meetings resumed in May this year and meetings took place in June and July also.
The Covid 19 crisis has brought into sharp relief both the hybrid nature of our health and social care system and the high level of mutual dependence of the statutory and voluntary sectors. NESC was commissioned by the Chair of the Forum to examine the lessons which can be learned from successful partnership working during the pandemic response. This Report, which was published in July, is now shaping the work of the Dialogue Forum.
To date, the focus of the Dialogue Forum has been on providing a space for dialogue between the statutory and voluntary sectors and as such no costs have been associated with the Forum’s work to date.
The IRG Report makes 24 recommendations covering areas such as the governance of voluntary organisations; dialogue, engagement and contractual processes between the State and the voluntary sector; ethos, asset ownership and public capital investment, and broader issues related to health system development.
These are aimed at the Department of Health, the HSE, other State Agencies and voluntary organisations themselves. Many of the IRG’s recommendations dovetail with the Sláintecare programme and are being considered in that context. In addition, some recommendations are being taken forward in the context of the Department of Rural and Community Development’s ‘Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: A Five-Year Strategy to Support the Community and Voluntary Sector in Ireland 2019-2024’.
The IRG did not cost their recommendations and given the broad range of recommendations aimed at a number of actors and the fact that a number of recommendations are being considered as part of other processes, as outlined above, a specific costing exercise has not been undertaken.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1883)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1883. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost in 2022 and in a full year of ensuring that staff working in the 300 section 39 organisations covered under pay restoration have their pay raised to parity with equivalent workers in public sector and section 38 organisations. [35699/21]
View answerWritten answers
Under section 39 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE provides financial assistance to organisations by means of a grant. Section 39 legally underpins the provision of services similar or supplementary to a service that the HSE may provide.
Staff in these section 39 organisations were not subject to the provisions of FEMPI legislation and therefore did not receive those cuts that were applied to the pay of public servants. 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. While it is understood that pay savings were made by the organisations, the precise mix of pay cuts or other savings measures will have varied.
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). 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.
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.
It must be acknowledged that Section 39 organisations are privately owned and run and that their terms and conditions of employment, once in line with employment legislation, are strictly between the employer and the employee. Consequently, it would be beyond the remit of the Department of Health to comment on terms and conditions of employment of a Section 39 agency, including pay.
For clarification, the purpose of the pay restoration agreement was to restore pay to similar levels prior to any cuts being imposed by Section 39 employers and not to achieve pay parity with equivalent workers in public sector and section 38 organisations.
I can also confirm that there is no scope to revisit the eligibility criteria for the process and that the process has reached a final resolution.
Health Services
Questions (1884, 2609)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1884. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost in a full year of eliminating deficits in section 38 organisations and section 39 organisations, respectively. [35700/21]
View answerRóisín Shortall
Question:2609. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the cost in a full year of eliminating deficits in section 38 and 39 organisations. [38361/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1884 and 2609 together.
The National Service Plan 2021 reaffirms the HSE’s commitment to continuing the reform of disability services in line with the Transforming Lives Programme. This includes working towards the financial and operational sustainability of the disability sector.
The HSE continues to support disability providers funded under Section 38 and 39 of the Health Act 2004 to ensure continuity of service provision against the background of the ongoing public health emergency. An additional €100 million in new funding has been allocated this year to enhance services and supports for people with disabilities, which will increase the budget for specialist disability services to over €2.2 billion in 2021.
My Department is aware that some Section 38 and 39 disability organisations have reported financial challenges, including the accrual of deficits. It should be noted that these providers have independent boards which govern the organisations concerned. The State is not liable for expenditure incurred through decisions taken by self-governing organisations and therefore these deficits are the responsibility of the organisations themselves.
Organisations with specific financial challenges are encouraged to engage with the HSE at a local level in the context of their service arrangements.
Care Services
Questions (1885)
Brendan Smith
Question:1885. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when a centre (details supplied) will reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35703/21]
View answerWritten 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.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (1886)
David Cullinane
Question:1886. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35709/21]
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 over
18 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.
Hospital Services
Questions (1887)
Brendan Smith
Question:1887. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 156 of 29 April 2021, when additional capacity will be provided at a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35710/21]
View answerWritten answers
Further to Parliamentary Question No. 156 of 29th April 2021, the issue of additional capacity raised by the Deputy was referred to the HSE for direct reply. My Department understands that Ireland East Hospital Group issued a response to the Deputy on 3rd May 2021 in relation to this query.
In relation to a further update on the matter, 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.
Dental Services
Questions (1888)
John Brady
Question:1888. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of dental practices currently signed up to the dental treatment services scheme in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35711/21]
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. 1889 answered with Question No. 1439.
Care Services
Questions (1890)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1890. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding set aside in 2021 to allow for the decongregation of persons living in inappropriate institutional settings; the estimated cost of full decongregation; and the timespan this estimate relates to. [35766/21]
View answerWritten 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.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Questions (1891, 2164, 2358, 3076)
David Cullinane
Question:1891. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost for 2020, 2021 and 2022 of the student nurse and midwife pandemic placement payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35770/21]
View answer
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:2164. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if all student nurses have been paid the back dated placement grant for their work during the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36720/21]
View answer
Louise O'Reilly
Question:2358. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health when the €100 grant payment for student nurses during their hospital placement will commence given many have indicated that they yet to receive the payment; if the payment will be backdated; if the payment will be subject to tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37496/21]
View answer
Holly Cairns
Question:3076. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if all student nurses and midwives on placement are receiving the announced €100 allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40186/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1891, 2164, 2358 and 3076 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, at the end of 2020 a short-term review of student nurse and midwife allowances in the context of COVID-19 was undertaken at my request by Professor Tom Collins. This review was conducted to examine any additional challenges that the Pandemic may have created for student nurses and midwives on supernumerary clinical placement and final-year internship placement. I accepted all of the recommendations which Prof. Collins made. This includes the payment of a Pandemic Placement Grant (PPG) of €100 per week for each week of supernumerary clinical placement which is backdated to the start of the current academic year, September 2020. I have received the necessary approval for the payments to be classified as a tax disregard to ensure they are not subject to tax. The total cost of the PPG for the academic year 2020/2021 is €7.4m
The processing of the payment of these grants is well underway. However, the recent HSE IT disruption did cause some delay to the planned completion by early June. The HSE have confirmed a significant number of students have received payment and they are working with local clinical sites to ensure that outstanding payments are completed as soon as possible.
Departmental Reviews
Questions (1892)
David Cullinane
Question:1892. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the review of student nurse and midwife pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35771/21]
View answerWritten answers
A longer-term review of matters related to student nursing and midwifery placements and internships is well underway. Following consultation by my Department with representative unions, I appointed Mr Sean McHugh, an independent specialist in HR and mediation, to lead the review. Mr McHugh will consider information, submissions, and presentations from a range of parties involved in these placements and internships.
The review's terms of reference include existing clinical placement allowances payable to student nurses and midwives on supernumerary clinical placement, the Pandemic Placement Grant as specified in Professor Collins' shorter-term review, and pay for 4th-year nurses and midwives on paid internship placement. I look forward to receiving and reviewing the report shortly.
Departmental Funding
Questions (1893)
David Cullinane
Question:1893. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding his Department is seeking or will receive as part of the recovery and resilience loans and grants for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35772/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Recovery and Resilience Facility aims to address the economic and social impact of the pandemic and make our European economies and societies more sustainable, resilient, and better prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the green and digital transitions.
Ireland will receive approximately €915 million in grants from the Facility relating to the years 2021 and 2022, with a further set of grants is to be allocated in 2023 considering economic developments between now and then. All of these grants will be used to support investments between now and mid-2026.
€75m of this funding is being sought by the Department of Health for a range of eHealth measures comprising €45m investment in ePharmacy as a key enabler for integrated care and €30m for an integrated financial management system as part of wider health system reform.
It has not yet been decided whether Ireland will apply for loans under the RRF.
The total amount of planned expenditure under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) is approximately €1 billion.
Details of Ireland’s Plan are available on:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/d4939-national-recovery-and-resilience-plan-2021/.
Departmental Inquiries
Questions (1894)
Patrick Costello
Question:1894. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the reason the fair and fast inquiry into epilim sodium valproate committed to by him in November 2020 has not yet commenced (details supplied); and the timeline for its commencement. [35773/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Question No. 1895 answered with Question No. 1437.
Question No. 1896 answered with Question No. 1437.
Question No. 1897 answered with Question No. 1630.
Cannabis for Medicinal Use
Questions (1898)
Thomas Gould
Question:1898. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health when the medical cannabis access programme is expected to be fully operational. [35777/21]
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 (1899)
David Cullinane
Question:1899. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the approval of a vaccine (details supplied) for 12 to 15-year-olds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35778/21]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland welcomes the European Medicines Agency age extension recommendation for the COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty to include use in children aged 12 to 15. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee is reviewing the matter and will make a recommendation as appropriate. Currently, Ireland's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is administering vaccines to those aged 16+.