Written Answers Nos. 1927-1951
1927. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of times a mental health tribunal of one member has been appointed pursuant to section 48(3)(a) of the Mental Health Act 2001 as amended; the number of times a mental health tribunal consisting of one member has sat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35880/21]
View answerThe Mental Health Commission has confirmed that as of 27 July 2021, no one-person tribunals have taken place under the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020, or under that Act as extended by the Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2021.
1928. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of the work of the Nursing Homes Expert Panel Report Implementation Oversight Team; when the Implementation Oversight Team will publish its final report; if the final report will include a plan for the implementation of the recommendations of the Nursing Homes Expert Panel Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35881/21]
View answerThe Nursing Homes Expert Panel was established, on foot of a National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) recommendation, to examine the complex issues surrounding the management of COVID-19 among this particularly vulnerable cohort. The Expert Panel report, which was published in August 2020, has added further to our knowledge and learning. This report clearly outlines the key protective measures that we must ensure are in place across our nursing homes. These actions are based on learning from our own and the international experience of COVID-19 to date. The report also recommends additional analysis and examination of the relevant public health and other data sets in order that further causal and protective factors for COVID-19 clusters are identified.
Work to progress the recommendations of the Expert Panel report, particularly those recommendations requiring a priority focus in the response to COVID-19, is ongoing across health agencies and stakeholders. The recommendations of the report are varied and complex, requiring a mix of ongoing operational response to COVID-19 and longer-term strategic reform. Those strategic reforms are, by their nature, complex and relate to whole of system issues. It is important to note that any such reforms require careful consideration and substantial policy development work. In the case of some recommendations, major legislative reform is required, something that must be approached in a measured and considerate way, to ensure reforms are delivered as intended.
Two progress reports have been published to date, with the third report due to be completed shortly. These reports are available on the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel Report: Implementation Oversight Team webpage at www.gov.ie/en/publication/c7f5b-covid-19-nursing-homes-expert-panel-report-implementation-oversight-team/
Continued learning and understanding of progression of the disease in Ireland is an integral part of those recommendations. Residents of nursing homes are vulnerable because of their age, underlying medical conditions, the extent of their requirement for direct care involving close physical contact and the nature of living in congregated settings. The very infectious nature of COVID-19 makes it difficult to prevent and control in residential care settings. The transmission of the virus into and within nursing homes is multifactorial. As identified by the Nursing Homes Expert Panel, where there is ongoing community transmission, settings like nursing homes are more vulnerable to exposure.
The State’s responsibility to respond to the public health emergency created the need to set up a structured support system in line with NPHET recommendations. This has been a critical intervention in supporting the resilience of the sector in meeting the unprecedented challenges associated with COVID-19. The Expert Panel highlighted the value of those supports and recommended their continuation. These supports continue to be provided.
The range of supports provided to nursing homes include:
- Enhanced HSE engagement
- Multidisciplinary clinical supports at CHO level through 23 COVID-19 Response Teams
- Supply of precautionary and enhanced PPE, free of charge
- Where possible, access to staff from community and acute hospitals
- Suite of focused public health guidance and training resources
- Temporary accommodation to nursing home staff to support measures to block the chain of transmission
- HIQA implemented a Regulatory Assessment Framework of the preparedness of designated centres for older people for a COVID-19 outbreak and published an Infection Prevention and Control Assurance Framework for Nursing Homes
The Expert Panel endorsed these range of supports and measures and highlighted the importance of their continuation over the 18 months identified in the Panel’s report. These measures continue to be an important component of the COVID-19 response and will continue to be in place for the foreseeable future.
The Implementation Oversight Team has agreed that all stakeholders should continue to intensify their efforts to progress implementation over the coming period with a view to completing implementation of recommendations to the greatest extent possible, and in respect of those longer-term recommendations requiring specific programmes of work, that suitable pathways and processes are identified to ensure the mainstreaming of implementation into wider reform processes once the formal NHEP Implementation structures are concluded.
1929. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the temporary assistance payment scheme beyond the 30 June 2021; the analysis his Department has carried out into the cost of extending the scheme to December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35882/21]
View answerThe Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) was established in April 2020 as a temporary administrative measure in response to the challenges faced by the nursing home sector at the start of the pandemic. As the pandemic continued, additional support measures for private and voluntary nursing homes have been delivered through the Health Service Executive (HSE).
As of 23 July 2021, 7,919 claims had been submitted as part of the Scheme. In total, €134.5 million has been made available under TAPS between 2020 and 2021.
Due to the ongoing high level of risk associated with COVID-19 during this period, the Department of Health extended the scheme twice, far beyond the originally planned timescale of three months. The further extension of the scheme was outlined in the Government’s Plan 'Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19', published in September 2020. This provided assurance of the Scheme’s availability and a planned timeframe of operation to the end of June 2021.
The cessation of TAPS at the end of June, as planned and previously announced, was communicated with all relevant stakeholders, including Nursing Homes Ireland – the national representative body for the private and voluntary nursing home sector.
There has been a marked improvement in the status of the virus in nursing homes due to the rollout of the National Vaccination Programme – COVID-19 cases and outbreaks in nursing homes are now at a very low level compared with the first quarter of the year and, overall, the epidemiological situation is very positive. It is the Department’s understanding that currently there is one open outbreak in a nursing home.
(Please note that the cyber-attack on the HSE on 14 May 2021 has prevented the routine notification of cases, associated deaths and outbreaks of COVID-19 to the Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting (CIDR) system. As an interim measure, provisional epidemiological reports are being prepared but have not undergone the data validation procedures undertaken through CIDR. For this reason, data continues to be provisional at this time.)
The Scheme has fulfilled its temporary purpose of providing financial support to nursing homes to address COVID-19. Although the risk is greatly reduced, it has not been completely eliminated, therefore the outbreak assistance element of the Scheme will continue to be available to nursing homes until the end of 2021. Availability of outbreak assistance is subject to the overall sanctioned amount of €42m for 2021.
The substantial package of non-financial supports outlined below will continue to be provided for the time being:
- Provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The continued supply of PPE is a key support mechanism and will be provided in line with clinical and public health recommendations;
- The COVID-19 Response Teams established to support Public Health Outbreak teams covering all residential services as well as home support settings. All stakeholders, including the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel, have highlighted the significant contribution these new teams have made to supporting nursing homes throughout the pandemic;
- The HSE Temporary Accommodation Scheme;
- HSE training and development resources, including the opening up of HSeLanD to private and voluntary providers.
- IPC support and advice;
- The substantial suite of publicly available guidance developed to support the sector.
These measures and supports reflect a significant investment by the State to support nursing homes and other services such as the COVID-19 Response Teams, and are a clear signal of the work that is ongoing to integrate the wider health system.
It is also important to reflect that all nursing homes, as registered providers with HIQA, have well-established obligations under the legal framework in terms of the delivery of safe care to residents. Nursing homes are required, by law, to ensure that procedures consistent with the standards for the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections published by HIQA are implemented by staff. The current infection prevention and control standards have been in operation since 2018. Good and effective IPC procedures should be in place across the entire health and social care service as a matter of course.
In February 2021, a revised plan 'Resilience and Recovery 2021 Plan: The Path Ahead' was published by the Government. This plan recognises the need for longer-term reform of both older persons and nursing home care, broadly reflecting the lessons learned from the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel and the pandemic. However, these structural reforms, including the policy and regulatory framework, extend beyond the scope of a temporary financial support scheme aimed at a specific, time-limited public health objective.
1930. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if those aged 12 to 15 years of age will be provided with a Covid19 vaccine (details supplied) given the European Medicines Agency approved usage of the vaccine for this age group; when it can be expected a decision will be made; and if a positive decision is made; and when can parents expected vaccinations will commence. [35885/21]
View answerIreland welcomes the European Medicines Agency age extension recommendation for the COVID-19 vaccines Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech) and Spikevax (Moderna) to include use in children 12+. 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+.
1932. 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. [35887/21]
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.
1933. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that many trains do not have windows that open or air conditioning which can remove the Coivd-19 virus in relation to the reopening of public transport at 100% capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35888/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the issues of ventilation and air conditioning on trains is a matter for the Department of Transport.
1934. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost in 2022 and in a full year of supporting every ten persons under 65 years of age to move out of inappropriate placement in a nursing home. [35695/21]
View answer2003. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with disabilities under the age of 65 that remain living in nursing homes; the estimated additional cost to have those remaining in nursing homes transferred to a community setting; the timeframe to have those remaining in nursing homes transferred to a community setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36087/21]
View answer2104. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated to progress the transfer of persons with disabilities under the age of 65 from nursing homes into community settings in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021 respectively, by capital and resource funding and CHO in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36543/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1934, 2003 and 2104 together.
In Budget 2021, the Government allocated over €2.2 billion for specialist disability services, including €100m in additional funding to enhance services and supports, reflecting the Government’s commitment in this area. €3m of this funding was allocated to support a new pilot project which aims to assist 18 people aged under 65 with a disability to move from nursing homes in 2021.
This is the first year that funding for a project of this nature has been secured. It is envisaged that this project will build on learning from the Time to Move On policy, the Personalised Budgets Pilot and the Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy.
There are an estimated 1,300 people aged under 65 living in nursing homes for older people. Data is available on those under 65 living in nursing homes who are receiving a Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS) subvention, but these data do not distinguish between those who are inappropriately placed and those for whom it is a reasonable and appropriate choice.
Currently, each Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) is working with those whom they have identified to participate in the pilot project to develop person-centred care and transition plans to facilitate the moves to alternative sustainable living solutions within the community and it is expected that transitions will commence by the end of Quarter 3.
In tandem with this, the HSE is working on a service reform project which aims to:
- Gather baseline information on the population living in nursing homes.
- Carry out full assessments of care within the current placement.
This project will map out the care and support needs of those living under 65 living in nursing homes and will demonstrate the scale of the work involved and the potential resources required to meet the Programme for Government Commitment.
The learning from the project will inform the approach to how the HSE and other stakeholders need to plan for and support people under 65 in nursing homes to transition to alternative housing options in the community with adequate supports, where this is appropriate for the individual, including the level of resources required to facilitate such transitions.
1935. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the funding that is available for a group to set up a summer camp for children with autism (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35902/21]
View answerAs 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.
1936. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the latest figure for the number of persons availing of the nursing homes support scheme; the number of these who are homeowners; the number who lease their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35906/21]
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 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.
1937. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a delay in issuing birth certificates to new born babies, as in a case of a child (details supplied); and if cases will be fast tracked in cases in which there is a need to obtain a passport for essential travel. [35909/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that birth certificates are a matter for the Department of Social Protection and issues to do with passports are a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs.
1938. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan 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. [35910/21]
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.
1939. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to easing hospital visitation restrictions for long-term patients given the high levels of vaccination against Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35911/21]
View answer2856. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health if clarity will be provided on the ability for vaccinated persons to visit patients in hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39390/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1939 and 2856 together.
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
1940. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the status of Ireland’s progress on implementing the WHO Code of Marketing on Breast-milk Substitutes; his views on delays to progress made in this area since 2013; if there are intentions to adopt the provisions of the WHO code in its entirety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35912/21]
View answer1941. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health that status of the implementation of action item 3.13 of the National Breastfeeding Action Plan which pertains to the WHO Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35913/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1940 and 1941 together.
As these Parliamentary Questions relate to operational issues, they are 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.
However, I can advise the Deputy that promoting an increase in the number of new mothers breastfeeding is a priority in the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action plan 2021-2025. Infant formula is needed as not all babies are breastfed. 2021 is the year of the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes which is aimed at protecting children and families from inappropriate marketing of breastmilk substitute products. The Code covers infant formula products up to the age of 3 years. I am advised that the HSE are working to strengthen compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes through partnership and cross sectoral working.
1942. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if in-person developmental checks for infants and toddlers at 3, 10 and 18 months are being carried out at present in a HSE primary health care centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35914/21]
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.
1943. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the current waiting list timeframes for infant and toddler developmental checks broken down by age, that is, 3, 10, and 18 months (details supplied); the waiting list timeframe per municipal district in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35915/21]
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.
1944. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the amount of interest his Department has been charged for savings or other funds on deposit in Irish banks since negative interest rates were introduced by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35926/21]
View answerMy Department has not been charged interest for savings or other funds on deposit in Irish banks since negative interest rates were introduced by year.
1945. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the additional resources that have been allocated to help amend the extensive waiting time for children to receive special needs assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35584/21]
View answerIn August 2020 the HSE secured €7.8m to address the issue of overdue Assessments of Need (AON).
This funding was provided on a once off and strictly time bound basis to eliminate all AONs overdue at 30th June 2020. While the number of overdue Assessment of Need stood at approximately 6,500 in June 2020, through a combination of different measures, by the end of April 2021 approximately 5,150 children have had their assessment completed, thus reducing the backlog to approximately 1,350 cases. An overall reduction, since the exercise began of approximately 80%. 3 CHOs have cleared their backlog, one of which has exceeded its target.
1946. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Kerry waiting on procedures (details supplied) to be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35962/21]
View answerIt 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.
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.
In recent years, my Department has worked with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to improve access for patients waiting for high volume procedures, including cataracts. Ophthalmology services are provided throughout all hospital groups in the country, with cataract removal one of the key procedures carried out as part of this specialty.
A key development in improving access to Ophthalmology services was the opening of a stand-alone high-volume consultant-led cataract theatre by the University of Limerick Hospital Group in Nenagh Hospital in 2018, with the intention that it would facilitate patients from surrounding geographical areas to avail of their treatment there. The impact of such initiatives can be seen in the reduction in the waiting times to access cataract procedures since 2019. At the 13th of May 2021 there were 4,275 patients waiting for a cataract procedure compared to 6,437 in January 2019.
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 is to 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.
My Department, the HSE and the NTPF are currently working on a Multiannual Waiting List Plan to address waiting lists and bring them in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years.
Due to the ongoing IT issues triggered by the HSE cyber-attack, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has been unable to receive weekly national hospital waiting list data or downloads. The latest published waiting list information was collated by the NTPF on 13th May 2021. The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the attached document, which provides a breakdown by time-band of the number of patients in County Kerry awaiting an Ophthalmology Outpatient appointment and the number awaiting a cataract procedure. This information is based on the latest available data provided by the NTPF.
1947. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the status of the inquiry into the anti-epilepsy drug sodium valproate; if the inquiry has commenced; when engagement with families affected by disabilities associated with the drug will commence; and the timeline for the delivery of the report. [35963/21]
View answerDetails 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.
1948. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason a person must send a postal order to receive a pathologist's report and that no other form of payment is acceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35965/21]
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.
1949. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the variance to the budget of the new national maternity hospital by expense category in tabular form in view of the reports that the hospital is set to cost €800 million up from the original estimated cost of circa €150 million. [35966/21]
View answerThere is no approved budget in place for the relocation of the national maternity hospital (NMH). The need to obtain maximum value for money for capital investment projects through disciplined project evaluation, preparation, and implementation under the public spending code (PSC) means that there are a number of steps required before a clear, evidenced-based approximation of costs can be determined.
As the NMH relocation is a project initiated prior to the updated PSC, the Project Board is undertaking additional work to ensure full compliance with the new PSC.
The PSC is designed to ensure that investment decisions are underpinned by a clear policy rationale, and that costs are well understood. In 2019, the PSC was updated and introduced a new project lifecycle, tightening the arrangements for project decision-making, and clarifying the roles of the parties involved including the responsibilities for Sponsoring Agencies and Approving Authorities. The PSC also provides detail on the requirements at each stage of the new project lifecycle.
The specific requirements that must be included in a business case at the various stages of the PSC are detailed at www.gov.ie/en/publication/public-spending-code/
Only following a successful procurement strategy and a tendering process, can an evidence-based and realistic forecast of the costs associated with a capital investment project be accurately projected. This is the baseline from which any and all variances would be derived.
Since a final business case - post procurement and tendering- has not been completed, there is no approved budget for this project and therefore variance on budget cannot be reported.
1950. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently consider mixing the second dose vaccine for those over 50 years of age who are still awaiting a second dose of the vaccine (details supplied); and his views on the fact that this cohort of persons urgently need to achieve full protection from the Covid-19 virus. [35967/21]
View answerIreland’s COVID-19 vaccination programme strategy is to distribute all available vaccines as quickly as is operationally possible, prioritising those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19. The programme is based on the principles of safety, effectiveness and fairness, with the objective of reducing severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 infection.
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The Committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department. The NIAC review all data relating to COVID-19 vaccines on a rolling basis.
Following the recommendation for use of vaccines against COVID-19 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and authorisation for use by the European Commission, the NIAC develops guidance for their use in Ireland which is contained in the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland. These guidelines are continuously updated and include guidance on all new vaccines as they are approved for use in Ireland.
The current Guidelines state:
There are currently four COVID-19 Vaccines authorised for use in Ireland. The vaccines are not interchangeable. For vaccines that have a two-dose schedule, the same vaccine should be used for both doses.
You can read the guidelines at: www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf.
There is insufficient evidence to recommend a change from the authorised two-dose Vaxzevria® schedule or to support giving an mRNA vaccine instead of the second dose of Vaxzevria®. There is a need for further evidence on the safety and effectiveness of mixed (heterologous)vaccine schedules. Further information is expected in the coming months which may warrant an update of these recommendations.
1951. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when an orthopaedic appointment will be made at the Mater Hospital for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35968/21]
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.
