Written Answers Nos. 2405-2424
2405. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of the preliminary business case for the proposed new emergency department and women and children’s block project in Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37745/21]
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.
2406. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a copy of the draft legal framework for the proposed new national maternity hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37746/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, a draft legal framework has been developed which aims to address the ownership and governance arrangements at the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH). In that context, as previously stated, there has been further engagement with the stakeholders in relation to these matters. As the legal framework is still draft, it is not intended to provide or publish it, in the interest of ensuring the necessary space to facilitate engagement with the relevant stakeholders. As I have previously made clear, I will not be making any further comment on the nature of this engagement until it concludes.
2407. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if the business case for the relocation of the national maternity hospital, which was received by his Department from the NMH Project Board in December 2020, has been approved to date; if so, if he will provide a copy of the approved business case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37747/21]
View answerA business case for the national maternity hospital (NMH) relocation project was submitted to the Department of Health by the NMH Project Board in December 2020. This provided a comprehensive overview of the proposed project. However, as a project initiated prior to the updated Public Spending Code (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 specific requirements that must be included in a business case at the various stages of the PSC, and the stages at which these are to be published, are detailed at www.gov.ie/en/publication/public-spending-code/
The updated business case will be re-submitted to the Department of Health, as Approving Authority, and to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for technical review in due course.
2408. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of beds by addiction rehabilitation and detox residential treatment facility in tabular form. [37749/21]
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.
2409. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of available beds by addiction rehabilitation and detox residential treatment facility in tabular form. [37750/21]
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.
2410. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of staff by addiction rehabilitation and detox residential treatment facility in tabular form at present and in March 2020, respectively. [37751/21]
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.
2411. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of speech and language therapists employed in the County Cork region. [37752/21]
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.
2412. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists employed in the County Cork region. [37753/21]
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.
2413. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the latest engagement undertaken by the HSE with the board of SouthDoc in relation to the reopening of SouthDoc Blackpool, County Cork. [37754/21]
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.
2414. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses currently employed in Cork north Lee area; if any are still redeployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37755/21]
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.
2415. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the 235 vacant positions in CUH; and if he will list these by profession in tabular form. [37756/21]
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.
2416. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the average cost of residential rehabilitation treatment; and the percentage of same paid on average by the HSE by facility in 2019 and 2021, respectively in tabular form. [37757/21]
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.
2418. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he will lay the Health Research Board Drug and Alcohol Prevalence survey results before Dáil Éireann. [37759/21]
View answerGovernment policy in relation to drug and alcohol addiction services is set out in the National Drugs Strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery-a health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025. A key objective of the strategy is to support high quality monitoring, evaluation, and research to ensure evidence-informed policies and practice.
The National Drug and Alcohol Survey is funded by the Department of Health and managed by the Health Research Board. It is a general population survey of households to measure the extent and pattern of drug use among a representative sample of those aged 15 and over in Ireland.
The Health Research Board recently published the findings of the National Drug and Alcohol Survey for 2019/20. These results are publicly available on the HRB's website at the following link:
www.hrb.ie/publications/publication/the-2019-20-irish-national-drug-and-alcohol-survey-main-findings/returnPage/1/
2419. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of the National Drugs Strategy mid-term review; if another consultation process will be opened; and if he will make available any preliminary documentation at this stage. [37760/21]
View answer2420. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if priorities have been determined for the new stage of the National Drugs Strategy. [37761/21]
View answer2421. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health when the 2020 review of the National Drugs Strategy will be published; and if this will be a separate document to the mid-term review. [37762/21]
View answer2580. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health his plans to restructure the National Oversight Committee of the National Drug Strategy into a number of sub-groups and to appoint Health Service Executive managers or Department of Health officials to chair each of the sub-groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38143/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2419 to 2421, inclusive, and 2580 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, sets out government policy on drug and alcohol use for the period 2017 to 2025. The strategy provides an integrated health-led approach to drug and alcohol use, focused on reducing the harms for individuals, families and communities and promoting rehabilitation and recovery. Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery is a dynamic strategy which provides the opportunity for the development of further actions to address needs that may emerge later in the lifetime of the strategy.
The Department has undertaken a mid-term review of the actions in the strategy, in consultation with stakeholders. The review provides an opportunity to reflect on progress in implementing the strategy from 2017 to 2020, progress achieved in the action plan, to identify any new issues that have arisen since the strategy was launched including the impact of Covid-19 and to consider the development of new actions for the remainder of the strategy to address emerging needs and challenges.
The National Oversight Committee gives leadership and direction to support the strategy and provided that the Minister for State with responsibility for the drugs strategy would chair this committee. Regular updates on the mid-term review have been provided to the Committee and a draft report was considered at its most recent meeting. Arrangements are currently being made to submit the review to Government and it is intended to publish it thereafter.
I want to emphasise that there are no proposals in the review to restructure the National Oversight Committee into a number of sub-groups and to appoint Health Service Executive managers or Department of Health officials to chair each of the sub-groups.
2422. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his views on the retention of the three-day waiting period in relation to abortion services in view of the fact that almost 1,000 women who availed of counselling did not subsequently undergo an abortion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37778/21]
View answerSection 12 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 provides that a termination of pregnancy may be carried out by a medical practitioner who, having examined the pregnant woman, is of the reasonable opinion formed in good faith that the pregnancy concerned has not exceeded 12 weeks of pregnancy. A three-day period must elapse between certification and the procedure being carried out.
Where a medical practitioner has formed the reasonable opinion in good faith that a woman’s pregnancy has not exceeded 12 weeks and certified that opinion, and the woman has fulfilled the three-day period, a second medical practitioner may carry out the procedure without a further three-day period where he/she has formed the reasonable opinion in good faith that the pregnancy has not exceeded 12 weeks and has certified that opinion.
I assume the Deputy is asking his question in the context of the review of the operation of the Act, required under section 7 and noted in the Programme for Government, which is being progressed this year. The review clause was included in the Act in order to facilitate monitoring of the impact, operation, and effectiveness of the legislation in practice, as well as of the delivery of services in the area.
It is too early at this stage to speculate as to the recommendations or areas for action which the review report may identify.
2423. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will put in place an information system in regard to the provision of abortion services in Ireland which would provide information on the reason women choose to have an abortion as such information systems are available in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37779/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 permits termination to be carried out in cases where there is a risk to the life, or of serious harm to the health, of the pregnant woman; where there is a condition present which is likely to lead to the death of the foetus either before or within 28 days of birth; and without restriction up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Under section 20 (1) of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, a notification of each termination of pregnancy carried out under the legislation must be notified to the Minister for Health within 28 days of it being carried out. The notifications are recorded on the form entitled “Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (Notifications) Regulations 2018” (Statutory Instrument No. 597 of 2018). The information in the form includes the grounds on which the termination of pregnancy was carried out.
The Annual Report on Notifications, published under section 20 (3) of the Act, provides information on the grounds on which each termination of pregnancy was carried out. The Annual Report 2020 is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef674-health-regulation-of-termination-of-pregnancy-act-2018-annual-report-on-notifications-2020/.
2424. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his views on the reasons underlying the increased abortion figures in 2019 at a time when abortion rates should have declined in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37780/21]
View answerPrior to 2019, the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 regulated access to lawful termination of pregnancy in Ireland. Termination was only permitted in cases where there was a threat to the life of the pregnant woman. Figures collected under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 show that 32 medical procedures were carried out in 2018.
As the Deputy will be aware, a referendum on the Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution was held on 25 May 2018. The referendum was passed, and article 40.3.3 of the Constitution was amended to confirm that the Oireachtas may make laws for the regulation of the termination of pregnancy.
The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was subsequently signed into law on 20 December 2018. It permits termination to be carried out in cases where there is a risk to the life, or of serious harm to the health, of the pregnant woman; where there is a condition present which is likely to lead to the death of the foetus either before or within 28 days of birth; and without restriction up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Expanded services for termination of pregnancy under the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 were introduced from 1 January 2019.
In circumstances where the grounds on which termination of pregnancy is legal have been expanded, it is perhaps unsurprising that the number of terminations of pregnancy carried out would increase.
