Written Answers Nos. 2446-2468
2447. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the up to date position in relation to efforts to secure a new general practitioner for Ballyduff, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37863/21]
View answerWhere a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the selection process to find a replacement GP. The HSE have advised that work is currently underway to secure a replacement GP for the expected vacancy in Ballyduff, County Kerry.
In June 2021, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare was notified that the GMS post in Ballyduff would become vacant in September. A recruitment campaign was approved promptly and in early July, this prospective vacancy was advertised in the appropriate national and international newspapers and medical journals. The closing date for applications for the position was Thursday 22nd July. The HSE are now working to secure continuity of the service to GMS patients in the interim period between September and the conclusion of the recruitment campaign.
2448. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if ten-pin bowling centres will be treated in the same manner as cinemas with regard to Covid-19 restrictions and permitted to reopen with social distancing guidelines put in place rather than applying the same restrictions which apply to pubs and restaurants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37864/21]
View answer2464. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health when tenpin bowling centres will be allowed to reopen; and the reason they did not reopen at the same time as cinemas. [37888/21]
View answer2861. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health when a business (details supplied) will be allowed to reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39279/21]
View answer2941. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the rationale behind a particular type of amenity not being allowed to reopen at the current time (details supplied); when such amenities will be able to reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39679/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2448, 2464, 2861 and 2941 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, on 29 June, Government announced the next phase of reopening the economy and society in line with Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead.
While significant progress is being made in relation to the roll-out of our vaccination programme, the rapidly increasing prevalence of the more transmissible Delta variant, and the significant risk this poses, in particular to those who are not yet fully vaccinated, meant that a number of higher risk indoor activities did not recommence as planned on 5 July, pending the implementation of a system to verify vaccination or immunity status.
Disease incidence has increased rapidly in recent weeks, especially among those who are not yet fully protected through vaccination and the outlook for the coming weeks is very uncertain.
Unfortunately, due to current uncertainties there is not yet an indication of when bowling alleys may reopen. The epidemiological situation will be monitored on an ongoing basis and the level of restrictions will be kept under review by Government.
Significant and sustained progress has been made on suppressing the virus over recent months due to the huge effort of people across the country. By working together, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland. To protect the gains of recent months we must continue to practice basic preventative behaviours and to follow public health guidelines.
2449. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual per unit cost of permanently adding additional ICU beds to the public health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37865/21]
View answer2452. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of additional ICU beds which have been provided since March 2020; the location of same; if these will be permanently retained or if a portion is temporary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37868/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2449 and 2452 together.
At the start of last year, permanent adult critical care capacity in Ireland stood at 255 beds, according to the National Office of Clinical Audit. Funding for a further 40 adult critical care beds was provided on a temporary basis in March 2020 as part of the response to Covid-19 in March 2020.
A Strategic Plan for Critical Care was noted by Government in December 2020. This Plan aims to increase capacity to 321 by end-2021 and to 446 in the longer term. Funding of €52m provided for 2021 will see the 40 beds provided in 2020 retained permanently and a further 26 added, to bring permanent baseline capacity to 321 by the end of 2021. The HSE has advised that 42 of these 66 beds are now in place, with the number open on any particular day fluctuating as a result of a variety of factors. Details in relation to the number of beds which are now open permanently are set out in the table below.
Regarding the estimated annual per unit cost of permanently adding additional ICU beds to the public health system, the cost of a critical care bed has several determining factors. The HSE has advised that a new critical care bed will typically cost between €1m and €1.5m, depending on a variety of factors, including design, construction, equipping and all other associated capital costs. The HSE has advised that the average annual cost of running a critical care bed has been estimated by the HPO, based on 2018 data, to be €747k per annum. However, it should be noted that this figure includes costs for both ICU and HDU beds, with the ICU beds the more expensive of the two.
|
Hospital |
Additional beds put in place since March 2020 |
Beds to be opened by year end |
|
Mater Misericordiae Hospital |
3 |
8 (new build capacity) |
|
St. Vincent’s University Hospital |
2 |
3 |
|
St. James’s Hospital |
5 |
- |
|
Tallaght University Hospital |
- |
12 (new build capacity) |
|
MRH Tullamore |
2 |
- |
|
Beaumont Hospital |
2 |
- |
|
Cavan General Hospital |
1 |
- |
|
Connolly Hospital |
2 |
- |
|
Galway University Hospitals |
6 |
- |
|
Letterkenny University Hospital |
1 |
- |
|
Sligo University Hospital |
1 |
- |
|
Cork University Hospital |
2 |
1 |
|
Mercy University Hospital |
1 |
- |
|
South Tipperary General Hospital |
1 |
- |
|
University Hospital Kerry |
1 |
- |
|
University Hospital Waterford |
2 |
- |
|
University Hospital Limerick |
10 (including six in new build capacity) |
- |
|
Total |
42 |
24 |
2450. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the projected expenditure on palliative care in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37866/21]
View answerA total of €117m has been allocated in the HSE's National Service Plan 2021 for palliative care services, which represents an increase of 15.2% on the 2020 palliative care budget. The increased level of funding in 2021 demonstrates the Government's commitment to improving access to palliative care and end of life care services for people with life limiting conditions and their families.
The increased level of funding includes €7.7m for the voluntary hospice sector to address financial sustainability challenges. This means that the Government has increased the allocation for the voluntary hospice sector by €10.68m over 2020 and 2021 in recognition of the contribution of the sector to delivering high quality, accessible, palliative and end of life care.
The increased allocation also includes an additional €4m to meet the full year cost of providing an additional 55 hospice beds in locations in Mayo, Wicklow, Kildare and Waterford. The additional specialist in-patient beds have opened in all locations except Waterford, where the 20 remaining beds are expected to come on stream in September 2021. This will bring the total number of in-patient specialist palliative care beds countrywide to 268 by the end of this year.
As well as this, €2m has been allocated in 2021 to expand children’s palliative care services across the country.
In relation to projected expenditure on palliative care in 2022, as the Deputy will appreciate, I cannot comment at this stage on the outcome of the estimates process, or matters which will be the subject of national service planning in 2022.
2451. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to clear all home care waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37867/21]
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.
2453. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the restrictions on travel from 19 July 2021; and whether from 19 July2021 travellers can arrive into Ireland with the Digital Covid-19 Certificate without requiring a PCR test. [37874/21]
View answerS.I. 135 of 2021 provides for the testing and quarantine travel measures for arrivals to Ireland from overseas based on their country of departure and whether they hold accepted evidence of vaccination, recovery or a negative RT-PCR test result.
The Digital COVID Certificates are issued in EU Member States as proof of a medical event which has taken place in that Member State, including proof of vaccination and recovery as well as of a COVID-19 test result.
Travellers to Ireland from overseas may show a Digital COVID Certificate based on vaccination or recovery upon entry to Ireland in place of a negative RT-PCR test result. Only arrivals from designated states are required to present both proof of vaccination or recovery and a negative PCR test result upon arrival to Ireland.
2454. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the publication date of the past five National Drug Related Deaths Index in tabular form. [37875/21]
View answerThe National Drug Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) is a system for recording drug-related deaths and deaths among drug users to enable the State and its agencies to respond in a timely manner, and with accurate data. Deaths due drug and alcohol overdose are a tragic loss of life and cause a huge amount of grief and devastation for families.
The NDRDI is funded by the Department of Health and the Department of Justice and Equality and managed by the Health Research Board (HRB). The HRB collect data from closed coronial files relating to all deaths where a history of drug use and/or alcohol dependency was recorded, and/or where drugs including alcohol were implicated in the death.
The data collected includes administrative details, demographic details, socio-economic information, problem drug use, risk behaviours, drug treatment history, details about the death itself, and medical diagnosis.
The five most recent NDRDI bulletins and their publication dates are set out below.
|
bulletin |
publication |
|
NDRDI: 2005-2017 |
2019 |
|
NDRDI: 2004-2016 |
2019 |
|
NDRDI: 2003-2015 |
2017 |
|
NDRDI: 2002-2014 |
2016 |
|
NDRDI: 2001-2013 |
2015 |
Unfortunately, the collection of data on drug and alcohol-related deaths for the NDRDI has been delayed due to the Covid-19 public health restrictions.
2455. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with disabilities in receipt of home support hours in each LHO area as of 1 July 2021 or latest date available; the number of persons currently on the waiting list for same in each LHO area; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to 12 and more than 12 months in tabular form. [37877/21]
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.
2456. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of residential places for persons with disabilities currently being provided as of 1 July 2021 or the latest date available by CHO area in tabular form. [37878/21]
View answer2457. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of new emergency places provided to persons with a disability as of 1 July 2021, by local health office area in tabular form. [37879/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2456 an 2457 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, an additional €100 million was provided in the 2021 Budget for new disability developments, reflecting the strength of the Government’s commitment in this area.
This investment includes provision for increasing capacity within residential services in a planned way, continuing to respond to the need for crisis residential placements and bringing more intensive support packages on stream this year.
The HSE is currently supporting in the region of 8,115 residential places for people with a disability with a full-year target of 8,130 for 2021. A tabular breakdown by CHO is provided in Table A below.
Furthermore, the HSE's National Service Plan 2021 provides for a total of 102 additional residential places for people with a disability, including 44 emergency residential placements. As of the end of April 2021, 27 of those placements have been provided, with a breakdown by CHO provided in tabular form below in Table B.
As the Deputy will be aware, the HSE infrastructure was recently subject to a serious cyber-attack which has impacted email and other communication systems. This has resulted in delays in performance data gathering, and as a result the most up-to-date information available relates to the end of April 2021.
Table A
|
No. of residential places for people with a disability (including new planned places) to end of April 2021. |
|
|
National Total |
8,115 |
|
CHO1 |
707 |
|
CHO2 |
849 |
|
CHO3 |
820 |
|
CHO4 |
1,072 |
|
CHO5 |
906 |
|
CHO6 |
555 |
|
CHO7 |
1,108 |
|
CHO8 |
888 |
|
CHO9 |
1,210 |
Table B
|
No. of new emergency residential placements provided to end of April 2021. |
|
|
National Total |
27 |
|
CHO1 |
2 |
|
CHO2 |
0 |
|
CHO3 |
4 |
|
CHO4 |
2 |
|
CHO5 |
4 |
|
CHO6 |
2 |
|
CHO7 |
5 |
|
CHO8 |
7 |
|
CHO9 |
1 |
2458. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of children as of 1 July 2021 or latest date available that were awaiting a first assessment from the HSE under the Disability Act 2005 by each local health office. [37880/21]
View answerThe assessment of need process consists of two stages, the first stage is a review of the referral to the assessment of need process by an assessment officer which is an administrative exercise. The child is then referred to stage 2, if appropriate, which is for clinical assessment.
Due to the recent cyber-attack the latest information available from the HSE is that 1,110 applications were due to commence stage 2 of the Assessment of Need process at 31st March 2021.
2459. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the physiotherapy waiting list in each local health area as of 1 July 2021 or latest date available; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months; and the number waiting aged 0 to 4, 5 to 17, 18 to 64 and more than 65 years of age for each category in tabular form. [37881/21]
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.
2460. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy assessment waiting list by each local health area as of 1 July 2021 or latest date available; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months; and the number waiting aged 0 to 17 years and those aged 18 and above for each category in tabular form. [37882/21]
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.
2461. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy initial treatment waiting list for each local health area as of 1 July 2021 or latest date available; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months; and the number waiting aged 0 to 17 years and those aged 18 and above in each category in tabular form. [37883/21]
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.
2462. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy further treatment waiting list for each local health area as of 1 July 2021 or latest date available; the number waiting less than four months, four to 12 months and more than 12 months; and the number waiting aged up to 17 years and those aged 18 years and above in each category in tabular form. [37884/21]
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.
2463. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy first time assessment waiting list for each local health area as of 1 July 2021 or latest date available; the number waiting less than four months, four to 12 months and more than 12 months; and the number waiting aged up to four, five to 17, 18 to 64 and more than 65 years of age in each category in tabular form. [37885/21]
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.
2465. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a podiatry appointment in primary care as of 1 July 2021 or the latest date available; the number waiting 0 to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [37898/21]
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.
2466. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for an ophthalmology appointment in primary care as of 1 July 2021 or the latest date available; the number waiting 0 to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [37899/21]
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.
2467. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for an audiology appointment in primary care as of 1 July 2021 or the latest date available; the number waiting 0 to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [37900/21]
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.
2468. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each local health office, LHO, area waiting for a dietetics appointment in primary care as of 1 July 2021 or the latest date available; the number waiting 0 to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [37901/21]
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.
