Written Answers Nos. 2872-2894
2872. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if there is a system in place to redistribute food waste; if any of the hospitals food produce or products are donated in order to avoid waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39462/21]
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.
2873. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of early intervention teams that have been established since July 2020, by county in tabular form. [39463/21]
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.
2874. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of school age teams that have been established since July 2020, by county in tabular form. [39464/21]
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.
2875. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the annual cost of running a fully staffed early intervention team (details supplied); if the cost varies between CHO based on operations to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39467/21]
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.
2876. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the annual revenue cost of a mental health bed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39468/21]
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.
2877. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if a system has been put in place to record side-effects of Covid-19 vaccinations in the State; if so, if such data will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39469/21]
View answerAll reports of a suspected adverse reaction (side effect) to a COVID-19 vaccine should be referred to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). This can be done using the COVID-19 Vaccine adverse reaction reporting form at: www.hpra.ie/homepage/about-us/report-an-issue/covid-19-vaccine-adverse-reaction.
Adverse reactions can be reported to the HPRA by members of the public, carers or healthcare professionals. Reporting adverse reactions to the HPRA supports continuous monitoring of the safe and effective use of COVID-19 vaccines. When reporting, as much information as is known should be provided, and where possible, the vaccine batch number should be included.
The HPRA cannot provide clinical advice on individual cases. Members of the public should contact their health care professional (their doctor or pharmacist) with any medical concerns they may have.
The HPRA publishes regular safety updates which provide an overview of the national reporting experience for COVID-19 vaccines. These updates include an overview of reports of suspected side effects notified to the HPRA safety monitoring system and are provided as an enhanced transparency measure for members of the public and healthcare professionals.
The most recent vaccine safety updates & communication (update 9) from the HPRA can be found at the following link, along with previous safety updates: www.hpra.ie/homepage/medicines/covid-19-updates/covid-19-vaccine-communication.
2878. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for the National Rehabilitation Centre by county of residence in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39470/21]
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.
2879. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding children under the age of 16 who have conditions that place them at high risk if they contract Covid-19; the plans he has put in place to deal with this cohort regarding immunisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39471/21]
View answer2979. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if he plans to prioritise approval of vaccines for vulnerable children in Ireland aged between 12 to 15 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39769/21]
View answer2987. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the consideration that has been given to the EMA approval of Covid-19 vaccination for 12 to 15 year olds; if consideration has been given to medically vulnerable children in this age group; and if they will be included in cohorts 7 and 4 for the vaccine roll-out [39784/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2879, 2979 and 2987 together.
Ireland welcomes the EMA 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+.
2880. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if information can be provided on the planned reopening of children’s play activity and leisure centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39472/21]
View answer2925. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health when play centres can reopen; if there are extra supports in place for them in the meantime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39654/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2880 and 2925 together.
As the Deputies 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.
Leisure centres are now open for individual training only.
Unfortunately, due to current uncertainties there is not yet an indication of when children's play activity centres will be permitted to reopen. The epidemiological situation will be monitored on an ongoing basis and the level of restrictions will be kept under review by Government.
Government has put in place a comprehensive package of supports to help businesses and workers during the pandemic, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), Small business assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates. The level of business supports is unprecedented.
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.
2881. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive the power chair they have been assessed to be in need of by the HSE; when funding will be submitted for this application to assist with this older person with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39474/21]
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.
2882. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the position regarding and status of the lifting of maternity services restrictions for a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39475/21]
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.
2883. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if intensive care packages are currently available to persons in need of such supports; and the procedure for persons to apply for such intensive care packages. [39476/21]
View answerThe Home Support Service is a core service for older people and is highly valued by service users, their families and by the HSE. The HSE’s National Service Plan for 2021 target is to deliver over 24.2million hours of home support
- 23.9 million home support hours to 55,675 people
- 360,000 hours to 235 people through intensive home support packages
This is 5 million hours more than the 2020 target and represents a substantial increase in service provision.
Applications for home support are submitted locally. Intensive Home Care Packages are managed at national level and targets are not assigned to individual CHOs. The Budget for these packages in 2021 is approximately €9 million. I recommend that the person in question contacts the local health office or public health nurse to discuss what options may be available to them in the first instance.
2886. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings between the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People and representatives of a group (details supplied) each month since appointment; the number of meetings between the Minister of State and any owners or directors of private nursing homes since July 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39480/21]
View answer2888. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings between him and any owners, directors of private nursing homes since July 2020; the number of meetings between him and representatives of a group (details supplied) each month since appointment; the number of meetings between officials or advisers of his and any owners, directors of private nursing homes and representatives of the group since July 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39482/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2886 and 2888 together.
Both Minister Donnelly and I have held a number of virtual meetings with the representative body referred to by the Deputy. During 2020 we held two meetings in July, one in November and December and further meetings have taken place in May and more recently in July this year. Nursing home directors are represented at these meetings also.
Over the last year I have had several phone conversations with the CEO of the body referred to by the Deputy. During the height of the pandemic, phone calls took place almost every second day. Also in January Minister Donnelly had one further virtual meeting about the launch of the Nursing Homes vaccination programme.
In addition, officials from the Department have had continuous and ongoing engagement with the stakeholder referred to by the Deputy. As a key stakeholder, it is important to maintain constructive engagements with this representative body as we continue the ongoing response to COVID-19 and beyond. The engagements to date have related to issues such as visiting guidance, staffing, PPE, testing and related matters to the COVID-19 pandemic and nursing homes as well as the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) and ongoing matters relating to the operation of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme.
Finally I must advise the Deputy that there continue to be IT access issues arising from the cyber security incident and therefore it has not been possible to conduct a definitive search of all possible sources of information at this time.
2887. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings between the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People at his Department and between officials of the older persons unit each month since July 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39481/21]
View answerI have on-going engagement with officials in my Department. My diary records 24 formally scheduled meetings since my appointment. However, in the normal course of my work as a Minister of State, officials provide briefing material before many of my engagements, including stakeholder engagements and parliamentary appearances. These briefings typically include a discussion with officials, who often attend those engagements. In addition informal meetings and discussions happen on a daily basis.
I must advise the Deputy that there continue to be IT access issues arising from the cyber security incident and therefore it has not been possible to conduct a definitive search of all possible sources of information at this time.
2889. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings between him and families bereaved by Covid-19 related deaths in nursing homes; the number of meetings between the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People and families bereaved by Covid-19 related deaths; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39483/21]
View answerThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented challenge across our health services and none more so than in our nursing homes. The pandemic has been a hugely difficult time for all residents, relatives, and staff of nursing homes and I would like to express my condolences to all those who have lost a loved one during this period.
Both Minister Donnelly and I have met with families who had experienced bereavement of a loved one in a nursing home. I also met with representatives from the Care Champions group on 12 July this year, including members of bereaved families. I am grateful to those families for sharing their difficult, personal experiences with me as I believe that it is vital that our learning throughout this pandemic is informed by listening to families.
2890. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings between officials and advisers at his Department and advocacy groups for older persons since his appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39484/21]
View answerOver the last year, officials from my Department and I have met with a number of bodies, including advocacy agencies and groups that advocate for the interests of older people among others. In November 2020, my officials and I met with representatives from the Alliance of Age Sector NGOs. This group includes representatives from Third Age, Age Action, The Irish Hospice Foundation, The Irish Citizens Parliament, Age & Opportunity, Active Retirement Ireland and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. I also met with Care Champions recently. Furthermore, I have had several individual meetings with organisations such as Alone, Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Active Retirement Ireland. Officials, in the normal course of business, periodically engage with advocacy groups for older people either directly or through participation in stakeholder groups that are brought together for a variety of purposes, related to the pandemic or otherwise.
I must advise the Deputy that there continue to be IT access issues arising from the cyber security incident and therefore it has not been possible to conduct a definitive search of all possible sources of information at this time.
2891. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if the drug romosozumab (details supplied) will shortly be regulated by the Health Products Regulatory Authority in Ireland and be made available on the drug payment scheme and to medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39492/21]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In line with the 2013 Health Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list. Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
The HSE is committed to providing access to as many medicines as possible in as timely a fashion as possible from the resources available (provided) to it. The HSE robustly assesses applications for pricing and reimbursement to make sure that it can stretch available resources as far as possible and to deliver the best value in relation to each medicine and ultimately more medicines to Irish citizens and patients. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds.
The HSE considers the following criteria prior to making any decision on pricing / reimbursement, in line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013:
(1) The health needs of the public, (2) The cost effectiveness of meeting health needs by supplying the item concerned rather than providing other health services, (3) The availability and suitability of items for supply or reimbursement, (4) The proposed costs, benefits, and risks of the item or listed item relative to therapeutically similar items or listed items provided in other health service settings and the level of certainty in relation to the evidence of those costs, benefits and risks, (5) The potential or actual budget impact of the item or listed item, (6) The clinical need for the item or listed item, (7) The appropriate level of clinical supervision required in relation to the item to ensure patient safety, (8) The efficacy (performance in trial), effectiveness (performance in real situations) and added therapeutic benefit against existing standards of treatment (how much better it treats a condition than existing therapies) and (9) The resources available to the HSEFollowing EMA marketing authorization in 2019 the HSE received an application for pricing / reimbursement of Romosozumab (Evenity®) on the 20th April 2021 from UCB Pharma (the applicant) for the treatment of severe osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk of fracture.
There are formal processes which govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded and / or reimbursed. The first step in the process is the submission of a rapid review dossier.
The HSE commissioned the rapid review process on the 21st April 2021. Following receipt of a rapid review dossier, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) advised the HSE (27th May 2021) that a full Health Technology Assessment (HTA) was required for this medicine to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of Romosozumab compared with the current standard of care.
The HSE commissioned a full Health Technology Assessment on the 28th June 2021 as per agreed processes www.ncpe.ie/drugs/romosozumab-evenity-hta-id-21016/.
The application remains under consideration with the HSE. The HSE advise that it cannot make any comment on possible outcomes from the ongoing process.
2892. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the amount allocated to the drugs strategy to fund an organisation (details supplied) in CHO9; the number of projects and HSE services funded; the name of each project; the services and amounts received by each in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39493/21]
View answerDrug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in the implementation of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery 2017-2015. Action 50 in the strategy seeks to improve accountability across the statutory, community and voluntary sectors and strengthen the task force model. This action will be delivered by ensuring that task forces have proper arrangements in place for the selection and renewal of the chairperson and members of the task forces and have proper procedures in place for addressing conflicts of interest.
The Department of Health has oversight of the drug and alcohol task forces and their annual allocation of over €29 million from the Exchequer. This substantial funding supports the implementation of the national drugs strategy at a community level.
It is assumed that the organisation referred to in this parliamentary question is the North Inner-City Drug and Alcohol Task Force (NIC DAFT).
The Department allocates in the region of €2.2 million per year in the NICDATF. This is provided through two channels of funding, the HSE and the City of Dublin Youth Services Board (CDYSB).
€394,896 of this funding is provided by the Department of Health and is routed through the City of Dublin Youth Services Board and €1,812,723 is routed through the HSE.
The attached table sets out allocations for the years 2019-2021 from the Department of Health.
I ask for the cooperation of all stakeholders to put in place appropriate governance procedures for the North Inner City task force to ensure effective oversight of its public funding.
The information requested in this Parliamentary Question relating to the allocation of funding by the HSE to NIC DAFT is an operational issue, and as such 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.
|
NIC DAFT- Department of Health funding allocations 2019 to 2021 |
|||
|
Allocation |
Allocation |
Allocation |
|
|
Service Name |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Community After Schools Project |
€86,300.00 |
€86,300.00 |
€86,300.00 |
|
Step by Step |
€226,256.00 |
€226,256.00 |
€226,256.00 |
|
Gateway Project |
€36,700.00 |
€36,700.00 |
€36,700.00 |
|
Belong to Youth Project |
€45,600.00 |
€45,600.00 |
€45,600.00 |
|
Total |
€394,856.00 |
€394,856.00 |
€394,856.00 |
