Tuesday, 27 Jul 2021

Health Services Staff

Questions (3079)

Holly Cairns

Question:

3079. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of public health doctors employed in each HSE region annually since 2015. [40189/21]

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Written answers

As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

Medicinal Products

Questions (3080)

Réada Cronin

Question:

3080. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to ensure the timely and regular community availability of the drug tocilizumab to pharmacies other than hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40194/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), the competent authority for medicines in Ireland, have been notified by the marketing authorisation holder that there is a shortage of tocilizumab-containing medicines caused by increasing demand for the active ingredient. The shortage is not specific to the Irish market and is global in nature, affecting multiple countries.

The company which supplies tocilizumab products in Ireland has confirmed that it has implemented measures that aim to increase supply to prevent future shortages and mitigate the impact of the current shortages. The company has also stated that it expects supply to patients in Ireland to resume in September. The HPRA has published information concerning the shortage on its website, including a communication from the company which has been sent to healthcare professionals.

If a patient has any concerns regarding their treatment with this or any other medication, they should discuss this directly with their doctor or pharmacist.

Prescriptions Charges

Questions (3081)

Robert Troy

Question:

3081. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the way a family (details supplied) can claim for the backdated cost of prescriptions for eligible patients treated under Ministerial licence. [40195/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE have advised that where a patient who has a valid medical prescription for medical cannabis and whose treating clinician holds a valid Ministerial licence and who has sourced a cannabis-based product may submit an application to the HSE Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit in the PCRS for reimbursement.

The HSE has advised that in the previous situations where it considered reimbursement support appropriate, the following steps were completed:

- The patient’s consultant is satisfied that all therapeutic options have been exhausted and is prepared to accept the responsibility for monitoring the patient’s response to the cannabis product.

- A prescriber has successfully applied to the Minister for a Ministerial license.

- The consultant completes an Individual Reimbursement Form, setting out the therapeutic benefit for the patient. It is important that this is completed in sufficient detail for therapeutic benefit to be demonstrated.

- The Individual Reimbursement Form is considered by the Medicines Management Programme (MMP).

- On review of the documentation, the MMP makes a recommendation for or against reimbursement support for the patient to the HSE, under the patient's eligibility, and informs the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) of that recommendation.

- If approval is given, the PCRS, when authorised to proceed, will make the necessary arrangements to cover the costs involved for the patient.

- The contact details for the CPU as follows:

Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit,

HSE, Primary Care Reimbursement Service,

Exit 5, M50,

Finglas,

Dublin 11.

D11XKF3

Phone No: 01 8915725

Fax No: 01 8915757

Email Address: CPU@hse.ie

Health Service Executive

Questions (3082)

Neale Richmond

Question:

3082. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the delays with the HSE pest control service including unanswered calls and emails; the steps being taken to remedy the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40200/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Disability Services

Questions (3083)

Marian Harkin

Question:

3083. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider the daily transport charge being charged to service users attending HSE day services in counties Sligo and Leitrim; the reason service users cannot use their free travel passes on this service; if this charge is levied throughout all other CHO areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40219/21]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Department of Health and the HSE provide specialist disability services, including Day Services and Rehabilitative Training, to people with disabilities who require such services. Transport is not considered a core Health service and as such Day Service funding does not include transport.

Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO 1) works with Local Link to provide a co-ordinated and efficient transport service, for all service users going to day services operated or funded by the HSE. The HSE pays 90% of the costs of this day service transport, with the remainder funded through passenger fares. The HSE has no remit to provide transport but recognises that service users living in rural areas would not be able to access services without transport supports.

As this specific transport service is deemed a closed service (i.e. not open to the general public but for HSE service users only), travel passes are not accepted. Service users who are using a public "open" Local Link bus route to get to their day service, can use their free bus pass.

The charge collected on these 'closed' routes contributes to overall improvements in service delivery including increased number of routes, shorter journey times and improvement in quality of vehicles used.

The HSE service provided is:

- Safe and of the highest quality providing door to door transport for people attending HSE funded services, including assigned designated Garda vetted drivers per service so that relationships and trust are developed between passenger and driver

- fully accessible

- best value for money

- co-ordinated and managed in a professional manner by people who have expertise in transport provision

- reviewed continuously to ensure shorter passenger journey times.

This partnership with transport providers commenced in Sligo and Leitrim in 2012, and has since been extended to all counties in the CHO1 area.

Covid-19 Tests

Questions (3084)

Marian Harkin

Question:

3084. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the way in which Sars-Cov-2 tests have returned positive results given it has been stated that it is virtually impossible to detect Sars-Cov-2 when the cycle threshold is >34 in view of the fact that the stated cycle threshold used since March 2020 is 40 or between 40 and 45 cycles as confirmed by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40221/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Disability Services

Question No. 3091 answered with Question No. 1427.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (3092)

Réada Cronin

Question:

3092. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if a matter (details supplied) regarding the discrepancy in the language in relation to vaccine certification that exists between the EU website and the Irish website will be addressed given its propensity to cause difficulties for travellers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40246/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Digital COVID Certificate Regulation is intended to facilitate people’s fundamental right to move and reside freely and help to support the lifting of restrictions currently in place in a coordinated manner within the EU.

As the Minister for Health, I am supporting the work of my Department in collaborating with relevant Departments under the leadership of the Department of Taoiseach to assist in the on-going implementation of the EU Digital COVID Certificates.

Arrangements for provision of vaccination certificates to persons not vaccinated in Ireland will be considered by the interdepartmental working group working on the implementation of the EU Digital COVID Certificates once the initial roll-out is in place.

Question No. 3093 answered with Question No. 2265.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (3094)

Réada Cronin

Question:

3094. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who was vaccinated in County Derry and has a honeymoon pending can avail of the EU Digital COVID Certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40249/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Digital COVID Certificate Regulation is intended to facilitate people’s fundamental right to move and reside freely and help to support the lifting of restrictions currently in place in a coordinated manner within the EU.

As the Minister for Health, I am supporting the work of my Department in collaborating with relevant Departments under the leadership of the Department of Taoiseach to assist in the on-going implementation of the EU Digital COVID Certificates.

Arrangements for provision of vaccination certificates to persons not vaccinated in Ireland, including Irish citizens vaccinated in Northern Ireland, will be considered once the initial roll-out is in place.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (3095, 3147, 3160, 3214)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

3095. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health when the EU Digital COVID Certificate will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40252/21]

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Seán Haughey

Question:

3147. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if it will be arranged for an EU Digital COVID Certificate to be issued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40466/21]

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Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

3160. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will furnish those who are eligible and are now in quarantine in Malta with their EU Digital COVID Certificate as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40528/21]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

3214. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when the EU Digital COVID Certificate will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40836/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3095, 3147, 3160 and 3214 together.

The Digital COVID Certificate Regulation is intended to facilitate people’s fundamental right to move and reside freely and help to support the lifting of restrictions currently in place in a coordinated manner within the EU.As the Minister for Health, I am supporting the work of my Department in collaborating with relevant Departments under the leadership of the Department of Taoiseach to assist in the on-going implementation of the EU Digital COVID Certificates.

Certificates based on vaccination and recovery are now being issued. Citizens who have not received their Digital COVID Certificate and require it urgently can call the helpline on 1800 807 008.

Further information is available at : www.gov.ie/en/publication/3a698-eu-digital-covid-certificate/

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (3096)

Patrick Costello

Question:

3096. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if Ireland will recognise the Digital COVID Certificate issued by Switzerland which was approved by the European Commission on 8 July 2021 for the purposes of non-essential travel to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40254/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Digital COVID Certificate Regulation is intended to facilitate people’s fundamental right to move and reside freely and help to support the lifting of restrictions currently in place in a coordinated manner within the EU.

As the Minister for Health, I am supporting the work of my Department in collaborating with relevant Departments under the leadership of the Department of Taoiseach to assist in the on-going implementation of the EU Digital COVID Certificates.

I understand that Switzerland has been awarded and implementing decision under Article 3(10) of the EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation establishing the equivalence of COVID-19 certificates issued by Switzerland to the certificates issued in accordance with EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation.

As a result COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates issued by Switzerland shall be treated as equivalent to those issued in accordance with the EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (3097)

Robert Troy

Question:

3097. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an Irish citizen who travelled to the US before the digital certificate was issued for an emergency is required to have a negative PCR test 72 hours before arrival back in Ireland. [40285/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

S.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.

A traveller arriving to Ireland from the US who does not hold accepted evidence of vaccination or recovery, as laid out in S.I. 135 / 2021, is asked to show evidence of a negative / non-detected RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival and undergo 14-days self-quarantine at the address listed on their COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form. This legal requirement to home quarantine can be shortened if a negative/not-detected result is obtained from a RT-PCR test taken no less than 5 days after arrival.

International travel policy is kept under continuous consideration informed by the international epidemiological situation and public health advice.

Disability Services

Questions (3098)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

3098. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he in conjunction with the other relevant Departments will consider a scheme whereby those in receipt of the disability allowance can access electric bicycles similar to the bike to work scheme in cases in which they have been medically advised to engage in light exercise. [40286/21]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I wish to advise the Deputy that Disability Allowance is a matter for the Department of Social Protection.

Question No. 3099 answered with Question No. 2026.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (3100)

Seán Crowe

Question:

3100. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 vaccination cards that are unaccounted for across the vaccination centre system. [40298/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (3101)

Michael McNamara

Question:

3101. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if all the potential negative health impacts of the cleaning and disinfecting products and procedures he advises that schools use will be disclosed to parents (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40300/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I wish to advise the Deputy that sanitation in schools is a matter for the Department of Education.