Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:3285. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full year cost of subsidies paid to the private hospital network. [41217/21]
View answerHealth Services
Questions (3285)
Written answers
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the HSE make arrangements with private hospitals to obtain services on behalf of public patients, as necessary.
Currently the NTPF is undertaking work with both public and private hospitals for patients on waiting lists for Inpatient/Daycase procedures, outpatient appointments and GI scopes. The full year costs of using the private hospitals under this arrangement will depend on their actual usage and it is therefore not possible to give a full year cost at this stage.
As part of the response to the additional pressures arising from the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE has put in place a Safety Net agreement with all 18 private hospitals to provide additional hospital capacity. The agreement allows the HSE to access capacity in the private hospitals depending on certain metrics in relation to community infections levels; level of hospitalisation of patients with Covid-19 and the number of patients in ICU beds with Covid-19 being triggered. The agreement is valid for 12 months from the end of January 2021 and is a standard agreement for all the hospitals. As a result of the thresholds being met the agreement was in operation from January to Mid-May. Full year costs associated with the Safety Net will be contingent on any future triggering of the agreement it is therefore not possible to estimate these costs at this point in time.
Following a procurement process outside of the Safety Net arrangement, as part of the Access to Care Fund the HSE has established two panels which will allow it to secure access as required to additional acute services and diagnostics from private providers. This is required to address some of the anticipated shortfalls in capacity arising from Covid-19 measures over the next two years, as well as the effects of the recent ransomware attack. The final amount allocated for this purpose will be dependent on the actual take up by the private hospitals under the tender arrangement.
In view of the above it is therefore not possible to give a final estimate of the costs associated with these initiatives at present.
Health Services Staff
Questions (3286)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:3286. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of public health consultants in the employ of the public health service; and the estimated full year cost of employing them. [41219/21]
View answerWritten 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.
Health Services Staff
Questions (3287)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:3287. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full year cost of staffing all public health teams to the same level as in the public health service in Scotland. [41220/21]
View answerWritten 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.
Question No. 3288 answered with Question No. 3014.
Question No. 3289 answered with Question No. 2610.
Mental Health Services
Questions (3290)
Johnny Guirke
Question:3290. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health his Department’s strategy for the specific allocation and utilisation of resources to tackle mental health issues in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41268/21]
View answerWritten 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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (3291)
Johnny Guirke
Question:3291. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health his Department’s strategy for the specific allocation and utilisation of resources to tackle mental health issues in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41269/21]
View answerWritten 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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (3292)
Johnny Guirke
Question:3292. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who sought help from mental health services in each county, by age and gender in each of the years 2015 to 2020, in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41270/21]
View answerWritten 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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (3293)
Johnny Guirke
Question:3293. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by his Department on mental health services in each county in each of the years 2015 to 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41271/21]
View answerWritten 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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (3294)
Johnny Guirke
Question:3294. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health his Department’s plans to tackle waiting lists for persons needing mental health services in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41272/21]
View answerWritten 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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (3295)
Johnny Guirke
Question:3295. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health his Department’s plans to tackle waiting lists for persons needing mental health services in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41273/21]
View answerWritten 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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (3296)
Johnny Guirke
Question:3296. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently waiting on appointments with a therapist in the mental health services in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41274/21]
View answerWritten 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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (3297)
Johnny Guirke
Question:3297. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently waiting on appointments with a therapist in the mental health services in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41275/21]
View answerWritten 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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (3298)
Johnny Guirke
Question:3298. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on current waiting lists for mental health services in each county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41276/21]
View answerWritten 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.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (3299)
Róisín Shortall
Question:3299. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the arrangements for the enforcement of the regulations in respect of indoor hospitality; the details of the role to be played by An Garda Síochána, the environmental health officers and the health and safety inspectors; the specific additional resources which will be provided to these agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41277/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Act 1947 (Sections 31AB and 31AD) (Covid-19) (Operation of certain indoor premises) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 385 of 2021) provides for the reopening of indoor hospitality from 26th July 2021.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) have been named as relevant bodies under the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021 (No. 24 of 2021). Section 31AD(1) of this Act allows for these bodies to designate compliance officers.
Compliance officers are empowered to carry out checks to determine whether the indoor operator is complying with the regulations. Compliance officers also have the power to inform An Garda Síochána of failures to comply with the regulations as well as the power to take the matter to the Courts if necessary. However, it must be emphasised that the primary objective is to encourage compliance with the regulations to ensure that hospitality can reopen in a safe manner, and most importantly that it can remain open. It is also important to remember that while the HSE and HSA have a role in verifying compliance, the operators of indoor hospitality businesses have a key role in enabling and supporting the safe operation of the system and I am confident that the vast majority of operators will approach matters on this basis.
The HSE Environmental Health Service is continuing to carry out additional activities/functions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic through existing resources, on a risk priority basis.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment advises me that the HSA will utilise its existing cohort of inspectors to carry out its role under the regulations. The HSA is currently progressing a recruitment campaign to increase the number of staff in inspector roles, with additional inspectors having already joined the HSA in the last month.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media has advised me that Fáilte Ireland has produced detailed updated guidelines for the tourism and hospitality sector to coincide with the re-opening of indoor hospitality and has also developed support materials for hospitality businesses to communicate with their customers, which are available on their website. In addition, Fáilte Ireland continues to operate its COVID safety charter. Businesses who sign up to this voluntary charter are subject to spot checks by Fáilte Ireland to confirm that the business is complying with all public health protocols and Government Guidelines and that all employees have undertaken infection prevention control training.
Question No. 3300 answered with Question No. 2346.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (3301)
Róisín Shortall
Question:3301. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason the statement that there is currently no strong evidence to suggest that SARS-CoV-2 is spread through airborne transmission remains on the HSE website; and if he will ensure that it is replaced by accurate guidance without further delay. [41282/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (3302)
Róisín Shortall
Question:3302. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the details of the ventilation guidance and regulations applying to the hospitality industry; the requirement in respect of CO2 monitors and the arrangements for enforcement in this regard. [41283/21]
View answerWritten answers
It is the responsibility of individual Government Departments to provide sector-specific COVID-19 advice on ventilation as per their respective remits. In this instance the provision of guidance for the hospitality sector is a matter for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and I suggest that the Deputy direct questions accordingly.
While it remains the responsibility of individual Government Departments to provide sector-specific COVID-19 advice on ventilation, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has published Guidance on Non-Healthcare Building Ventilation during COVID-19, that may be of interest to the Deputy more generally. The Guidance provides broad recommendations and information, based on the literature, for commercial and public buildings that may be used in the development of sector specific guidance:
www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/buildingsandfacilitiesguidance/#d.en.20148
The reports of the Expert Group on the Role of Ventilation are also available to support the development of sector specific guidance by other Government departments:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/aa43c-exper- group-on-the-role-of-ventilation-in-reducing-transmission-of-covid-19/
For convenience I have also provided details of guidance published by other Departments and their agencies, questions related to any of the published guidance below should be directed to the appropriate Government Department:
- Education sector:
- www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/Guidance%20on%20non%20HCbuilding%20ventilation%20during%20COVID-19.pdf
- www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools
- Workplaces, Businesses (including hospitality), Retails Settings, and Shopping Centres:
- A revised Work Safely Protocol (previously the Return to Work Protocol) was published on 14th May 2021 as a collaborative effort between employers and employees, which was led by the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Health, with the support of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and with significant input by public health from the Health Service Executive (HSE). The revised Protocol incorporates the current advice on the Public Health measures needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community and workplaces including enhanced detail on ventilation: www.gov.ie/en/publication/bb7fd-work-safely-protocol/
- www.nsai.ie/images/uploads/general/NSAI-COVID19-Retail-Guidelines-13012021.pdf or www.nsai.ie/images/uploads/general/NSAI-COVID19-Shopping-Centre-Guidelines-13012021.pdf
- Fáilte Ireland: Overview Guidelines to Reopening - failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Overview-Guidelines-to-Re-opening.pdf
- Fáilte Ireland: Guidelines for Reopening Restaurants and Cafes failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Restaurants-and-Cafes.pdf
- Fáilte Ireland: Guidelines for Reopening Hotels and Guesthouses - failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Hotels-and-Guesthouses.pdf
- There is als- additional guidance on Gov.ie and on the HSE website which outlines the importance of ventilation in households, this can be found here:
- www.gov.ie/en/publication/472f64-covid-19-coronavirus-guidance-and-advice/ to www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/how-coronavirus-is-spread.html
Vaccination Programme
Questions (3303)
Róisín Shortall
Question:3303. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the time period required to elapse after each vaccine after which a person is considered fully vaccinated; if this is two-weeks for all vaccines or if there is variation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41292/21]
View answerWritten answers
The four European Medicines Agency approved vaccines have specific definitions for when a person is considered fully vaccinated. It is essential that all individuals receive the full course of vaccination, as per the vaccination schedule if they are to be fully protected.
The following table sets out the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’;
|
A full course of any one of the following vaccines |
Regarded as fully vaccinated after |
|
2 doses of Pfizer-BioNtech Vaccine: BNT162b2 (Comirnaty®) |
7 days |
|
2 doses of Moderna Vaccine: CX-024414 (Moderna®) |
14 days |
|
2 doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine: ChAdOx1-SARS-COV-2 (Vaxzevria® or Covishield) |
15 days |
|
1 dose of Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Vaccine: Ad26.COV2-S [recombinant] (Janssen®) |
14 days |
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (3304)
Brendan Griffin
Question:3304. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the repercussions for hospitals that ignore HSE guidelines in respect of maternity restrictions; if such behaviour will go unchecked to the continued detriment of mothers and their partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41305/21]
View answerWritten 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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (3305)
Pat Buckley
Question:3305. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the waiting lists for CAMHS split into CHOs specifying the circumstances in which persons have been waiting over 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months respectively. [41311/21]
View answerWritten 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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (3306)
Pat Buckley
Question:3306. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the waiting lists for all national counselling service options respectively split into CHOs specifying the circumstances in which persons have been waiting over 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months respectively. [41312/21]
View answerWritten 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.
Suicide Incidence
Questions (3307)
Pat Buckley
Question:3307. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve the collection, availability and communication to the public of data relating to suicide and self-harm incidences given recent misleading claims around these figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41314/21]
View answerWritten 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.