David Cullinane
Question:1231. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the 2019 and 2020 budget and staffing composition of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer. [42151/21]
View answerDepartmental Staff
Questions (1231)
Written answers
The Department does not allocate its administrative budget by Division.
As of the 31st December 2019 the Office of the Chief Medical Officer had 47 staff or 41.6 WTE and as of 31st December 2020, there were a total of 32 staff or 30.1 WTE. This reflects a reorganisation of functions during 2020, including the reassignment of some functions to other Divisions of the Department.
Since May 2020 the Department has undergone a significant reorganisation in order to manage the State’s response to COVID – 19. The organisational structure and staff changes in the Department during this time is in the context of our workforce plan and additional needs relating to the pandemic. The staffing numbers in the Office of the Chief Medical Officer's Division is also reflective of the changing nature, reorganisation of functions and prioritisation of work in the various Divisions across the Department.
Departmental Staff
Questions (1232)
David Cullinane
Question:1232. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the 2019 and 2020 budget and staffing composition of the Office of the Chief Nursing Office. [42152/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Department does not allocate its administrative budget by Division.
As of the 31st December 2019 the Division of the Office of the Chief Nursing Officer (which encompasses a number of policy Units) had 20 staff or 19.6 WTE and as of 31st December 2020, there were a total of 31 staff or 30.8 WTE. The change in staffing reflects a reorganisation of functions among Divisions of the Department during 2020.
Since May 2020 the Department has undergone a significant reorganisation in order to manage the State’s response to COVID – 19. The organisational structure, and staff changes, in the Department during this time is in the context of our workforce plan and additional needs relating to the pandemic. The staffing numbers in the Chief Nursing Officer's Division is also reflective of the changing nature, reorganisation of functions and prioritisation of work in the various Divisions across the Department.
State Bodies
Questions (1233)
David Cullinane
Question:1233. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the 2019 and 2020 budget and staffing composition of HIQA. [42153/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Information and Quality Authority has advised my Department that HIQA’s annual budget was €24,352,895 in 2019 and €26,061,575 in 2020.
The total average headcount for staff employed by HIQA was 248 in 2019 and 261 in 2020. The staffing composition of HIQA is broken down by directorate for 2019 and 2020 in the following table:
|
Directorate |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Regulation |
163 |
170 |
|
Health Technology Assessment |
14 |
14 |
|
Health Information and Standards |
23 |
26 |
|
Support Staff |
48 |
51 |
|
TOTAL |
248 |
261 |
Question No. 1234 answered with Question No. 1180.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1235)
Michael Lowry
Question:1235. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists currently working within HSE services in south County Tipperary; the efforts south Tipperary HSE services are making to find a qualified psychologist to cover upcoming maternity leave in the area; the HSE's position on the recruitment of psychologists to cover maternity leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42161/21]
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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (1236, 1237)
Denise Mitchell
Question:1236. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on outpatient waiting lists in Beaumont Hospital; the length of their wait broken down into 3 months segments in tabular form. [42163/21]
View answerDenise Mitchell
Question:1237. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on inpatient waiting lists in Beaumont Hospital; the length of their wait broken down into 3 months segments in tabular form. [42164/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1236 and 1237 together.
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last eighteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack. While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021 and the associated curtailment of acute hospital services, coupled with the ransomware attack of May 2021, has impacted waiting times. However, the HSE advise that acute services are now almost all fully restored to pre cyber-attack levels, and are operating in line with relevant Covid protocols.
My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are focusing on improving access to elective care in order to reduce waiting times for patients. These plans include increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services where minor procedures are provided at the same time as outpatient consultations, providing virtual clinics and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
An additional €240 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for an access to care fund, €210m of which has been allocated to the HSE and a further €30m to the NTPF. This is to be used to fund additional capacity to address the shortfall arising as a result of infection control measures taken in the context of COVID-19, as well as addressing backlogs in waiting lists.
My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund are currently working on a Multiannual Waiting List Plan to address waiting lists and bring them in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years.
The data requested by the Deputy concerning IPDC & outpatient waiting lists at Beaumont Hospital is outlined in the attached document. This information is also available on the NTPF website at: www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm
Question No. 1237 answered with Question No. 1236.
Disability Services
Questions (1238, 1239)
Denise Mitchell
Question:1238. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting an occupational therapist assessment in CHO9. [42165/21]
View answerDenise Mitchell
Question:1239. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting a speech and language therapist assessment in CHO9. [42166/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1238 and 1239 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 1239 answered with Question No. 1238.
Health Service Executive
Questions (1240)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:1240. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42174/21]
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.
Primary Care Centres
Questions (1241)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:1241. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason 50 patients (details supplied) cannot be seen by the community podiatry team in Rathass primary care centre, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42175/21]
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.
Health Services
Questions (1242)
Brendan Griffin
Question:1242. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his advice on a matter (details supplied) in relation to podiatry support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42181/21]
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.
Health Services
Questions (1243)
Seán Fleming
Question:1243. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position on an eye clinic (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42195/21]
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.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1244)
Seán Fleming
Question:1244. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will re-examine bringing in staff on a contract basis with regard to the major issue in relation to the lack of speech and language therapists in the midland region especially to assist children who need this facility in view of the fact that due to operational reasons the HSE cannot provide this facility through its own staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42197/21]
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.
Question No. 1245 answered with Question No. 1043.
Health Service Executive
Questions (1246)
Michael McNamara
Question:1246. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42199/21]
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
Question No. 1247 answered with Question No. 1193.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1248, 1275)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:1248. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if one to one music classes are identified as a personal service; and if he will provide clarity on the return of one to one music classes under the current public health guidelines. [42202/21]
View answer
Gino Kenny
Question:1275. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will establish a framework that brings the public health restrictions on individual in-person music tuition in line with other sectors in order that students can attend classes as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42308/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1248 and 1275 together.
Under the current guidelines, one-to-one music tuition is allowed with all relevant protective measures in place.
As outlined in COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting, which was announced by Government on 31 August, from 20 September organised indoor group activities (sports, arts, culture, dance classes) can take place with capacity limits of 100 people (with appropriate protective measures) where all patrons are immune (fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 within previous 6 months). Where patrons have mixed immunity status, pods of up to 6 participants will be permitted with multiple pods permitted.
Based on the criteria of at or close to 90% of people 16 or over being fully vaccinated in the coming weeks and having regard to the incidence and behaviour of the disease at that time, from 22 October onwards, restrictions will be lifted including restrictions on indoor leisure/community activities.
The Arts Council has guidance titled COVID-19 Reopening Guidelines for Young People, Children and Education which may be of use. This guidance is currently being updated to include the new guidelines and can be found at www.artscouncil.ie/covid-19/government-guidelines/.
Since the onset of the pandemic, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland due to the huge effort of people across the country. Thanks to the hard work of the Irish people and the progress of our vaccination programme, we are now entering a new phase in the management of the pandemic. As our approach to the management of COVID-19 transitions from population wide restrictions to guidance we must continue to practice basic preventative behaviours, including in relation to self-isolation and restricting movements when advised, observing good respiratory and hand hygiene, physical distancing and mask wearing when appropriate.
COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting can be found online: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/f5291-post-cabinet-statement-covid-19-reframing-the-challenge-continuing-our-recovery-and-reconnecting/
Question No. 1249 answered with Question No. 1115.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1250)
Seán Fleming
Question:1250. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of permanent or temporary posts that are available in a region for health care support assistant posts by county; the reason there are little or no posts in some counties compared with other counties in the region (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42214/21]
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.