Maurice Quinlivan
Question:1371. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42600/21]
View answerHospital Appointments Status
Questions (1371)
Written answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
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 (1372)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:1372. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will implement the calls from a group (details supplied) for increased investment in a number of areas costed at €85 million as part of Budget 2022; if he will make mental health a priority in the budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42605/21]
View answerWritten answers
I recently received Mental Health Reform’s Pre-Budget 2022 submission. I value their input - they play an important role in raising awareness and advocating for improvements to mental health service delivery.
I am giving detailed consideration to the submission, in consultation as appropriate with other relevant areas within the Department and with the HSE. More broadly, the Department is engaging in dialogue with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE in relation to the 2021 Estimates. Until these discussions are concluded it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter.
I would note for the Deputy that 2021 saw a record budget for mental health of over €1.1 billion, including €23 million to commence implementation of many of the short-term recommendations of Sharing the Vision in 2021 and the HSE National Service Plan. I am committed to ensuring that Budget 2022 builds on this progress.
Disability Services
Questions (1373)
Thomas Gould
Question:1373. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied). [42614/21]
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 (1374)
Thomas Gould
Question:1374. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of staff by role that would be considered a full cohort by area and team in the new CDNTs in Cork; and the number of staff currently employed in tabular form. [42616/21]
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.
Commissions of Inquiry
Questions (1375)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:1375. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the status of the sodium valproate inquiry announced in November 2020; when the terms of reference will be published, the make-up of the membership of the inquiry; when the inquiry will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42626/21]
View answerWritten answers
Details of the proposed inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate in Ireland are currently being considered by officials within the Department of Health.
Departmental Data
Questions (1376)
David Cullinane
Question:1376. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of developing a national strategies inclusive of such costs as public and sectoral consultations, consultant fees and other ancillary costs based on the latest three strategies which his Department has published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42631/21]
View answerWritten answers
The process of developing national strategies can vary significantly according to the level of public and private national/international consultation, consultancy and other ancillary costs. Prior costs are not necessarily a reliable indicator of future costs with respect to an as yet unidentified new national strategy.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (1377)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1377. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for MRI scans for the Mater Hospital, Dublin 7; the steps being taken to address the backlog with MRI scans and to improve the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42636/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the issues raised by the Deputy relate to operational maters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (1378)
Matt Carthy
Question:1378. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the number of patients waiting for audiology appointments per county or the nearest geographical division currently; the corresponding figures for each of the years 2016 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42640/21]
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 (1379)
Matt Carthy
Question:1379. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently awaiting audiology appointments in the Cavan Monaghan region for periods of less than six months, between six months and one year, one and two years, between two and three years and for more than three years, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42641/21]
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 (1380)
Matt Carthy
Question:1380. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently awaiting audiology appointments in the Cavan Monaghan region that are under 18 years of age; the number that are over 18 years of age; the measures he is implementing to reduce the waiting periods for these patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42642/21]
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.
Dental Services
Questions (1381)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:1381. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the measures that are being put in place to ensure that medical card holders have access to services under the dental treatment scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the increasing difficulties that medical card holders have in accessing services and treatment given that a significant number of dental practices are opting out of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42645/21]
View answerWritten answers
Dentists must give three months' notice of withdrawal from the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS). I expect dentists to continue to honour their ethical and contractual obligations to patients, including during their notice period, to provide a service or to ensure that patients are referred to another dentist who will provide a service. HSE local services will assist anyone experiencing problems in accessing a service.
The DTSS makes available the following dental treatments to medical card holders: Oral examination; Prophylaxis (scale and polish); Restorations (fillings); Exodontics (extractions); Surgical extractions; Miscellaneous (e.g. control of haemorrhage); Endodontics (root canal therapy); Apicectomy (amputation of roots); Protracted periodontal (gum) treatment; Radiographs; Prosthetics (dentures). These treatments are provided by independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE. Some are available on demand, for example, all medical card holders may avail of specific dental treatments e.g., a dental examination, two fillings in each calendar year, extractions, as necessary.
The remaining care provision is subject to the prior approval of a dental surgeon in the HSE, who prioritises for high risk and exceptional patients; those requiring emergency care and patients considered to have greater clinical urgency and/or necessity in receiving care.
Departmental Data
Questions (1382)
Mark Ward
Question:1382. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the amount of public funding that an organisation (details supplied) has received from Government Departments between 2013 and 2021, inclusive in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42648/21]
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.
Departmental Data
Questions (1383)
Mark Ward
Question:1383. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE audits that have been carried out on an organisation (details supplied) since 2013; the dates of these audits; the findings of these audits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42649/21]
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 Service Executive
Questions (1384)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:1384. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he plans to investigate procurement procedures within the HSE to determine if there are any instances of the HSE being overcharged by private and voluntary service providers. [42680/21]
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.
Child Abuse
Questions (1385)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1385. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if any retrospective complaints have been made regarding the sexual abuse of minors in a hospital (details supplied) which may have occurred from the late 1970s until the end of the 1990s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42681/21]
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.
Flexible Work Practices
Questions (1386)
Dara Calleary
Question:1386. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to facilitate remote working within his Department in particular to encourage remote working for those who live in the regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42709/21]
View answerWritten answers
Departments and Offices are currently working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which provides for home working to continue where possible. A central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service will be finalised in conjunction with employee representatives over the coming months. This framework will inform the development of organisation level blended working policies tailored to the specific requirements of each Department/Office, whilst ensuring a consistency of approach across key policy areas.
My Department has established an internal Blended Working Group involving key Corporate functional areas which is examining the practical implications of facilitating blended working by staff in the Department of Health. This will be ongoing over the coming months and will take account of central policy on remote working from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. As part of that, an application process will be put in place at the appropriate time.
In line with the Government campaign - #MakingRemoteWork – I am supportive of facilitating all reasonable and practical applications for blended working, while ensuring the continued effective and efficient delivery of the Department’s business.
Legislative Measures
Questions (1387, 1388)
David Cullinane
Question:1387. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of and his plans regarding the statutory homecare bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42723/21]
View answerDavid Cullinane
Question:1388. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of his Department’s review of and plans regarding the deferred private members’ professional homecare bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42724/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1387 and 1388 together.
Enabling people with care-needs to continue to live independently at home for as long as possible is a priority for the Government. To advance this, the Government is committed to establishing a new, statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services, which the Department of Health is currently developing.
Work is on-going within the Department to determine the optimal approach to the development of the new scheme within the broader context of the Sláintecare reforms. This work encompasses the development of the regulatory framework for the new scheme; the examination of the options for the financing model for the scheme; and the development of a reformed model of service-delivery.
With the aim of ensuring that all service-users are provided with a standard, high-quality level of care which is safe, effective, and person-centred, it is envisaged that the regulatory framework will comprise (i) primary legislation for the licensing of public and private home support providers; (ii) minimum requirements (regulations); and HIQA National Standards for Home Support Services.
On 27 April 2021, Government gave approval to draft a General Scheme and Heads of a Bill to establish a licensing framework for home support providers. This is being progressed by the Department with a view to bringing it through the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity. It is expected that the primary legislation will give the Minister for Health the power to make regulations in respect of minimum requirements which will form the criteria against which a provider’s eligibility to hold a licence will be determined.
In parallel to this, work is ongoing in relation to the development of a reformed model of service delivery for home support. Within this context, funding was secured in 2021 for the HSE to progress the roll-out of interRAI as the standard assessment tool for care-needs in the community; the pilot of a reformed model of service-delivery for home-support; and the establishment of a National Office for Home Support Services.
Mobilisation of the pilot of a reformed model of service-delivery is expected to commence in September, supported by the National Office. The pilot will deliver an additional 230,000 hours of home-support in four community healthcare network (CHN) sites over a six-month period. In addition, approximately 130 posts have been funded for the national rollout of the interRAI Ireland system, which the home-support pilot will test as the standard assessment tool for care-needs.
The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy and Action Plan 2021–2023 commits to the advancement of the development of the new home-support scheme in 2021 and to the commencement of its implementation in 2022. While the new home-support scheme is under development, the Government is prioritising improving access to home-support services. As part of Budget 2021, funding for an additional 5 million hours of home-support was provided. This increased investment will contribute to meeting the Programme for Government commitment to providing equitable access to home-support services.
Question No. 1388 answered with Question No. 1387.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Questions (1389)
Niall Collins
Question:1389. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health when diabetics over the age of 21 years will receive Libre FreeStyle Sensors under the medical card, long-term illness or hardship scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42726/21]
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.
Flexible Work Practices
Questions (1390)
Holly Cairns
Question:1390. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the way in which his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit are accommodating requests for persons to work from home. [42759/21]
View answerWritten answers
The public service, including my own Department and agencies under the aegis of my Department are currently working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which provides for home working to continue where possible. A central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service will be finalised in conjunction with employee representatives over the coming months, and after that it is expected that the public service will follow suit. This framework will inform the development of organisation level blended working policies tailored to the specific requirements of each Department/Office/agency, whilst ensuring a consistency of approach across the sectors. My Department has established an internal Blended Working Group involving key Corporate functional areas which is examining the practical implications of facilitating blended working by staff in the Department of Health. This will be ongoing over the coming months and will take account of central policy on remote working from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. An application process will form part of the Framework, and this will be put in place at the appropriate time. In line with the Government campaign - #MakingRemoteWork – I am supportive of facilitating all reasonable and practical applications for blended working, while ensuring the continued effective and efficient delivery of business.