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Thursday, 9 Sep 2021

Written Answers Nos. 971-990

Medical Research and Training

Questions (971)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

971. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the location a copy of the rules and regulations applicable to higher specialist training in public health medicine can be obtained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41450/21]

View answer

Written answers

In relation to the particular query raised, 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. 972 answered with Question No. 970.

Ambulance Service

Questions (973)

James O'Connor

Question:

973. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the waiting times for ambulances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41474/21]

View answer

Written 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 Supports

Questions (974)

Michael Collins

Question:

974. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason the Covid-19 funding for enhanced infection controls and staffing has been withdrawn from private nursing homes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41475/21]

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Written answers

The Government has provided extensive support to the Nursing Home Sector since the start of the pandemic. The Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) was established in April 2020 as a temporary, administrative measure to respond to the challenges being faced by the nursing home sector at the start of the pandemic. Up to €134m for the Scheme was made available for 2020 and 2021.

In broad terms, the Scheme has now substantially fulfilled its temporary purpose of providing financial support to nursing homes and residents to address COVID-19 and therefore phased withdrawal of support is appropriate. Standard Assistance Payments continue to be processed for costs incurred up to 30th June 2021. After this, in recognition of the residual risk presented by the virus, Minister Donnelly and I have agreed to the continued availability of the outbreak assistance element of the Scheme until the end of this year. This will ensure that contingency is available in the event of an outbreak.

As the pandemic has continued, many further support measures for private and voluntary nursing homes have been made available through the Health Service Executive (HSE), including the provision of PPE on a no-cost basis, the implementation of serial testing, the support and engagement of COVID-19 response teams and public health teams, the temporary accommodation scheme for nursing home staff and further supports. Many of these supports will continue to be provided by the HSE for the foreseeable future.

At the time of the Scheme’s inception, the unprecedented nature of the emerging pandemic meant that it was necessary to put such measures in place. There has been substantial support in place to assist nursing homes to build their resilience and ensure that they are fully informed and prepared for continuing to manage COVID-19 and fulfil their legal obligation and duties to residents. The circumstances are now significantly changed, reflecting both the success of the vaccination programme along with the considerable opportunity for nursing homes, over the past 18 months with the various support measures, to learn and adapt their response to COVID-19. This is also the case for every health and non-health sector, and service providers across Ireland must similarly adapt their service model in line with the wider public health measures.

Nursing homes were prioritised for vaccination, and the vast majority of residents and staff have now been vaccinated. Thankfully, notwithstanding the current epidemiological situation generally and the risks posed by the delta variant, the substantial positive vaccine effect is being seen in nursing homes with low numbers of cases reported. This is a markedly different scenario compared to turn of the year. All the relevant health agencies including the Department will continue to closely monitor the current situation to respond to any changes in the risk profile that may arise. On the 27 July, I convened an interagency meeting with HIQA, the HSE and the Department to focus on the current situation and ongoing management of risk. The HSE and HIQA have confirmed that they continue to closely monitor the situation and that all the relevant supports, including the COVID-19 response teams, remain activated and engaged with nursing homes.

The vaccination programme and other public health measures support the minimisation of and control the impact of COVID-19, with COVID-19 vaccines effective at reducing the risk of hospitalisation or severe disease. The disease will nevertheless remain part of our lives for the foreseeable future, in a manner similar to other common viruses and infections. Good infection prevention control will continue be necessary in controlling the spread of such illnesses. This should be a matter of course in all healthcare settings, as it has always been, and is supported by regulation and standards. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre will continue to monitor COVID-19 alongside other such illnesses and update public health guidance accordingly. At a point where the vast majority of residents and staff are vaccinated, outbreaks have declined significantly and where learning and preparedness, including at provider level, has had the opportunity to evolve in a supported way, the TAPS as a temporary administrative measure has fulfilled its primary purpose, within the parameters of its sanction. This end date of the Scheme was announced in October 2020.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (975)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

975. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who contracted Covid-19 in a hospital setting on a monthly basis since 1 March 2021. [41476/21]

View answer

Written 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 (976)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

976. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who tested positive for Covid-19 in a hospital setting during routine testing after admittance to hospital for a non-Covid-19 related illness or condition; if this figure will be provided by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41477/21]

View answer

Written 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 (977)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

977. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with Covid-19 in ICU in the State who are in ICU for a non-Covid-19 related illness. [41478/21]

View answer

Written 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 Tests

Questions (978)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

978. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have tested positive for Covid-19 in the State through the use of walk-in testing centres for asymptomatic persons since the start of the pandemic. [41479/21]

View answer

Written 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 (979)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

979. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if persons who died from non-Covid-19 related illnesses but who had tested positive for Covid-19, although they were asymptomatic at the time of death, are included in the Covid-19 death figures of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41480/21]

View answer

Written 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 (980)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

980. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of cases or legal actions currently being taken against nursing homes or hospitals, other residential care facilities and-or the State by persons or groups of persons who allege that their loved ones died having contracted Covid-19 in the hospital, residential care or a nursing home setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41481/21]

View answer

Written answers

The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims, including claims in respect of clinical negligence, on behalf of Delegated State Authorities (DSA’s) including the Health Service Executive.

I have been informed by the SCA that the information contained below was extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS) according to the criteria below:

- The explicit reference to ”hospitals”, “residential care” or “nursing homes” is interpreted as claims notified to the SCA against the HSE which relate to incidents occurring within a nursing home, hospital or a community health organisation location/unit .

- Claims arising could relate to the death of a service user or staff member.

The number of claims currently being taken against the HSE, notified to the SCA, which arise from the death of a family member as a result of contracting Covid-19 in a Nursing Home, healthcare facility or hospital setting is 25. The 25 claims arise from the deaths of 25 different individuals.

Health Services

Questions (981)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

981. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of lung cancer diagnoses in Ireland in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [41484/21]

View answer

Written 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 (982)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

982. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of breast cancer diagnoses in Ireland in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [41485/21]

View answer

Written 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 (983)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

983. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of bowel cancer diagnoses in Ireland in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [41486/21]

View answer

Written 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 (984)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

984. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of cervical cancer diagnoses in Ireland in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [41487/21]

View answer

Written 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 (985)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

985. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of ovarian cancer diagnoses in Ireland in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [41488/21]

View answer

Written answers

The National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) collects, classifies, records and stores information in relation to each newly diagnosed individual cancer patient, and in relation to each tumour that occurs.

NCRI advise that figures for 2019-2020 have not yet been fully validated. The figures available for the most recent NCRI annual statistical report (published Dec 2020) cover the period 2009-2018 and are as follows:

Diagnosis year

Ovarian Cancers

2009

350

2010

364

2011

355

2012

390

2013

357

2014

425

2015

416

2016

384

2017

400

2018

387

Health Services

Questions (986)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

986. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of brain cancer diagnoses in Ireland in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [41489/21]

View answer

Written 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 (987)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

987. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of skin cancer diagnoses in Ireland in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [41490/21]

View answer

Written answers

The National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) collects, classifies, records and stores information in relation to each newly diagnosed individual cancer patient, and in relation to each tumour that occurs.

NCRI advise that figures for 2019-2020 have not yet been fully validated. The figures available for the most recent NCRI annual statistical report (published Dec 2020) cover the period 2009-2018 and are as follows:

Diagnosis year

all skin cancers

melanoma skin cancers

non-melanoma skin cancers

2009

8,749

776

7,973

2010

9,523

896

8,627

2011

10,241

895

9,346

2012

10,361

875

9,486

2013

10,899

1,006

9,893

2014

11,442

1,055

10,387

2015

11,850

1,133

10,717

2016

11,811

1,143

10,668

2017

12,464

1,117

11,347

2018

13,032

1,157

11,875

Homeless Persons Supports

Questions (988, 1137, 1268)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

988. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health his views on the attempts by the HSE to shut down certain homeless soup runs in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41491/21]

View answer

Paul Murphy

Question:

1137. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the HSE plans to shut down existing soup runs in Dublin (details supplied); and if a plan is in place to feed homeless persons if these soup runs are forced to cease operating. [41844/21]

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Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

1268. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the supports that have been put in place to ensure volunteer-run soup kitchens such as groups (details supplied) can continue to provide essential services; the timeframe provided to this organisation to make any necessary changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42282/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 988, 1137 and 1268 together.

All food businesses must comply with the requirements of food law that are relevant to the business they operate.  Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002 provides the general framework for the operation of food safety law, and defines a food business as “any undertaking, whether for profit or not and whether public or private, carrying out any of the activities related to any stage of production, processing and distribution of food.”  Therefore, operators distributing food to people who are homeless such as those referred to by the Deputies, are food businesses for the purposes of food safety law.  

Food business operators are required by law to notify the HSE (or other FSAI Official Agencies as appropriate) of their intention to carry on a food business.  The frequency of inspection of food businesses is based on the risk to public health, with risk being assessed on a number of criteria including the types of foods being produced, processed, and distributed, and the vulnerability of the consumers.

The primary responsibility of the HSE Environmental Health Service (EHS) is the protection of public health.  It works under a service contract for the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to ensure the relevant food legislation is applied as necessary. This work is essential to ensure that food made available for people to eat is safe. Persons accessing homeless services are among the most vulnerable in our community and may be immunocompromised.  There is, therefore, risk of serious illness as a result of any potential food borne infection.

The EHS supervises over 45,000 food businesses and endeavours to work with food business operators to encourage an understanding of the legal requirements and to support compliance with the minimum food safety standards regarding structure, operation, safety management systems and staff training and to ensure compliance with food law where non-compliances are found upon inspection.

I am advised by the HSE that the EHS has neither served, nor threatened to serve, a closure order on any voluntary street-based service distributing food to the homeless.

The coordination of services to people who are homeless, including the provision of accommodation and food, falls within the remit of the Department of Housing, the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive and the local authorities.

I recognise the value of voluntary organisations in providing food and other services to people who are homeless. I would encourage these organisations to engage with the relevant homeless authorities to ensure services are provided in accordance with food safety and other regulations.

Departmental Correspondence

Questions (989, 990)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

989. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he has received correspondence from a charity or organisation expressing concerns over a perceived increase in mental ill health or suicide rates since he took office; if so, the dates upon which he received such correspondence; the bodies he received such correspondence from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41492/21]

View answer

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

990. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he has received correspondence from a consultant psychiatrist or college of psychiatry or general practitioner body or individual general practitioners expressing concerns over a perceived increase in mental ill health or suicide rates since he took office; if so, the dates upon which he received such correspondence; the persons or bodies he received same from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41493/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 989 and 990 together.

The documentation requested will be provided directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 990 answered with Question No. 989.

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