Written Answers Nos. 202-216
202. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to fund the provision of the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to persons with diabetes over 21 years of age based on clinical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45348/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
203. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for FreeStyle Libre submitted by individual hospitals for persons with diabetes over 21 years of age; and the number that were approved and refused respectively, in each of the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [45349/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
204. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure a minimum of one whole-time equivalent diabetes specialist pump nurse in all 18-dose adjusting for normal eating certified diabetes centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45350/21]
View answer205. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide access to the dose adjusting for normal eating programme for all persons with type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45351/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
206. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the steps taken by his Department to support the implementation of the national remote work strategy Making Remote Work; the approximate number or percentage of staff within his Department who have access to cloud services for remote videoconferencing and the capacity to work remotely; his plans to increase this percentage; the framework under which procurement for this is managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45370/21]
View answerIn 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. 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 blended working from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
My Department implemented the necessary remote working infrastructure as an early response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which was facilitated through existing contracts. This includes secure remote access to videoconferencing, email and file systems. 100% of departmental staff continue to have access to these facilities as we move towards a blended working solution.
207. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the steps taken by agencies under the remit of his Department to support the implementation of the national remote work strategy Making Remote Work; the approximate number or percentage of staff within these agencies who have access to cloud services for remote videoconferencing and the capacity to work remotely; if there are plans to increase this percentage; the framework under which procurement for this is managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45387/21]
View answerThe agencies under the aegis of my Department are currently working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, meaning that the majority of staff who could work from home, have worked from home during the pandemic period. Guidance now provides for a phased and staggered approach in respect of the return to the workplace being possible from 20th September onwards.
A central framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service for the post-Covid era 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 agency, whilst ensuring a consistency of approach across the sectors.
Once agreed and introduced, staff of the agencies under the aegis of my Department can apply to their own HR manager, via the application form in the Framework, for a blended working pattern. It is not possible at present to predict what the capacity in respect of applications for blended working post Covid will be.
In line with the Government campaign - #MakingRemoteWork – I am supportive of the national remote working strategy, and of the agencies under the aegis of my Department facilitating all reasonable and practical applications for blended working in the post-Covid era, while ensuring the continued effective and efficient delivery of business.
In respect of the elements of the Deputy’s question regarding remote video conferencing and the framework associated with same, I have sought a response from each of the Non-Commercial State Agencies, and once that information has been received, I will revert to the Deputy under separate cover. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in respect of the staff of the HSE and the S.38 agencies under their aegis.
208. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if provision can be made for manual hard copy passenger locator forms to facilitate the electronically challenged and those without smart phones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45408/21]
View answerAll passengers arriving into the state are required to complete an online COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form (PLF) in accordance with SI 45 of 2021. There are limited exemptions from this requirement, as set out in the regulations, such as for international transport workers or for diplomats.
The PLF is used to support a system of engagements with arriving passengers including the targeting of public health messaging by SMS and may be used for contact tracing.
The electronic PLF system is the most effective way of capturing the data required under the regulations. The electronic version represents a more sustainable and efficient method of capturing data to assist in public health efforts.
For passengers who do not have access to smart phones, the PLF receipt that issues to passengers can be printed in order to show officials upon arrival in the State.
209. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment for occupational therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45442/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
210. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment for speech therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45443/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
211. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment for physiotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45444/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
212. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the status of the ongoing problems with the availability of dental treatment to patients with a medical card; if his attention has been drawn to the number of dental practices no longer providing treatment under the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45459/21]
View answer265. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to resolve the difficulties for persons with medical cards accessing dental treatment since the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45734/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 265 together.
The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. These services are provided by independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE. Patients may choose to have their treatment undertaken by any dentist who participates in the Scheme.
I am aware that there has been a reduction in the numbers of dentists participating in the DTSS since the beginning of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Some people are experiencing problems in accessing a service close to their home. However, I have been assured by the HSE that their local services on the ground will assist any persons who are experiencing problems in accessing a service.
The national approach to future oral health service provision will be informed by Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy, which was published in 2019. The aim of the policy is to develop a model of care that will enable preventative approaches to be prioritised, improve access, and support interventions appropriate to current and future oral health needs.
I am committed to ensuring the sustainability of the DTSS, but recognise that it needs to be aligned with the new Policy. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the roll-out of the National Oral Health Policy to be delayed, and the proposed review of the DTSS contract to be deferred. Officials in my Department and from the HSE are currently engaging with the Irish Dental Association on matters relating to the provision of services under the DTSS.
214. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be assessed for orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45473/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
216. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide supports for amputees and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45478/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
