Wednesday, 29 Sep 2021

Written Answers Nos. 185-204

An Garda Síochána

Questions (185)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

185. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí currently stationed in the Garda station in Carraroe, County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47157/21]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the deployment of Gardaí.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of 31 August 2021, six Garda members comprising one inspector, one sergeant and four Gardaí were stationed at An Cheathrú Rua (Carraroe), County Galway.

Detailed information in relation to Garda numbers is available on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána, and includes the number of Gardaí by station across the whole country.

The information can be found at the following link: www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (186)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

186. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of his plans to issue EU Digital COVID Certificates to persons vaccinated in non-EU countries; the timeline for the roll-out of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47158/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Following the successful rollout of the initial implementation phase of the EU Digital COVID Certificate in Ireland the Government is adding a further service to enable Irish citizens vaccinated outside of the EU to obtain a Digital COVID certificate valid in Ireland and across the EU.

This service will be released in a two phased approach. During Phase 1 the portal will accept applications from Irish citizens vaccinated in Northern Ireland who hold a Northern Irish COVID vaccination certificate with a QR code. Phase 2 will accept applications from other non-EU countries. An announcement on the launch of the portal will be made shortly.

Hospital Staff

Questions (187)

Paul Murphy

Question:

187. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the administration staffing shortages in the oncology department of Tallaght Hospital (details supplied); and the way he plans to resolve this staffing issue. [46856/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Hospital Staff

Questions (188, 189)

David Cullinane

Question:

188. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the funding that has been allocated or will be provided for the recruitment of staff in the second catheterisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46873/21]

David Cullinane

Question:

189. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will give consideration to providing additional cardiologists for the second catheterisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford; the number of additional cardiologists being sought; and the funding allocated for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46874/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together.

In 2016, the Herity Report concluded that the needs of the effective catchment population of University Hospital Waterford (UHW) could be accommodated from a single Cath lab and recommended that the operating hours of the existing Cath lab should be extended.

The HSE has advised that discussions are still on-going to commence extended working days (8am-8pm) in the Cath Lab in University Hospital Waterford in. It is intended to progress to 7 day extended hours working on an incremental basis during 2021.

The Programme for Government commits to the delivery of a second cath lab in University Hospital Waterford. The Contractor for the construction of the new Cath Lab at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) was formally appointed on 25th March 2021. The project commenced on 17th May 2021 with a 13 month works programme. The project could not commence earlier due to levels of Covid Infection presenting at UHW.

It is expected the main Contractor will hand over the project by the end of June 2022. Equipping and commissioning will follow for a period of 2 months and the Cath Lab is expected to be available for operational use from September 2022 onwards.

The Herity Report also recommended that the current 9 to 5 provision of emergency pPCI services at UHW should cease to allow the hospital to focus on the much larger volume of planned work. The then Minister for Health asked the Department to address the implications of this recommendation by arranging for a National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services.

The National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services commenced in January 2018. This Review aims to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive by establishing the need for an optimal configuration of a national adult cardiac service. This aligns with the Sláintecare reform programme.

While substantial progress has been made on the Review, the COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted on its progress. Work has now recommenced on the Review to progress this over the coming months. As part of this, the Steering Group, under the Chairship of Prof Philip Nolan, has reconvened and a meeting was held on 20th September.

As the issues raised in the deputy’s question are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 189 answered with Question No. 188.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (190)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

190. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46877/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Ambulance Service

Questions (191)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

191. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of callouts to an area (details supplied) in County Cork by the national ambulance service to date in 2021, in tabular form, and by reason for callout. [46880/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 (192)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

192. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of a project in Co Cork (details supplied). [46881/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Home Help Service

Questions (193)

Alan Dillon

Question:

193. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health when home help will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46889/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (194)

Barry Cowen

Question:

194. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and when the person concerned can expect an appointment in the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [46890/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

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.

Abortion Services

Questions (195)

Paul Murphy

Question:

195. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the study that his Department has conducted asking service providers of termination of pregnancy services about their experiences with protesters and their demands; when the details of this study will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46891/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

At the end of 2019 the Department of Health held an informal consultation with service providers, to examine their experiences during the initial months of termination of pregnancy service roll-out and to inform the Department's consideration of safe access to termination services. No formal consultation process was commissioned or conducted in this regard.  

The Department requested that the HSE circulate questionnaires to those providing termination of pregnancy services in the community and in the acute hospital sector.   

No responses were returned by any of the nineteen maternity hospitals/units in the country.  

A total of 85 completed questionnaires were received in response to the questionnaire circulated to General Practitioners providing termination of pregnancy services. At the time, a total of 340 GPs were participating in providing termination services.  

While the consultation response rate among GPs was low, it indicated that 29 GPs had experienced protests at their practices. Of the 85 GPs who responded, 74 indicated that protests had no effect on patients attending their practices, and 71 said there was no effect on staff working at the premises.  

Fifteen GPs who responded to the consultation indicated that they wanted safe access legislation to be introduced.  

Officials in my Department continue to prioritise safe access to termination of pregnancy services and to examine legislative options in this area. I plan to have proposals for safe access zones on the legislative programme for Spring 2022.

Community Care

Questions (196, 197)

Noel Grealish

Question:

196. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will implement a reablement programme in each community health area as a matter of urgency similar to the successful pilot reablement programme run in north Dublin city in 2013 which proved to reduce the number of persons requiring home help and save money for the health service; if his attention has been drawn to the extent of the proven benefits of such a programme in terms of health and cost savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46892/21]

Noel Grealish

Question:

197. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE continues to decline to fund a pilot reablement programme in the CHO2 community health area, despite the CHO2 region making such a proposal as far back as early 2018, based on their stated contention of significant benefits such a programme would bring to patients in terms of maintaining functionality and to CHO2 in terms of reduced requirement for ongoing home support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46893/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together.

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. 197 answered with Question No. 196.

Home Help Service

Questions (198)

Noel Grealish

Question:

198. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Galway and nationally waiting for an assessment or reassessment for home help hours and for additional home help hours; the number approved but on a waiting list; the length of time each has been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46894/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Home Help Service

Questions (199)

Noel Grealish

Question:

199. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if a shortage of staff is hampering the provision of services under the HSE home support service; if so, the extent of same; the areas that are worst affected; the steps being taken to address the issue; the number of persons employed in the provision of the service; the number of persons required to fully operate the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46895/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Programme for Government (2020) commits to the introduction of a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high-quality, regulated home care. In this regard, the Department is in the process of developing a statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support. It is intended that the new scheme will provide equitable and transparent access to high-quality services based on a person’s assessed care-needs.

The Department of Health is cognisant of the challenges associated with recruiting and retaining staff in the home help sector and is committed to working across Government and with relevant stakeholders to ameliorate these issues. The Programme for Government committed to establishing a Workforce Planning Expert Unit to work with the education sectors, regulators, and professional bodies to improve the availability of health professionals and reform their training to support integrated care across the entire health service.

 A Strategic Workforce Planning Unit has been established within the Department of Health to achieve these aims. They key objective of the Unit is the development of an Integrated Health Workforce Planning Strategy and Workforce Planning Model in consultation with key stakeholders and in line with the Programme for Government commitment to define health workforce planning needs across the entire health sector, including both public and private health care provision, into the future.  

I have asked the HSE to address the operational issues raised in the question and reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (200)

Gino Kenny

Question:

200. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to the Exchequer of providing free car parking at all public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46897/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Programme for Government makes a commitment to introduce a cap on the maximum daily charge for patients and visitors at all public hospitals, where possible and to introduce flexible passes in all public hospitals for patients and their families.  My Department and the HSE are currently examining the issue. 

In relation to the specific service matter raised, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Questions (201)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

201. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health when mental health services, both in the private sector and those facilitated by the Health Service Executive, will recommence fully in-person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46900/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Questions (202)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

202. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the mental health supports his Department is planning to put in place for 2022; the funding to date in 2021 for mental health supports; the way that funding has been allocated and spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46901/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The development of all aspects of mental health services remains a priority for Government. This is reflected in the current Programme for Government, the new policy, Sharing the Vision - A Mental Health Policy for Everyone, and the significant additional funding given to HSE Mental Health services in Budget 2021. 

The Department is engaging in dialogue with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE in relation to the 2022 Estimates. Until these discussions are concluded it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter. However, I am committed to ensuring the continued enhancement of mental health services through the allocation of additional development funding in mental health in 2022. 

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. €15m is to address the additional challenges posed by Covid-19, including increased step-down beds, private surge capacity, extra resources for community mental health teams and reconfiguration of residential facilities to meet Mental Health Commission recommendations. An additional €2.2m was allocated in 2020 to develop telehealth and psychosocial responses to Covid-19 for healthcare workers and the public.

Of the €23 million allocated to commence implementation of many of the short-term recommendations of Sharing the Vision in 2021, €8.737 million has been released to the HSE. This funding has enabled the HSE to progress initiatives agreed in the National Service Plan 2021 and Sharing the Vision, including crisis resolution teams, peer support programme, individual placement support, development of the national clinical programmes, the recently launched DBT training programme and the recruitment of a bereavement co-ordinator under Connecting for Life, the National Strategy to Reduce Suicide. The remaining MH posts provided for under 2021 development funding will continue to be progressed in Q4 2021

While we do not yet fully understand Covid-19’s impact on mental health, the extent of supports that may be required and how this will affect longer term service demand the Department and HSE continue to plan for any potential surge in demand as it arises and as services return to normal provision and capacity. The HSE has a range of proactive responses for any rise in service need. 

Throughout the pandemic, with adaptations, enhancements and improvements, mental health services continued to operate to approximately 85-90% capacity. In particular, expanded and enhanced digital services were crucial in responding to both existing and new and emerging need.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (203)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

203. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of all facilities available to the public at Our Lady’s Hospital, Cashel; the terms for attendance at each service; the numbers attending each service per year for the past five years; the number of staff working in each section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46914/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (204)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

204. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when an operation will be carried out for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46919/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

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.