Written Answers Nos. 306-330
306. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if the remit of the National Vetting Bureau currently covers homeless services; if not, if there are plans to expand the remit of the Bureau; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47342/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the primary purpose of the employment vetting carried out by the National Vetting Bureau is to seek to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. It is carried out by An Garda Síochána in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012-2016.
As the Deputy will appreciate, vetting applications are an operational matter for An Garda Síochána, and neither I nor my Department have any role in the processing of individual vetting applications.
Moreover, oversight of groups working with homeless people is primarily a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the HSE.
In April of this year, Minister McEntee announced the establishment of an inter-departmental working group which is undertaking a review of existing Garda vetting arrangements and legislation, including the inclusion of homeless outreach services. The group is due to report by the end of 2021 and its recommendations will shape the amendments that are required to the vetting legislation and process, including those required to commence periodic re-vetting. The group is specifically examining what, if any, amendments will be required to remove any doubt that outreach and other services for homeless people who are vulnerable are covered by the vetting regime.
307. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date with an application (details supplied) for a transfer to serve a prison sentence in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47438/21]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that my officials in the Irish Prison Service (who are the competent body for the administration of the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Acts) have confirmed that a further application from the individual referred to by the Deputy was received on the 7th September, 2021.
While a previous application submitted in 2019 was considered by the Minister, and had been the subject of judicial review proceedings, the new application will receive full consideration. The Deputy will appreciate that this consideration is at an early stage.
I have been assured that the application has and will continue to receive the necessary attention afforded to all such applications, and the person in question will be kept informed of any developments in his case as they arise.
The Deputy will also be aware that a number of legal issues have arisen on foot of court rulings relating to the transfer of sentenced persons from other jurisdictions where the foreign sentence contains features not found in Irish sentences. Work to advance amendments to the Transfer of Sentence Persons Act 1995 to address these issues is being progressed in the context of the Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Bill.
308. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when an EU Digital COVID Certificate will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47240/21]
View answer346. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason that despite repeated attempts and contact with the dedicated phoneline, a vaccine certificate has not issued to a person (details supplied). [47265/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 346 together.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate is a document which is issued to help facilitate enable the safe and free international movement of people across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Currently Digital COVID Certificates are being issued automatically for persons who have completed a full course of vaccination in Ireland.
A dedicated team have been working proactively to resolve the outstanding queries and requests sent to the contact centre with the utmost urgency.
It is also important to note that the EU Digital COVID Certificate is not a requirement for travel, but rather a record of a medical event which can make freedom of movement with the European Union easier.
309. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the detailed annual operational and capital budget expenditures at University Hospital Waterford over the past five years; the whole-time equivalent hospital employment movements over this period or for the duration for which information can be accurately supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47258/21]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of healthcare operations and infrastructure, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
310. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an application for a primary medical certificate by a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [47304/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
311. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if he has examined the health impact of vulnerable parents not being notified of Covid-19 cases in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47196/21]
View answerThe role of testing and contact tracing, as part of the wider public health response, has been under ongoing review throughout the pandemic and will continue to be reviewed and amended in line with the epidemiological profile of the disease, its impact on healthcare utilisation and outcomes, and the vaccination status of the population.
I have approved recommendations from NPHET focusing on children in childcare and primary education settings to ensure children may continue in education to the greatest extent possible. These recommendations recognise the very significant impact of the previous testing and tracing requirements on children in these settings. The changes which came into effect on 27 September 2021 are as follows:
- Automatic contact tracing of close contacts in childcare facilities and primary education will be discontinued (not including special education facilities).
- Testing of asymptomatic close contacts in childcare facilities and primary education will be discontinued (not including special education facilities).
- Children aged 12yrs or under, who are identified as close contacts in childcare, educational settings, special education settings or other non-household settings and who are asymptomatic will no longer be required to restrict movements, unless indicated by the local public health team.
- Children aged 12yrs or under who are identified as household close contacts in household settings will still be required to restrict movements and get tested, regardless of symptomatic status.
It is important to reiterate that the public health advice remains that any child aged 12yrs or under who displays symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should rapidly self-isolate and not attend school or socialise until 48 hours after they are symptom free.
Further information is available in the Guidance for COVID-19 Contact Tracing for Children (>3 months to under 13 years of age) published by the Health Protection and Surveillance Centre, available at www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/Contact%20tracing%20under%2013s.pdf
The recommendations which have come into effect are based on what has been learned throughout the pandemic, primarily
- Children seem more likely than adults to have no symptoms or to have mild disease
- Investigation of cases identified in school settings suggests that child to child transmission in schools is uncommon and not the primary cause of Sars-CoV-2 infection in children, particularly in pre-school and primary educational settings
- Children are rarely identified as the route of transmission of infection into the household setting
- Children are not more likely than adults to spread infection to other people.
On that basis, from a public health perspective there is no clinical need for information to be routinely shared with contacts of cases and Public Health do not recommend telling parents of other children that there has been a case of COVID 19 within a class or group. Sharing of health data relating to positive cases in the manner envisaged in the question should only be done on the advice of Public Health and according to the provisions of the Infectious Disease Regulations. Since the provisions of the Infectious Disease Regulations no longer apply in this instance, it is important to note the importance of an individual’s confidentiality not being broken by others, in line with normal GDPR requirements. It is important that families are aware of the need to ensure they do not send children in to school and childcare facilities or to participate in activities if the child has new symptoms consistent with COVID 19. In these circumstances they should observe their child and contact their GP as appropriate. It is also important to regularly re-enforce the benefit to all of continuing to abide by infection prevention control and mitigation measures in place within school and childcare facilities.
The Deputy may wish to note that the changes in guidance outlined above do not apply to special educational needs (SEN) schools or SEN-specific classes or children attending respite care. In these circumstances close contacts amongst children may well still be identified and asked to restrict their movements, following a Public Health Risk Assessment conducted by a public health doctor. However, close contacts will generally be requested only to restrict their movements for 5 days and be referred for one COVID-19 test. This is to balance the observation period required for children for signs of infection, with testing at the most relevant time, whilst not prolonging restricted movements and the harms to children from these restrictions.
312. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the appointment of the specialist community diabetes teams under the Enhanced Community Care Programme; if the service will be available to all persons with diabetes free of charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47202/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
313. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the reason for the lack of funding for orthodontic treatments for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47203/21]
View answerI secured a substantial increase in funding for the HSE in 2021 to fund improved service provision across all parts of the health sector.
I am informed by the HSE that over 800 dental professionals are employed in the HSE dental and orthodontic service, including Consultant Orthodontists (10.3 WTE) and Specialist Orthodontists specialists (39.3 WTE). Orthodontic treatment is provided to patients with the greatest need.
Through waiting list initiatives, the HSE also procures orthodontic care through private service providers. Since 2016 approximately 2,000 patients have received treatment in this way.
In addition, the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme, operational from 1 January 2021 for 12 months on an administrative basis, enables persons resident in the State to access and be reimbursed for private healthcare, including orthodontic care, in Northern Ireland by the HSE, provided such healthcare is publicly available within Ireland. Patients also continue to have access to health services under the EU Cross Border Directive Scheme in EU/EEA countries.
Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy (2019) provides a framework to transform oral health services and will facilitate better oral healthcare for everyone. The Policy supports the development of clinical care pathways to ensure that some aspects of orthodontic care, where appropriate, will be more readily available in a primary dental care practice. Stakeholders including the Dental Council will have an important role in progressing these aspects of the Policy, which will be implemented on a phased basis.
314. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the measures he is undertaking to address the geographical inequalities facing women in accessing in-hospital breastfeeding consultants, particularly in the north west and south east of the country, in which there is currently none; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47206/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
315. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total budget allocation to his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47209/21]
View answer318. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total health expenditure per capita in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47212/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 318 together.
The total budget allocation for the Department of Health (Vote 38) for each of the years 2017 to 2021 is available in the Revised Estimates for the Public Service, at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates/
As my Department neither allocates nor reports on health expenditure on a per capita basis, I am unable to provide the Deputy the breakdown requested.
316. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of his Department’s spending on health and social care in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47210/21]
View answerThe following table provides the actual figures reported to the Department of Public Expenditure for Vote 38 Health and Social Care related subheads for the years 2017-2020 and to the end of August 2021.
Vote 38 Returns to the Department of Public Expenditure
|
Year |
Subhead |
Total Expenditure |
|
€000s |
||
|
2021* |
J1&J2 - Health and Social care Services including Covid actions |
8,955,399 |
|
2020 |
J - Health and Social Care Services |
14,076,230 |
|
2019 |
J - Health and Social Care Services |
11,403,893 |
|
2018 |
I1 - I5 HSE Regions and other Health Agencies |
10,707,424 |
|
2017 |
I1 - I5 HSE Regions and other Health Agencies |
9,874,784 |
2021* is up to and including end of August 2021
In 2019 Subheads I1-I5 were amalgamated into one Subhead.
317. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of his Departmental or HSE funding to section 39 organisations for each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47211/21]
View answerThe Department of Health does not directly fund any charitable voluntary groups. Under Section 39 of the 1970 Health Act funding is provided by the Health Service Executive. I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
319. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the hospitals with emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47213/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
320. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the hospitals with maternity departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47214/21]
View answerThere are 19 maternity units around the country. These include:
Saolta Hospital Group –
University Hospital Galway
Mayo University Hospital
Sligo University Hospital
Portiuncula University Hospital
Letterkenny University Hospital
Ireland East Hospital Group –
National Maternity Hospital
Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar
Wexford General Hospital
St Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny
RCSI Hospital Group –
Rotunda Maternity Hospital
Cavan General Hospital
OLOL Hospital Drogheda
Dublin Midlands Hospital Group –
Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital
Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise
South/South West Hospital Group –
Cork University Maternity Hospital
University Hospital Kerry
South Tipperary General Hospital
University Hospital Waterford
University of Limerick Hospital Group –
University Maternity Hospital Limerick
321. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the percentage of healthcare expenditure which was generated by private, voluntary and out-of-pocket contributions for each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47215/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
322. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the funding drawn down by the National Treatment Purchase Fund in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; the amount of funding in each year spent on procuring services from private healthcare providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47216/21]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being collated by Department officials and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days
323. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the maximum number of patients that can be registered with a general practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47218/21]
View answerGPs are independent practitioners who hold contracts with the HSE under the GMS scheme for the provision of services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders.
Under the terms of the GMS and GP Visit Card contract the maximum number of medical card or GP visit card patients that a GP can have on his/her panel is 2,000, or 2,200 if the GP also holds an under 6 contract, except for in exceptional circumstances where the HSE decides to apply a higher limit. There is no minimum number of patients specified for a panel.
The State does not prescribe the number of private patients that may be registered with a GP; this is a matter for individual GP practices.
324. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the percentage of ambulance ECHO and DELTA calls which were not responded to within 18 minutes and 59 seconds in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47219/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
325. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the whole-time equivalent number of bank or agency staff contracted to the HSE by staff group in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47220/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
326. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total number of hospital beds in the State per 1,000 population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47221/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
327. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total number of intensive care hospital beds in the State per 1,000 population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47222/21]
View answerIreland currently has 296 permanent critical care beds in place across our hospital system, or approximately 5.92 critical care beds per 100,000 people. This is an increase on the figure of 5.2 critical care beds per 100,000 recorded in 2019 in the interim national report by the National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA) Irish National Intensive Care Unit Audit. It follows the addition of 41 permanent critical care beds to date in 2021.
Recruitment is ongoing to enable the opening of a further 25 additional beds over Q42021 and Q1 2022, which will bring permanent critical care beds to 321 across the system, an increase of 25% on baseline 2020 capacity.
Significant funding of €52m was provided in Budget 2021 to put these beds in place, in line with Phase 1 of the Strategic Plan for Critical Care, which was noted by Government in December 2020. When fully implemented, the Strategic Plan will bring critical care bed numbers to 446, slightly exceeding the recommendations of the 2018 Health Service Capacity Review in regard to critical care.
328. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the inpatient bed occupancy rate in each of the years 2018 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47223/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
329. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently on waiting lists for inpatient and outpatient medical treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47224/21]
View answer330. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who were waiting in excess of one year for inpatient and outpatient medical treatment in each of the years 2017 to 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47225/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 329 and 330 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 is working with the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to develop a two-pronged approach to tackle the rise in waiting lists. Firstly, with the finalisation of a short term Waiting List Action Plan which will cover the rest of the year, until December 2021. Secondly through the development of a longer-term Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Slaintecare targets.
The latest published NTPF waiting list numbers (August 2021) show that there 75,720 patients on the inpatient & daycase (IPDC) waiting list and 652,344 patients on the outpatient waiting list. This information is available on the NTPF website at: www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm
