Written Answers Nos. 371-386
372. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if instructions will be in place regarding wearing facemasks for transport workers and others in which close contact is unavoidable after the lifting of restrictions on 22 October 2021. [48761/21]
View answer384. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if his Department plans to relax guidelines on wearing facemasks in churches and other indoor venues on 20 October 2021 [48797/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 372 and 384 together.
As outlined in COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting, which was announced by Government on 31 August, from 22 October, subject to the criteria of at or close to 90% of people 16 or over being fully vaccinated and having regard to the incidence and behaviour of the disease at that time, Ireland will enter a new phase in our approach to the management of COVID-19.
At that time, it is intended that formal requirements/mandates for mask wearing outdoors and in indoor private settings will be removed at that time. However, the intention is that there will be continuing requirements in relation to mask wearing in a range of settings including healthcare settings, indoor retail and on public transport. Facemasks may also continue to be needed to be worn in certain environments as part of sector specific measures to ensure a safe environment. Furthermore, individual efforts to wear masks based on individual risk assessment will remain an important component of our collective response to COVID-19.
Government will meet in advance of 22 October to consider, based on the advice of the NPHET, moving forward with the plan.
Since the onset of the pandemic, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland due to the huge effort of people across the country. Thanks to the hard work of the Irish people and the progress of our vaccination programme, we are now entering a new phase in the management of the pandemic. As our approach to the management of COVID-19 transitions from population wide restrictions to guidance we must continue to practice basic preventative behaviours, including in relation to self-isolation and restricting movements when advised, observing good respiratory and hand hygiene, physical distancing and mask wearing when appropriate.
COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting can be found online:
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/f5291-post-cabinet-statement-covid-19-reframing-the-challenge-continuing-our-recovery-and-reconnecting/
373. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide funding in Budget 2022 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. [48762/21]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has now commissioned a full Health Technology Assessment of the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to be conducted by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) in collaboration with the Medicines Management Programme. The recommendations that arise will be considered once the Assessment is completed.In the meantime, Consultant Endocrinologists / Diabetes Nurse Specialists may apply to the HSE, on behalf of specific patients, for reimbursement support of FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring sensors. The application process is undertaken by means of a dedicated online portal, which has been operational since 3rd April 2018.
In line with the recommendations outlined by the Health Technology Assessment Group, access to this product was made available to children and young adults, aged 4 - 21 years. However, the application process does cater for the Consultant to make an application in very exceptional circumstances for a type 1 diabetic patient outside of this group.
374. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will ring-fence some of the anticipated 2021 cost savings from the recent HSE Medicines Management Programme preferred blood glucose strips for adults with type 1 and 2 diabetes evaluation 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. [48763/21]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has now commissioned a full Health Technology Assessment of the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to be conducted by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) in collaboration with the Medicines Management Programme. This process has commenced as evidenced by the NCPE call for patient group submissions in recent weeks.Consultant Endocrinologists/Diabetes Nurse Specialists may apply to the HSE, on behalf of specific patients, for reimbursement support of FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring sensors. The application process is undertaken by means of a dedicated online portal, which has been operational since 3rd April 2018. In line with the recommendations outlined by the Health Technology Assessment Group, access to this product was made available to children and young adults, aged 4 - 21 years. However, the application process does cater for the Consultant to make an application in very exceptional circumstances for a type 1 diabetic patient outside of this group.
375. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for the FreeStyle Libre device that were submitted by individual hospitals for persons with diabetes over 21 years of age; the number approved; the number refused in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; his plans to remove the age restriction on the device; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48764/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
376. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health if a student (details supplied) can receive a HPV vaccination under the HPV vaccination programme in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48765/21]
View answerThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department. The NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.In 2009, the NIAC recommended HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination for all 12 to 13 year old girls to reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer when they are adults. In September 2010, the HPV vaccination programme was introduced for all girls in first year of secondary school.In June 2017, on foot of the NIAC’s recommendation that the HPV vaccine should also be given to boys, my Department asked the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to undertake a health technology assessment (HTA) to establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness of extending the immunisation programme to include boys in the first year of secondary school.The HIQA completed the HTA in December 2018, recommending that the HPV immunisation programme be extended to include boys. A policy decision was made to extend the HPV immunisation programme to include boys, starting in September 2019, with the introduction of a 9-valent HPV vaccine.The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the NIAC in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases. As the HPV vaccine is preventative it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes sexually active, that is, before a person is first exposed to HPV infection.Therefore, the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in first year of secondary school to provide maximum coverage. All vaccines administered through the School Immunisation Programme are provided free of charge.My Department will continue to be guided by NIAC's recommendations on any emerging evidence on this issue in the future.Anyone not in 1st year of secondary school or age equivalent in special schools or home schooled during the 2020/2021 school year who wishes to get the HPV vaccine, must go to their GP or sexual health clinic and pay privately for the vaccine and its administration. This applies to everyone whether or not they have a medical card/GP visit card, as it is outside of the HPV immunisation programme.
At the request of my Department, the HIQA are conducting a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on a school based HPV mop-up vaccination programme (for those that were previously eligible and missed or turned down the vaccine). The HIQA has confirmed that this HTA has been added to its work programme for 2021/2022 and I have requested that my officials give consideration to the outcome of this work in the context of the immunisation programme.
377. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment. [48766/21]
View answerUnder 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.
378. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health his plans for impending legislation to be enacted regarding the diagnosis of an autistic child by a psychologist or health professional (details supplied). [48768/21]
View answerHistorically children’s disability services have been provided by a range of statutory and non-statutory service providers that delivered services based on a child’s diagnosis or age. The type and level of service provided varied widely across the country. This resulted in a situation whereby access to services depended on where the child lived, where they went to school, their age and their diagnosis. In some cases, children were transferred between waiting lists as their diagnosis was unclear. In parallel, many families were advised to apply for an Assessment of Need (AON) under the Disability Act (2005) as a means of securing a diagnosis and subsequent access to services. Consequently, waiting times for AON increased and the HSE was unable to meet its legislative obligations in this regard.
The Progressing Disability Services for Children & Young People (PDS) programme represents a major reform of services for children with complex needs. Children’s Disability Network Teams are being established that will provide services for children with complex needs based on their needs and on their address. Access to these CDNTs is not linked to diagnosis or school placements. To address issues associated with AON, the HSE implemented a Standard Operating Procedure for AON for all new applications from January 2020. This procedure defines an AON as a preliminary team assessment that determines whether or not a child has a disability as defined by the Act. This system is designed to ensure that children access timely assessments and intervention. The establishment of CDNTs in association with implementation of this SOP ensures that children and families access appropriate supports as quickly as possible.
The Children's Disability Network Team includes a range of health professionals, such as Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, Paediatricians, Physiotherapists and Social Workers. The HSE has its own standards and criteria for employing health professionals and all professionals on the team will have the appropriate level of expertise to assess the child.
There is no legislation that prohibits a health practitioner from offering a private diagnosis, however, a diagnosis of autism can often require an assessment by a multi-disciplinary team.
When seeking any private health service, it is always advisable to check the health professional’s qualifications. Some professions, such as psychiatrists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists are statutorily regulated and the register of their regulator can be checked to ensure they are appropriately qualified - www.medicalcouncil.ie/public-information/check-the-register/, system.coru.ie/index.php/SearchMember/Find
Other health professions are not currently statutorily regulated but this does not mean that practitioners are not fully qualified to practise their profession. If a practitioner is unwilling or unable to provide proof of qualifications, it may be prudent to seek assistance from an alternate source. In the case of some health professions, there are also professional bodies that can be contacted for advice, mindful that membership of a professional body is not always a requirement to practise, the Psychological Society of Ireland (PsSI), the professional body for psychologists in Ireland, being an example. The Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 provides for the statutory regulation of psychologists in the future, and work is ongoing towards opening the register.
If further information is required regarding HSE procedures in this area, please do not hesitate to contact this department and my officials will request that the Executive forward the relevant information to you directly.
I hope this provides some clarity to the Deputy.
379. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if all necessary supports including additional staff, clinicians and administration staff, training for staff and all necessary clinic resources have been put in place in the South Kerry CAMHS team (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48775/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
380. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will be made for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48777/21]
View answerUnder 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.
381. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 431 of 13 May 2021, the reason data is not recorded on referral centres in relation to applications for prior authorisation and reimbursement made under the cross-border directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48778/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
382. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 431 of 13 May 2021, the number of applications for prior authorisation and reimbursement made under the cross-Border directive for each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, by medical specialty in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48779/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
383. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of persons that are waiting to be seen in the national gender service by CHO, LHO and age group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48789/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
385. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if his Department plans to remove the age restriction on funding for the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system for persons with diabetes over the age of 21 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48801/21]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has now commissioned a full Health Technology Assessment of the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to be conducted by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) in collaboration with the Medicines Management Programme. The recommendations that arise will be considered once the Assessment is completed.In the meantime, Consultant Endocrinologists/Diabetes Nurse Specialists may apply to the HSE, on behalf of specific patients, for reimbursement support of FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring sensors. The application process is undertaken by means of a dedicated online portal, which has been operational since 3rd April 2018.
In line with the recommendations outlined by the Health Technology Assessment Group, access to this product was made available to children and young adults, aged 4 - 21 years. However, the application process does cater for the Consultant to make an application in very exceptional circumstances for a type 1 diabetic patient outside of this group.
386. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if it is his Department’s policy that HSE funding committed to persons in healthcare and residential facilities must be accounted for and spent solely on their care in the manner agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48802/21]
View answerSubsequent to the budget, the Minister issues a Letter of Determination to the HSE setting out the maximum net expenditure for current and capital that the HSE may incur. The HSE then submit a draft National Service Plan Service Plan, based on the Letter of Determination, to the Minister for approval. Table 3 of the National Service Plan sets out the detail of the budget allocated to individual service areas. Once funding is allocated to a certain service area, it must be accounted for and spent by the HSE solely in the manner set out in the Letter of Determination and the National Service Plan, unless a re-allocation of funding is sanctioned by the Department.
Throughout the year, expenditure by the HSE is continually monitored by the Department through reviews of monthly financial reports and regular dialogue between the Department and its counterparts in the HSE. Officials from the Departments of Health and Public Expenditure and Reform, and the HSE meet at the Health Budget Oversight Group on a monthly basis to review the performance of funding allocated. Many other meetings take place between officials from the Department of Health and both the HSE and DPER during the month to ensure that funding is being spent in accordance with the requirements set out in the Letter of Determination and the National Service Plan.
