Written Answers Nos. 402-417
402. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of adults waiting on a counselling appointment in primary care; the average waiting time in each CHO area from 2019 to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48834/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
403. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 186 of 29 September 2021, if his plans to roll-out the EU Digital COVID Certificate to Irish citizens vaccinated outside of the EU will also include Irish residents who are not citizens; the date of the announcement on the launch of the portal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48837/21]
View answerThe EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation allows for Digital COVID Certificates to be provided to Union citizens vaccinated in a third country provided that the Member State has been provided with reliable proof of vaccination.
Ireland is developing the capability for Digital COVID Certificates are to be issued to Irish passport holders vaccinated in third countries with accepted vaccines. This does not include non-Irish citizens vaccinated in third countries.
This service is being released in a two phased approach. The online portal began to accept applications from Irish passport holders vaccinated in Northern Ireland who hold a Northern Irish COVID vaccination certificate with a QR code on 29th September. Phase 2 will accept applications from Irish passport holders vaccinated in other non-EU countries with an Irish approved vaccine regimen and is currently in development.
404. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment with a consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48838/21]
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.
405. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a place in a suitable day facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48839/21]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
406. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if he will examine a budget submission from organisations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48844/21]
View answerAs Minister for Health I am committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. As the Deputy will be aware, in Budget 2021 the Government allocated an additional €100 million for disability services.
With regard to the specific pre-budget submissions referred to by the Deputy, the level of funding available for the Department of Health in 2022 and the quantum of services to be provided by the HSE will be considered as part of the national estimates and budgetary process and National Service Planning.
407. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the reason funding provided to the HSE for residential provision in the disability sector is so limited that only 56 new emergency residential placements could be provided in 2020 given that his Department’s capacity review document outlines a need for 91 placements per annum to meet demographic demand on top of up to 1,200 places required to meet needs identified since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48845/21]
View answerResidential services make up the largest part of the Disability funding disbursed by the HSE. Approximately 90 service providers provide residential services to over 8,000 individuals throughout the country.
The HSE was allocated funding for an additional 56 new emergency residential placements and eight appropriate residential places for people currently living in respite care as an emergency response to their needs, while also freeing up the vacated respite accommodation for future use. At end of December 2020, a total of 86 new emergency places were developed across the 9 CHOs.
In Budget 2021, the Government allocated over €2.2 billion for specialist disability services, including €100m in additional funding to enhance services and supports, reflecting the Government’s commitment in this area.
An additional 102 new residential places, including 44 emergency places, are being provided for in 2021 based on priority need. The HSE advises that at end of August 2021, 58 new emergency residential places were developed.
408. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the Covid-19 treatments which are currently in use in Ireland; if each has full approval or emergency approval; the date each treatment came into use in Ireland; and the number of patients treated with each in tabular form. [48847/21]
View answerTo date, one Covid-19 treatment (remdesivir) has been authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for use in the European Union; the marketing authorisation was issued by the EMA on 3 July 2020. Remdesivir has a conditional marketing authorisation granted by the EMA in the interest of public health, because the medicine addresses an unmet medical need and the benefit of immediate availability outweighs the risk from less comprehensive data than normally required. This medicine is also subject to additional safety monitoring. No other medicines for the treatment of Covid-19 are currently authorised in Ireland or the EU.
The Department of Health does not collate data on numbers of patients treated with a specific medicine. I have asked that the Health Service Executive responds to the Deputy directly on this aspect of the question.
409. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if home help will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48848/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
410. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if he will note correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the proposed pandemic payment for healthcare workers; his views on the fact that these workers performed a vital service during the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48849/21]
View answerI wish to convey my sincere gratitude to health sector workers in relation to their continuing efforts in the delivery of health services during this very challenging pandemic period.I note that this important matter was recently before the Labour Court, and the resulting recommendation is being given careful consideration by Health Service Management. In the meantime, I wish to reassure the Deputy that the Department and the HSE acknowledge frontline workers' critical and significant response to this pandemic, and are working to appropriately recognise those efforts.
411. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if it will be ensured that respite services are restored for a person (details supplied) as soon as possible. [48858/21]
View answerAs these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
412. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to persisting issues with the portal for those vaccinated in Northern Ireland to apply for an EU Digital COVID Certificate; the steps he is taking to remedy this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48860/21]
View answerThe online portal allowing Irish passport holders vaccinated in Northern Ireland to apply for a Digital COVID Certificate was successfully launched on Thursday 30th September. As of 6th October a total of 2676 Digital COVID Certificates have been issued to applicants from Northern Ireland.
The difficulties surrounding scanning the QR code on the Northern Ireland vaccination certificate for the purposes of applying for a DCC was quickly noticed when the portal went live and action was taken to immediately resolve it.
Applicants can now upload their entire Northern Ireland vaccination certificate and the online portal will automatically crop the image as necessary to read the QR code.
Troubleshooting instructions are available on the portal and the information is being updated as required. The call centre is taking enquiries to assist any persons experiencing difficulties with their applications.
413. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of patients waiting for audiology appointments in the CHO1 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48876/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
414. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of patients waiting for audiology appointments in the CHO2 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48877/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
415. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of patients waiting for audiology appointments in the CHO3 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48878/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
416. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of patients waiting for audiology appointments in the CHO4 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48879/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
417. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of patients waiting for audiology appointments in the CHO5 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48880/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
