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Tuesday, 19 Oct 2021

Written Answers Nos. 792-812

Hospital Services

Questions (792)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

792. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who attended the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick in each of the years 2006 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50883/21]

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Written answers

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

Hospital Facilities

Questions (793)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

793. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the progress of the development of the 96-bed modular unit at the University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50884/21]

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Written answers

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter. 

Eating Disorders

Questions (794)

Holly Cairns

Question:

794. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of an eating disorder service for adults in the region of counties Cork and Kerry; the numbers of whole-time equivalent staff being employed; the specialties they represent; and the planned location of the hub. [50906/21]

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Written answers

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

Assisted Human Reproduction

Questions (795)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

795. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health when he plans to legislate in the area of assisted human reproduction; and if he will be doing so in line with the recently published report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection which recommends that the Government introduce a legislative framework including recognition of international surrogacy and parenting arrangements. [43173/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware, drafting of a bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated areas of research is ongoing by officials in my Department, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General. This comprehensive piece of legislation will encompass the regulation, for the first time in Ireland, of a very wide range of practices, including domestic altruistic surrogacy. I can assure the Deputy that publication of this legislation is a priority for my Department and the Government, and a commitment to enact this legislation is included in the Programme for Government, “Our Shared Future”. Officials in my Department and the Office of the Attorney General continue to prioritise the drafting of this complex legislation and will engage intensively over the next few months to finalise the Bill.

The published report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection comprises issues relating to parentage and the right to identity in donor-assisted human reproduction and surrogacy in this jurisdiction and abroad.

As issues relating to international surrogacy raised in the report of the Special Rapporteur concern areas of law that intersect across the remits of several Government Departments, my Department is engaging with the Department of Justice and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in regard to this issue.

Health Services

Questions (796)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

796. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health if urgent assistance will be provided to a family (details supplied) to obtain a residential care bed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48442/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (798)

Emer Higgins

Question:

798. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health his views on the operation of pop-up vaccination centres; and the uptake at these centres since the start of the 2021-2022 academic year. [49627/21]

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Written answers

Walk-in vaccination clinics in higher educational institutions launched w/c of 27 September 2021. The HSE has worked jointly with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and other partner educational organisations to offer an expanded range of walk-in vaccination clinics, in existing vaccination clinic locations and in temporary pop-up vaccination clinics in a range of third-level educational settings.

The aim was to maximise vaccine uptake in those who have not yet availed of vaccination, including international students. The focus was on accessibility and positive promotion of vaccination, which is supported through a dedicated national and local communications campaign.

The campaign involved 30 third-level institutions. Temporary vaccination sites were set up in 15 sites in total, serving 20 higher educational sites. In addition, 7 existing HSE Central Vaccination Clinics (CVCs) are located on, or close to third-level educational institutions. This has allowed an additional 10 higher educational institutions to conveniently access vaccination at existing vaccination sites.

As of 5 October, 2,356 vaccines have been delivered at third-level pop-up sites. 979 vaccines were delivered in CVC walk-in sites. In total 3,335 were delivered. The pop-ups are primarily aimed at third-level students and staff but walk-ins are also welcomed.

Medicinal Products

Questions (799)

Gino Kenny

Question:

799. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1051 of 24 February 2021, if the formal pricing and reimbursement assessment of xonvea has been completed and will be added as a first-line treatment for hyperemesis gravidarum to the drugs payment scheme and medical card; if there are plans to licence the drug cariban; if not, the process by which drugs obtain a licence; if the State plays an active role in identifying drugs that have been licensed and approved for use in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45486/21]

View answer

Written answers

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

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (800)

Holly Cairns

Question:

800. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that all maternity hospitals and units are following the HSE guidelines permitting partners to attend. [43813/21]

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Written answers

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 (801, 802)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

801. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the details of the additional resources applied per centre to reduce waiting lists for preliminary team assessment as per the statement made by him on 28 September 2021 in Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48666/21]

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Sorca Clarke

Question:

802. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of children in CHO8 that received a preliminary team assessment and were referred onward to an intervention pathway and are awaiting appointment for same. [48667/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 801 and 802 together.

As these are service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 802 answered with Question No. 801.

Health Services

Questions (803)

Thomas Gould

Question:

803. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) that found significant difficulties in evaluating public expenditure on the State’s approach to drug and alcohol harm and which found that unlabelled expenditure and productivity costs contribute significantly to the overall economic burden of problem drug and alcohol use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45595/21]

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Written answers

As part of the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy, the Department of Health commissioned the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Services to undertake a focused policy assessment of of expenditure and performance in the area of drug and alcohol misuse. The report undertook an analysis of expenditure on drugs and alcohol across government departments and agencies and made a number of findings and conclusions on the gaps in measuring and assessing expenditure.

The report is the first to estimate unlabelled expenditure on problem drug use, finding that approximately €87m is spent annually dealing with the medical and legal consequences of drug use. Productivity losses associated with drug use are estimated to be in the region of €61m per annum. Using a longitudinal approach to assess the net value of current and future unlabelled expenditure and productivity costs due to drug use, the combined estimates rises to over €650m. 

The report found that labelled expenditure to address drug and alcohol use exceeds €200m per annum. It was not possible to breakdown labelled expenditure by health and criminal justice responses. It was similarly not possible to breakdown expenditure by goal in the national drugs strategy. As such, an assessment of what was achieved for such expenditure was not possible. 

Addressing the limitations of datasets and performance indicators identified in the report are necessary first steps to improve monitoring and evaluation of the national drugs strategy and public expenditure on drug and alcohol programmes more generally. 

I am committed to addressing the the report's conclusions and recommendations. These issues will be addressed under the new structures I am putting in place to implement the strategic priorities 2021-2025 under for the national drugs strategy.  

Disability Services

Questions (804)

Thomas Gould

Question:

804. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the significant delays in accessing treatment due to the reconfiguration of children’s disabilities teams in Cork. [48659/21]

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Written answers

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

Dental Services

Questions (805)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

805. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the reason that investment in public dental care has decreased dramatically over the past number of years; if he will consider increasing investment in the sector given many medical card holders cannot access dentists in their own counties; if the HSE has discretion on the way to allocate its budget; if he will consider making a dental care specific allocation to prevent further decline of services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44833/21]

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Written answers

Between 2015 and 2018 expenditure on public dental services increased from €153m to €192m (ESRI, 2021). Dental services were reduced during the pandemic as access to dental services was restricted and some HSE staff were redeployed to testing and tracing as part of the HSE’s response to the pandemic. There has also been a reduction in the numbers of dentists participating in the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS), which provides dental services to medical card holders.

The reduction in the number of dentists holding a DTSS  contract has resulted in some medical card holders, in some areas, experiencing a problem in accessing a service. In these instances, the local HSE services on the ground (i.e the HSE Public Dental Service) will assist any person who is  experiencing such a problem. The needs of anybody in urgent need of care and unable to secure a service in private dental practices is being addressed through the HSE public dental service.

Officials in my Department and in the HSE have engaged with the Irish Dental Association with a view to addressing issues around the provision of services to medical card holders and that process of engagement is continuing.  Additional funding of €10 million has been provided in Budget 2022, on top of a provision of €56 million for the Existing Level of Services.

The future approach to oral health service provision is being aligned with the goals and objectives of Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy (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.

Disability Services

Questions (806)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

806. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if the assessment of need backlog for children has been reduced from 6,500 to 600 (details supplied); if these children have been referred to the appropriate intervention and or supports based on their assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48623/21]

View answer

Written answers

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

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (807)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

807. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the EU Digital COVID Certificate in relation to Irish citizens vaccinated in Northern Ireland and other EU countries; if he is satisfied with the phased approach; and the length of time it has taken to produce these documents. [43786/21]

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Written answers

The 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 has launched an online portal to receive applications, which became operational for applicants vaccinated in Northern Ireland from 29th September 2021. The application process was extended to Irish passport holders vaccinated in Great Britain on 15th October.

Irish citizens, vaccinated in Northern Ireland or Great Britain with vaccines authorised for use in Ireland, can apply for a Digital COVID Certificate if they hold a valid Irish passport and a QR coded vaccination certificate issued by the health authorities in Northern Ireland or Great Britain.

The development of the portal to accept applications for Irish citizens vaccinated in other third countries is underway, with cross-departmental support.

Care of the Elderly

Questions (808)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

808. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to research from a group (details supplied); and the way he plans to implement its recommendations. [50929/21]

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Written answers

As Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People, I am committed to supporting the continued development of dementia services to support people living with dementia and their carers. As part of my role, I regularly meet with and listen to the needs of people with dementia and their caregivers together with their representative groups, including the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland. 

I was delighted to be able to announce an additional allocation of €7.3 million in Budget 2022 for dementia services. I am confident that this investment will continue to improve diagnosis and access to services for people with dementia across the country as part of the implementation of the Irish National Dementia Strategy.

An additional €7.3 million will allow for the further improvement of dementia services, including in the areas of memory assessment and support services, memory technology resource rooms, the implementation of the dementia registry and dementia audit within acute hospitals and the national intellectual disability memory service– the details will be finalised over the coming weeks with the HSE as part of the National Service Plan.

In addition to the €7.3m, the proportion of new home support hours ringfenced for people with dementia will more than double from 5% in 2021 to 11% in 2022.

Taken together, this will represent 15 million euro of investment dedicated to dementia in 2022, on top of the €12.9m of additional funding in 2021. 

The additional funding of €12.9m for dementia services in 2021 allowed for the following key elements:

- €7m to fund 250,000 hours of home support for people living with dementia;

- €0.9m to expand the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland Dementia Advisor Service through recruiting an additional 11 dementia advisors, resulting in a total of 28 nationally by the end of the year; - 9 of these new posts are now in place.

- €5m  for a range of measures to enhance services and supports for people with dementia.   These measures included:

(a) the further development of dementia diagnostic services through the establishment of a specialist memory clinic in Cork and progressing four new regional memory assessment and support services;

(b) enhancing acute care pathways for people with dementia through the recruitment of more clinical nurse specialists;

(c) the implementation of a National Clinical Guideline on the appropriate prescribing of psychotropic medication for non-cognitive symptoms in people with dementia;

(d) enhancing Memory Technology Resource Room services in 9 sites;

(e)  provision of in-home day care for people who were impacted by the suspension of day care services during the COVID-19 pandemic; and

(f) continuation of the Dementia Understand Together Campaign.

Departmental Strategies

Questions (809)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

809. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the portion of the €30 million for national strategies in Budget 2022 that will be allocated for the National Carers Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50930/21]

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Written answers

An extra €30 million was provided in Budget 2022 to progress delivery of a number of national strategies, including the Cancer Strategy and investment in trauma centres and transplant programmes.

€2m was allocated from the Department of Health in Budget 2021 to implement the National Carers Strategy. This funding was a first step towards delivering a “carers guarantee” that provides a core basket of services to carers across the country, regardless of where they live. This funding has been made recurring from 2022 onwards and it is a priority of my Department to ensure the funding will be used to improve equity of access to supports.

In addition, an interRAI Carers Needs Assessment will be piloted by the HSE over a two year period, commencing in 2021, to better identify family carers’ needs with a view to linking them into relevant supports and services.  

Hospital Services

Questions (810)

Johnny Mythen

Question:

810. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the total agency spend at Wexford General Hospital 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. [50939/21]

View answer

Written answers

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

 

Hospital Services

Questions (811)

Johnny Mythen

Question:

811. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency department attendances at Wexford General Hospital 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. [50940/21]

View answer

Written answers

As the issues raised by the Deputy relate to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (812)

Johnny Mythen

Question:

812. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the outpatient waiting times at Wexford General Hospital in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, by year and specialty in wait time bands of up to three, six, 12, 15 and 18 months, up to two years and over two years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50941/21]

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Written answers

It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last nineteen 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.

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.

On the 7th October I published the Acute Waiting List Action Plan. This plan, to run until December 2021, has a series of targeted measures that are designed to address the growth in waiting lists caused by Covid-19 and the cyber-attack.

In addition, my Department, the HSE and the NTPF are also working on a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund. The plan will be informed by the lessons learned from the successful Vaccine Taskforce.   

For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been provided in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists. The €250 million will be used to fund additional activity in both the public and private sectors. The €50 million additional funding provided to the NTPF brings its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million, and as a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services.

The information requested by the Deputy concerning, the outpatient waiting times at Wexford General Hospital in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, by year and specialty in wait time bands of up to three, six, 12, 15 and 18 months, up to two years and over two years, is outlined in the attached documents. This information is also available on the NTPF website at: www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm.

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