Written Answers Nos. 325-334
325. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the residential care services that are available in County Mayo for adults with autism, intellectual and or physical disabilities or other special needs; the waiting time to access these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51835/21]
View answerAs 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.
326. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the specialist mental health counselling services that are available in County Mayo for a young adult (details supplied) with complex ongoing medical conditions and mental health issues; the waiting time for such services; the overnight respite services that are currently available for the person; the current waiting time to access these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51836/21]
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 Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the amount of the additional €6 million for the National Drugs Strategy announced in budget 2022 that will be allocated to local and regional drug and alcohol task forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51839/21]
View answerIn Budget 2022, an additional €6m was provided for new measures to support the implementation of the national drugs strategy, 'Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery'. This funding will be used to strengthen the health-led approach to drug and alcohol use and to support the strategic priorities for 2021-2025 identified in the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy (to be published shortly).
The Department of Health has published a fact sheet on new funding provided for in Budget 2022 which can be found at www.gov.ie/en/publication/001fc-budget-2022-factsheet/.
I am committed to increasing access to and provision of drug and alcohol services in line with the strategic priorities for 2021-2025 under national drug strategy.
328. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if the review of CDNT services has been completed for CHO8 and in particular for the south Louth and East Meath area following on from persons being informed that their children’s service will be moved from east Meath CDNT 4 to south Louth CDNT 3 which is already at breaking point; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51843/21]
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 Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of additional staff that have been hired into the CAMHS service in 2021; the breakdown of those positions by grade; the number who are on permanent contracts; the number who are on contracts that expire by the end of 2021; the breakdown of those grades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51858/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
330. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the reason healthcare workers at the section 38 St. John of God Services North East have not been given the HSE Covid-19 payment for healthcare workers from March 2020. [51863/21]
View answerSpecial leave with pay is used in lieu of sick leave for COVID-19 for civil and public servants to assist in the prevention of the possible onward spread of COVID-19 in the work premises.
Special leave with pay for Covid should only apply in lieu of sick leave for COVID-19 when an employee is advised to self-isolate and is displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or had a positive test.
Full details in respect of same are set out in the ‘Working arrangements and leave associated with COVID-19 for Civil and Public Service FAQs’ document prepared by DPER which is available to view here www.gov.ie/en/news/092fff-update-on-working-arrangements-and-leave-associated-with-covid-19-fo/
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in respect of payments for same in the specific location that the Deputy is asking about.
331. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the actions he is taking to address the inappropriate placement of young persons with disabilities in nursing homes; the number of such young persons currently placed in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51864/21]
View answerAs 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.
332. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the status of the number of therapeutic staff currently in place to deliver the Children’s Disability Network Team Network model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51865/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
333. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the way the figure of some 7,000 new posts to be created across the health service announced in budget 2022 was arrived at; the locations and areas in which these posts will be created; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51866/21]
View answerIt was announced in Budget 2022 that almost 8,000 whole-time equivalents will be recruited next year. This includes a carryover of staff that were planned to be hired in 2021 but their recruitment had to be delayed due to the third wave of COVID-19 at beginning of the year, along with the resources needed for the vaccine rollout. It also includes new posts funded under new developments, which were determined based on service needs and 2022 initiatives. The posts announced for 2022 will be across all staff categories and service areas.
334. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will address the significant public concerns that the 13,243 abortions that have taken place under the provisions of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 stands in contrast to the numerous commitments provided to the persons that the rate of abortions, post-enactment of this legislation would be rare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51870/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, a referendum on the Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution was held on 25 May 2018. The referendum was passed by a substantial majority, and article 40.3.3 of the Constitution was amended to confirm that the Oireachtas may make laws for the regulation of the termination of pregnancy.
A draft General Scheme of a Bill to Regulate Termination of Pregnancy was published by the Department of Health in advance of the referendum, so that voters would be aware of the Government’s intentions should the referendum pass. Key elements of the legislation, in particular the grounds on which termination of pregnancy may be carried out, remain the same as those set out in the draft General Scheme.
The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was subsequently signed into law on 20 December 2018. It permits termination to be carried out in cases where there is a risk to the life, or of serious harm to the health, of the pregnant woman; where there is a condition present which is likely to lead to the death of the foetus either before or within 28 days of birth; and without restriction up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Expanded services for termination of pregnancy under the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 were introduced from 1 January 2019.
