Written Answers Nos. 615-635
615. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the progress made on recommendation 4 of HIQA Overview report of the HIQA monitoring programme against the National Standards for Safer Better Maternity Services (details supplied). [54445/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
616. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the progress made on recommendation 4 of HIQA Overview report of the HIQA monitoring programme against the National Standards for Safer Better Maternity Services (details supplied). [54446/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
617. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health if a commitment will be given that 18 hours of home care for a person (details supplied) will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54455/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
618. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the plans are in place for the appointment of a HSE podiatrist to replace a person (details supplied) who retired in February 2021 in the Bantry area and who has not yet been replaced leaving hundreds of elderly vulnerable persons without podiatry services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54478/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
619. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the plans that are in place to update the dental treatment services scheme (details supplied); when the scheme will be updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54479/21]
View answerThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. These services are provided by independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE. I am committed to ensuring the sustainability of the DTSS, but recognise that it needs to be aligned with the best international evidence and practice, as outlined in Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy (2019). The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the roll-out of the National Oral Health Policy to be delayed, and the proposed review of the DTSS contract to be deferred.
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.
620. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health if the seven hours home care for a person (details supplied) will be provided despite the company that provides this person home care indicating it will not be able to fulfil some of the hours they have been approved for due to the new legislation the Government has brought in regarding work permits for those working as home care assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54481/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
621. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cross-Border service level agreements which exist between hospitals and hospital groups, trusts north and south in tabular form; the discipline services which are provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54482/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
622. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 643 of 21 September 2021, if the HSE has sourced funding for the remaining four advanced nurse practitioners as part of the 2022 new service development process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54483/21]
View answerAs this question relates to operational matters for the Health Service Executive (HSE), I have asked that the HSE responds to the Deputy directly.
623. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when he expects an inquiry will be established to investigate the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate to pregnant women without them being made aware of the impacts it could have on their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54484/21]
View answerDetails of the proposed inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate among women of childbearing age in Ireland are currently being considered by officials within the Department of Health.
624. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the plans in place for those who meet the criteria for a vaccine booster shot but are unable to leave their homes; the body that will be responsible for the delivery of these shots; when they will start rolling out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54487/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
625. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the length of time of the recruitment clearance and staff orientation processes for international and domestic recruitment campaigns across staff group or grades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54493/21]
View answerIn 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.
626. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that disability services in County Cork are offering parents speech and language therapy courses instead of direct intervention with children and not as a complementary service. [54508/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
627. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the investments and costs required for upgrading the two major trauma centres; the expansions of services which will be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54516/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
628. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the status of and position regarding the primary care centre proposed for the Collinstown site in north Clondalkin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54517/21]
View answerAs 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.
629. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of active general medical services scheme contracts and other contracts for general practitioner services with the HSE for each year since 2011. [54518/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
630. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the criteria under which the selection and consultations for the Sláintecare healthy communities fund were made. [54521/21]
View answerThe focus of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Enhancement Fund is to support projects that positively impact on the health and wellbeing of those who live within the 19 communities. In particular, the Scheme supports projects that not only provide an outlet for the communities in which they are situated, but that also deliver added value from a social determinants of health perspective, positioning communities within the 19 areas to respond to the post-COVID-19 impacts on health and wellbeing.
Projects were identified and selected by the relevant Local Authorities and submitted for approval. The projects had to be in line with the objectives and focus of the Program. This includes, but is not limited to, the upkeep, repair and development of trails, walkways, playgrounds, greenways, blueways, recreational facilities, natural play areas that form part of a larger outdoor recreation project and the promotion and marketing of such infrastructure. The Local Authorities were asked to, where possible, indicate how the projects are inclusive of the vulnerable members of the population and/or how they will promote an improved sense of community.
Local Authorities were responsible for conducting their own consultations with their communities. Projects may have a partnership aspect or may have been drawn from existing community engagement. In selecting the projects for submission for consideration, the Local Authorities used the below criteria:
- The project outcomes must have clear positive health impacts or benefits for local communities.
- The project must be collaborative in nature.
- The proposed project address an identified need.
- The timelines clearly set out in the application and realistically achievable.
- Clear and reasonable costings for the project were provided.
- The project support an inclusive approach for vulnerable people in the community and enhances opportunities for these people.
- The outcomes of the project must demonstrate a sustainable and positive impact on the local area.
631. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will establish a national link with Northern Ireland for cross-Border paediatric pathology services; if a service level agreement or another such agreement will be established or is being discussed or developed to ensure paediatric pathology services are available on the island in both jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54523/21]
View answer632. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of times he or his officials have met or discussed the matter of cross-Border paediatric pathology services with their counterparts in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54524/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 631 and 632 together.
In 2018, my Department and the Department of Health of Northern Ireland agreed to explore the feasibility of establishing an all-island service model and training model for perinatal and paediatric pathology. Preliminary engagement was held in 2019, which indicated a number of issues relevant to establishing the feasibility of an all-island model which will require further consideration and assessment to establish the scope for collaboration.
While the pandemic response has taken precedence over the last 18 months and the need to focus resources on managing the response to COVID-19 remains ongoing, there has been limited capacity to progress this issue since 2019. However, both Departments of Health have committed to recommence collaboration on this matter as soon as it is feasible to do so.
633. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses and midwives who leave the HSE within one, five and five years of taking up employment. [54529/21]
View answerIn 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.
634. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors by level, that is, from trainee to consultant who leave the HSE within one, five and five years of taking up employment. [54530/21]
View answerIn 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.
635. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the disability respite services that are currently available in Inishowen, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54533/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
