Written Answers Nos. 223-237
223. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to amend the fair deal scheme to allow homeowners to rent out their homes while they are in a nursing home given this would free up more houses onto the rental market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54856/21]
View answerThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Act 2021, which was signed into law on 22 July, introduced further safeguards into the NHSS to further protect the viability and sustainability of family farms and businesses. It also includes an amendment in relation to applying the 3-year cap to the proceeds of sale of a house while a resident is in long-term care. This addresses the first relevant commitment in the Housing for All Strategy (action 19.7). This removed a disincentive against the sale of properties that might otherwise remain vacant.
As well as introducing the change above, the Department of Health has also agreed to action 19.8 in the Housing for All Strategy to develop a mechanism in relation to the rental of vacant properties "in a way that is targeted, equitable, evidence-based and provides appropriate safeguards for vulnerable older people". It is important to note that complex policy questions remain in meeting these criteria and there are high risks associated with unintended consequences.
The NHSS is a complex €1.4 billion Scheme that relies on €350m of contributions from over 22,000 residents. It is important to ensure that the costs, benefits, and unintended consequences of any policy changes are fully understood and resolved before they are put in place. There is no existing exemption of rental or similar income from assessment within the Nursing Homes Support Scheme and due care needs to be taken to ensure that any future changes are appropriate; to protect and meet the needs of residents while also making provision for those in need of housing.
The Department of Health and other government departments continue to collaborate on this policy, including the identification of the number of houses that may be brought into use and the costs associated with the policy options available to address this action, with a view to introducing legislation as soon as possible once this analysis and policy development is complete.
224. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a schedule of the full costs associated with mandatory hotel quarantine since the measure was introduced to date by month. [54885/21]
View answerMandatory Hotel Quarantine was introduced in March 2021 as one element of Ireland’s public health measures to combat the transmission of COVID-19. I announced the removal of all remaining States from the List of Designated States for Mandatory Hotel Quarantine on Saturday, 25 September 2021.
Whilst the system of Mandatory Hotel Quarantine was operational, a total of 10,398 people entered Mandatory Hotel Quarantine accommodation. At its peak, 8 hotels were in use, and the busiest day was on 9 May 2021 when 1,008 persons were in accommodation. The last residents to leave accommodation departed on 26 September.
My Department is currently compiling a report on the full cost of operating the Mandatory Hotel Quarantine system, and it is my intention to publish this in the coming weeks.
225. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total amount spent by the Government in defending Covid-19-related laws, regulations and guidelines in the courts since the start of the pandemic (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54895/21]
View answerThe amount spent defending legal challenges to COVID-19 public health measures currently stands at €222,420 of which €6,820 relates to challenges related to mandatory hotel quarantine. This amount does not include legal fees which are a matter for the Chief State Solicitor's Office.
226. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total amount spent by his Department on advertisements, including traditional forms of advertisement and online advertising, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [54910/21]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being collated by Department officials and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.
As this question is also relevant to the Health Service Executive, I have asked them to reply directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
227. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if the Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme will continue beyond the end of 2021 on an administrative basis until the necessary legislation is put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54919/21]
View answerThe Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NI PHS) has been in effective operation since 1 January 2021. This Scheme was introduced to mitigate the loss of access to care from private providers in Northern Ireland under the EU Cross Border Directive, which ceased to apply as a result of Brexit. The Government intends to place the administrative NI PHS on a statutory basis and an extensive examination of options to inform the drafting of a General Scheme is currently underway. I can confirm that the administrative scheme will remain until such time that a statutory scheme is in place.
228. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if public patients will have immediate access, without cost, to pembrolizumab for treatment of cervical cancer, if clinically recommended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54922/21]
View answerThe HSE has put in place arrangements which will facilitate access to Pembrolizumab for cervical cancer patients, on a case-by-case basis in public hospitals, when a treating clinician determines that this is in the patient’s best interests. All prescribing decisions will be entirely a matter for the treating clinician, in line with patient safety protocols and the Medical Council Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics. The HSE has communicated this approach to hospitals and medical oncologists.
This arrangement will apply to cervical cancer patients only. The costs of pembrolizumab will be reimbursed to hospitals where the treatment decision for each individual patient is taken by the patient’s treating clinician and is in line with hospital agreed patient safety protocols.
The statutory responsibility of the HSE for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, remains unchanged.
229. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will list each waiting list for services provided by the HSE, except for those provided by community services, which is not reported by the National Treatment Purchase Fund. [54924/21]
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.
230. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied); when services will be provided for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54928/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
231. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the incidence of those seeking care for eating disorders in Galway has increased in the past 12 months in comparison with the previous 12 months; his views on the staffing complement, such as eating disorder teams, eating disorder beds and dieticians, in University Hospital Galway to support such needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54933/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
232. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will address concerns relating to the validity of the Covid recovery certificate (details supplied); the options available to a person who has the recovery certificate rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54934/21]
View answerStatutory Instrument 385 of 2021 (as amended) prescribes the forms of proof of immunity that are acceptable for the purpose of accessing indoor hospitality premises.
Regulation 5(2) provides that “for the purpose of paragraph (c) of the definition of “proof of immunity” in section 2 of the Act of 1947, the following forms of proof are prescribed:
1. An EU Digital Covid Certificate referred to in Article 3(1)(c) of the Digital Covid Certificate Regulation;
2. A Covid -19 certificate that has been –
(i) Issued by a state other than a Member State, and
(ii) Recognised as equivalent to a certificate referred to in subparagraph (a) pursuant to an implementing act adopted by the Commission in accordance with Article 3 or Article 8 of the Digital Covid Certificate Regulation."
The 'Overview Guidance for Reopening', which can be found on the Fáilte Ireland website provides on page 16 of that document that the process of permitting a person to access indoor hospitality will include "presentation to the responsible person at the controlled entrance of each customers proof of immunity made under the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021; this will include EU Digital Covid Certificate and HSE Covid-19 Vaccination Card". The guidance goes on to state that "once confirmed as vaccinated or recovered, a customer is deemed eligible for entry".
233. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a matter concerning the National Rehabilitation Hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54941/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
234. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for an assessment for autism will be expedited for a child (details supplied) as a matter of urgency; if a timeline will be provided for the provision of the supports required; if full contact details will be provided for the HSE officials in this area; if he will request that the health professionals in the HSE make immediate contact with the family to set out a course of action for the long-term care of the child; the services available to those with autism in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; and his views on the waiting lists in relation to same. [54947/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
235. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the estimated timeframe for when the new outpatient ophthalmology services for the South/South West HSE area currently being developed in Ballincollig, County Cork will be fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54990/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
236. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the new outpatient ophthalmology services for the South/South West HSE area currently being developed in Ballincollig, County Cork will have the capacity to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for ophthalmic services in the Cork and Kerry region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54991/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
237. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the required funding will be made available within the next three months to the South/South West HSE area to enable it to fully equip the new outpatient ophthalmology services which are currently being developed in Ballincollig, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54992/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
