Written Answers Nos. 238-252
238. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the measures which are in place to deal with delays in registering births in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54994/21]
View answer240. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of delayed birth registrations currently with his Department or the HSE to be prioritised in an area (details supplied); the estimated timeframe for the processing of these registrations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54996/21]
View answer241. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time to register a birth in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54997/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 238, 240 and 241 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
239. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if the attention of his Department or the HSE has been drawn to significant difficulties encountered by parents seeking to access civil registration offices by phone; his plans to put additional resources in place to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54995/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
242. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the times during the pre-natal, labour, birth and post-partum maternity journey a woman can have her nominated support partner with her under current maternity restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54998/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
243. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of routine ante-natal appointments a woman is offered during pregnancy at present across the 19 maternity units; if there is any divergence between units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54999/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
244. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if an exception will be made in the case of a person (details supplied) to have their partner with them for a scan due to extenuating circumstances. [55000/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
247. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if student nurses in their fourth-year internship placements will get an increase in payments of approximately 12.5%, as per the proposals set out in the recent review of nurses' allowance payments; if these increases will be backdated; when they will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55007/21]
View answerThe longer-term review of matters related to student nursing, commissioned by my Department, completed by Sean McHugh, and published last week, makes a recommendation that the present rate of pay for Student Nurses and Midwives on 36-week paid internship placement be changed, with an increase to 80% of the first point of the Staff Nurse/Midwife pay scale.
While work is ongoing to progress Mr Mc Hugh’s specific recommendation, I want to provide additional financial support to intern students. That is why, in the interim, all student nurses and midwives on paid internship placement will be provided with an additional support of €50 per week of internship placement (a modification of the Pandemic Placement Grant to support the educational requirements during their placements, equivalent to 50% of the full Grant). This equates to €1,800 over the duration of their paid internship. This will take effect from 1 January 2022, the same date as paid internships for the current academic year are due to begin. This proposed interim measure will be put in place while work is underway to develop those detailed proposals to give effect to the recommendation relating to intern pay, within the established processes to progress pay matters.
It is important that we support our student nurses and midwives to undertake their clinical placements. I am grateful to Mr McHugh for undertaking this important piece of work as it has helped my consideration of how we can best support our student nurses and midwives as they continue their undergraduate education.
248. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if there are capacity issues for services that provide respite services for children such as a service (details supplied); the options open to families who find themselves in situations in which respite services are needed but are full to capacity resulting in significant waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55026/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
249. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to enhancing the role of the injuries unit at Nenagh Hospital in view of the pressure that the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick experiences on a regular basis. [55029/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
250. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners registered as operating in the CHO 3 area in each of the past five years. [55030/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
251. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the status of the progress being made in accordance with the HSE National Service Plan 2021 which commits to providing nine additional centre-based respite houses, one in each CHO and 10,400 additional respite nights; the number of respite days and respite nights provided in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55064/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
252. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve the provision of primary health care in Santry, Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55068/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
