Written Answers Nos. 649-668
649. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of authorised officers in each CHO area; the number of vacancies for an authorised officer in each CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56113/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
651. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the status of the operation of the maternity and infant scheme; and the position regarding the provision of adequate postnatal support services for women and babies. [56117/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
652. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the way in which and the locations persons can access dialectical behaviour therapy; the length of the waiting lists; the number of persons on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56123/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
653. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that presented to emergency departments with self-harm and or intentional poisoning in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, by CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56124/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
654. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if there will be a follow-up to the 2019 report My Voice Matters and another round of consultations with mental health service users and family and friends of mental health service users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56125/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
655. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if up to date data is collected by the HSE regarding the number of stroke survivors in Ireland; if so, the number of stroke survivors in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56132/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
656. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the measures he has taken to ensure private changing areas are available to those waiting on hospital trolleys at University Hospital Limerick in view of report that persons have been unable to get the privacy they need while waiting in corridors. [56136/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
657. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of ICU beds available in the mid-west and south-east in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [56137/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
658. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the €10 million one-off funding for mental health that was announced in Budget 2022; the person or body who benefits from this; the way they were selected; if it will be used by the end of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56149/21]
View answerAn additional €10 million in funding was made available in 2021 aimed at supporting mental health services provided in the community. Officials in my Department and in the HSE are working together to scope out options and progress proposals aimed at utilising the fund.
Of note, a total of €1.149 billion was allocated to mental health in Budget 2022. This builds on unprecedented levels of investment in mental health over the last number of years. It provides an additional €47 million for next year and comprises €24 million for new developments, €13 million for existing levels of service and €10 million in once off funding for COVID.
659. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [56156/21]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In 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.
660. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56159/21]
View answerThe current high level of COVID-19 infection and the dominance of the significantly more transmissible Delta variant poses a very substantial threat, particularly to those who are not fully protected through vaccination. Public health advice remains that those who are not fully vaccinated should avoid congregated indoor settings for their own and others safety.
The National Public Health Emergency Team gave some consideration to the issues arising for those people that can’t receive a COVID-19 vaccine for medical reasons as part of its discussions on the 18th October 2021 on the continuing response to COVID-19 and the extension of Covid Pass arrangements. The matter is being given further consideration.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that on 15 July, NIAC made a recommendation, which was endorsed by the Chief Medical Officer and accepted by the Minister for Health that while the preference was for homologous vaccination regimens (using the same vaccine as part of a two dose regime) that selective use of heterologous vaccination schedules (two different vaccines used as part of two dose regime) should be permitted where a second vaccine dose of a homologous regimen is contraindicated, irrespective of whether the first dose was an mRNA or adenoviral vector vaccine. NIAC in conjunction with the RCPI and the Irish Association of Allergy and Immunology have prepared a guide to aid vaccinators and other healthcare workers on how to advise allergic individuals in respect of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, this guide is available here: rcpi-live-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/FAQs-about-COVID19-Vaccines-and-Allergies_12August2021.pdf
661. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if he is considering recommending a return to working from home for the winter months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56179/21]
View answerNPHET advice arising from its meeting on Thursday 11th November has been communicated to the Minister and Government in the usual manner. The Government will consider any recommendations arising at the next Cabinet meeting.
662. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1255 of 2 November 2021, if his attention has been drawn to clear fell sites which have not fulfilled their replanting obligation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55471/21]
View answerAs I previously mentioned, every tree felling licence, save limited exceptions carries an obligation to replant. Forests that are clear felled on maturity are managed as a crop, therefore, it is in the forest owner’s interest to replant after felling, to start a new rotation.
My Department carries out post-felling inspections. Provisions within the Forestry Act 2014 apply to non-compliance with the requirement to replant and can include for instance the issuance of a replanting order.
At all times, reports from the public indicating where trees have not been replanted – within the replanting timeframe, are welcomed and will be followed up directly by my Department.
663. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an application (details supplied) that has been before the Forest Service since 2019 will be approved without delay; the reason for the delay in the processing of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55563/21]
View answerIn this particular case, the application for the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme which was submitted on behalf of the person named in September 2019 was withdrawn and an application for a larger area was submitted in October 2020.
A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been received for this application and, as a consequence, a second 30-day public consultation, which a requirement under S.I. 293 of 2021 for cases subject to Appropriate Assessment, has been undertaken and has been completed. The case is currently referred to my Department's Ecology Unit, to have the ecological assessment undertaken (taking into account any submissions received).
As part of this proposed afforestation is within a European site, the approval of the NPWS is required before a licence may be granted and we are following up with NPWS on the matter. Once we receive a response from NPWS we will aim to issue a decision to the applicant within 6 weeks.
664. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 392 of 4 November 2021, the number of the 27 ecologists who signed off on the 56 Coillte felling licences in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55621/21]
View answerThe number and type of DAFM staff, including ecologists, working on the processing of particular types of files can vary from week to week. Our overall aim is to manage resources to maximise output.
I am pleased that licencing output has averaged 115 new licences each week since the beginning of September and our aim is to continue and if possible increase this output.
665. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1231 to 1239 of 2 November 2021, the number of reminders that have to be sent out and that have been sent out since 2 November 2021 when stating that his Department will shortly send out reminders to those who have not yet provided the information sought in reference to the further information letters sent out in June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55687/21]
View answer666. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos, 1231 to 1239 of 2 November 2021, the number of reminders that are scheduled to be sent out in the week commencing 15 November 2021 when stating that his Department will shortly send out reminders to those who have not yet provided the information sought in reference to the further information letters sent out in June 2021; when all reminders will be actually sent out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55688/21]
View answer667. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1231 to 1239 of 2 November 2021, the number of such reminders for similar information that have been sent out by licence and scheme type in each week since 1 January 2019 when stating that his Department will shortly send out reminders to those who have not yet provided the information sought in reference to the further information letters sent out in June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55689/21]
View answer668. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1231 to 1239 of 2 November 2021, the number of requests for further information by licence and scheme type sent out weekly since 1 January 2019 by licence and scheme type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55690/21]
View answer669. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1231 to 1239 of 2 November 2021, if no reminders have been sent to applicants in circumstances in which the information sought in June 2021 has already been provided to his Department when stating that his Department will shortly send out reminders to those who have not yet provided the information sought in reference to the further information letters sent out in June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55691/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 665 to 669, inclusive, together.
The Deputy refers to Parliamentary Question number 941 of 19 October, 2021, in which I gave a breakdown of the 420 tree felling licence applications, that were referred to Ecology, where further information by way of a harvest plan or amended harvest plan was required from the applicant. This followed a large triage exercise undertaken by my Department of licences on hand for processing.
This exercise has allowed us to significantly increase our output of forestry licences with over 790 private sector felling licences issued since 1 June. However, approximately half of the requests for further information remain unanswered and cannot be processed until they are submitted. Follow- up reminders for these cases, 234 in total, issued in the week ending 5th November, 2021.
Specific information on the number of Further Information Requests issued by licence type and scheme by week since 2019 is not readily available.
This more recent exercise was for a specific cohort of files, rather than at individual file level, which is why we have immediate statistics to hand. We will examine the other request to establish if such statistics can be compiled.
