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Thursday, 18 Nov 2021

Written Answers Nos. 295-317

Health Services Staff

Questions (296)

Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

296. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when staff will be put in place in the resilience social care residential centre (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56603/21]

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Written answers

As 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. 

Medical Cards

Questions (297)

James Lawless

Question:

297. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the status of a medical card application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56604/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Directive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (298)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

298. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when an electric chair riser can be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56607/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Questions (299)

Bríd Smith

Question:

299. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the total mental health budget divided by its allocation to each of the nine CHO areas in each of the years 2018 to 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56622/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (300)

Duncan Smith

Question:

300. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of new residential places that will be provided in 2022 not including those who have a residential service already and are transferring to a better living situation; and his proposals to deal with the urgent needs of the 800 persons minimum currently waiting. [56623/21]

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Written answers

The government is committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities and their families through enhancing the quality of services and supports they receive. 

Budget 2022 provides funding of €13m for increased residential places on a planned basis as well as for more urgent care situations. 

The 2022 HSE National Service Plan is being developed.  The Plan will set out the type and volume of health and personal social services to be provided by the HSE in 2022, in line with priorities set out by the Minister for Health, and the longer-term transformation agenda for health and social care services in Ireland.  The quantum of services to be provided by the HSE is being considered as part of the National Service Planning process. The Service Plan will be finalised in the coming weeks.  

Nursing Homes

Questions (301)

Duncan Smith

Question:

301. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons under 65 years of age inappropriately placed in nursing homes that will be supported to leave nursing homes using the €5.5 million funding to be provided in 2022. [56624/21]

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Written answers

Nursing homes can be an appropriate care option where the person concerned has a clinically assessed complex medical and social care requirement which cannot be supported in the person’s home.  However, for some people under the age of 65, nursing homes are not an appropriate placement and alternative, more sustainable supported living solutions are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.  

The Programme for Government is committed to providing a pathway to eliminate the practice of accommodating young people with serious disabilities in nursing homes.  

€3m was allocated to a HSE led pilot project in 2021 to assist 18 people inappropriately placed in nursing homes to move to more appropriate housing options in the community.  Budget 2022 provides an additional allocation of €5.5m to the same objective. 

The 2022 HSE National Service Plan is being developed.  The Plan will set out the type and volume of health and personal social services to be provided by the HSE in 2022, in line with priorities set out by the Minister for Health, and the longer-term transformation agenda for health and social care services in Ireland.  The quantum of services to be provided by the HSE is being considered as part of the National Service Planning process. The Service Plan will be finalised in the coming weeks.  

Vaccination Programme

Questions (302)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

302. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the way an Irish citizen or legal permanent residents who receive their vaccine in the United States of America can get their booster shot in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56628/21]

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Written answers

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.

On 15 November, the NIAC recommended that a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine be offered to persons aged 16-59 years with underlying conditions, all residents in Long Term Healthcare Facilities and persons aged 50-59 years. The Chief Medical Officer has endorsed the latest NIAC recommendations and written to the HSE requesting they be operationalised as soon as possible.

The NIAC has previously recommended that a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine be offered to those aged 60 years and older and healthcare workers. The booster dose should be given after an interval of six months (or at least five months) following the last dose of any authorised COVID-19 vaccine. I have accepted this advice and the HSE has made the necessary arrangements to operationalise these recommendations with the booster rollout now underway

In line with the approach implemented for the primary vaccination programme, individuals resident in the State will be eligible to receive a booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine when deemed appropriate for their specific cohort in line with NIAC advice.

Operational responsibility for the Covid-19 vaccination programme is with the HSE any queries relating to access to a vaccine should be directed to them.

Disability Services

Questions (303, 304)

Mark Ward

Question:

303. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting on an ASD service; the average waiting time after completion of an assessment of needs by CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56630/21]

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Mark Ward

Question:

304. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of interventions received on average since their initial intervention after a child is identified as needing an ASD service after completion of an assessment of needs in the first 12 months by CHO area in the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56631/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 304 together.

As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 304 answered with Question No. 303.

Medical Cards

Questions (305)

Johnny Guirke

Question:

305. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on waiting lists for hearing aids through the medical card scheme in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56632/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Cards

Questions (306)

Johnny Guirke

Question:

306. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on waiting lists for hearing aids through the medical card scheme in County Meath in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56633/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Cards

Questions (307)

Johnny Guirke

Question:

307. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on waiting lists for hearing aids through the medical card scheme in County Westmeath in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56634/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Cards

Questions (308)

Johnny Guirke

Question:

308. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on waiting lists for hearing aids through the medical card scheme in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56635/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Cards

Questions (309)

Johnny Guirke

Question:

309. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the average number of patients waiting for a hearing aid installation through the medical card scheme in County Meath by wait time intervals of 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months and over in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56636/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Cards

Questions (310)

Johnny Guirke

Question:

310. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the average number of patients waiting for a hearing aid installation through the medical card scheme in County Westmeath for wait time intervals of 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months and over in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56637/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services Staff

Questions (311)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

311. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if pregnant healthcare workers will be afforded the opportunity to move to a non-patient facing role due to rising Covid-19 case numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56643/21]

View answer

Written answers

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to this matter.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (312)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

312. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if medically vulnerable children over 12 years of age and medically vulnerable adults under 60 years of age will be included in the Covid-19 vaccine booster programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56644/21]

View answer

Written answers

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.

On 15 November, the NIAC recommended that a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine be offered to persons aged 16-59 years with underlying conditions, all residents in Long Term Healthcare Facilities and persons aged 50-59 years. The Chief Medical Officer has endorsed the latest NIAC recommendations and written to the HSE requesting they be operationalised as soon as possible

The NIAC had previously recommended an additional mRNA dose should be given to those aged 12 years and older with immunocompromise associated with a suboptimal response to vaccination who have completed their primary vaccination course. The third dose of an mRNA vaccine should be given a minimum of two months after the last dose of the primary vaccination schedule.

The NIAC will continue to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines for others in the population where there is evidence of waning immunity and reduced effectiveness and will make further recommendations if required.

Medical Cards

Questions (313)

Johnny Guirke

Question:

313. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on hearing aid installations for County Meath through the medical card scheme in each of the years 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56660/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Cards

Questions (314)

Johnny Guirke

Question:

314. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on hearing aid installations for County Westmeath through the medical card scheme in each of the years 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56661/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Cards

Questions (315)

Johnny Guirke

Question:

315. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on hearing aid installations in each county through the medical card scheme in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56662/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Home Help Service

Questions (316)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

316. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the lack of available home support service carers in an area (details supplied); the number of persons in the area who have been approved for home support but whose service has not commenced due to lack of carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56670/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Covid-19 Tests

Questions (317)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

317. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the Rapid Testing Expert Advisory Group has provided him with guidance and or advice since its last interim report; and if so, if he will publish that advice. [56678/21]

View answer

Written answers

I have established an Expert Advisory Group on Rapid Testing, chaired by Professor Mary Horgan, Consultant in Infectious Diseases at Cork University Hospital and President of the Royal College of Physicians.

The group will support and advise government departments, who are responsible for progressing pilots and the rollout of rapid tests in their respective sectors. It will also be responsible for communicating to the general public.

The membership of the group and it's terms of reference are available at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/e2767-minister-donnelly-establishes-expert-advisory-group-on-rapid-testing/

Minutes of the Groups meetings and other relevant documents are published at www.gov.ie/en/collection/8b585-minutes-and-agendas-from-meetings-of-the-rapid-testing-expert-advisory-group/

The RTEAG has provided advice to the Minister on using RADT as an additional layer of public health measures which was also provided to NPHET to form part of their deliberations. This advice was reflected in the CMO’s letter to the Minister on 11 November.

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