Neasa Hourigan
Question:139. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the advice offered by the HSE in relation to ensuring children have properly fitting face masks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60619/21]
View answerCovid-19 Pandemic
Questions (139)
Written answers
The Government, at its meeting on 30 November, agreed that face masks/coverings be recommended for those aged 9 and over on public transport, in retail and other indoor public settings as currently required for those aged 13 and over, with exemptions as appropriate.
Face masks/coverings are also recommended for children in third class and above in primary school and the Department of Education has published a guide on how to use face coverings specifically for parents and children in 3rd to 6th Class. This guide includes information on how to check the fit of a face mask and how to safely remove and dispose of a face mask. This guide can be found online: assets.gov.ie/205932/b625c5d0-4f21-436e-ba04-8a1beafa717e.pdf
It should be noted that this is a temporary, interim measure and will be reviewed in mid-February 2022. The continued importance of other public health measures will continue to be emphasised.
The HSE also provides information more generally on when and how to wear a face covering and this is available online: www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/preventing-the-spread/when-to-wear-face-covering/
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (140)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:140. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if there are exemptions to persons being charged for mandatory hotel quarantine for essential or family reasons; if so, the body to which a person can apply for the exemption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60620/21]
View answerWritten answers
Guests who previously underwent Quarantine in a Designated Facility and who have received a payment deferral form may apply for an exemption from payment. To avail of this option, guests should submit a completed payment deferral form to the Department of Health, along with relevant documentation supporting their request for an exemption.
Full exemption is given to guests who have demonstrated one of the following:
- remaining in receipt of social welfare allowance payments
- overall income below the exemption threshold of €21,112 per annum,
- circumstances of financial hardship which would cause exceptional difficulty in meeting the payment, where travel was necessary and unavoidable.
Consideration is also given to the financial position of persons who are in full time education who fall under the income thresholds.
A partial exemption is granted to guests who have provided proof of income above the exemption threshold of €21,112, but below €30,000 per annum.
An option to complete payment in three monthly instalments can be offered to guests who were not granted a full exemption from the costs of their stay.
If a guest is not satisfied with the decision, they may request a second review by a designated Appeals Officer and subsequently may request a further review by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Should it be necessary to reintroduce Mandatory Hotel Quarantine, regulations relating to charging and exemptions will be put in place.
Hospital Facilities
Questions (141)
David Cullinane
Question:141. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of acute inpatient beds that are fully funded and open at the latest available validated data point; the net increase in beds factoring in ward beds which have been replaced and closed by location in each of the years since 1 January 2019 to date in tabular form; the number of new acute inpatient beds opened by additional and replacement by hospital in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60647/21]
View answerWritten 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 (142)
Róisín Shortall
Question:142. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a discretionary medical card for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; if the decision can be appealed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60651/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (143)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:143. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons with underlying health conditions had to wait for five hours outdoors in the cold weather with no toilet facilities to get their Covid-19 booster vaccine in the Citywest vaccination centre; the steps he is taking to ensure that each vaccination centre is equipped with bathroom facilities and has the capacity to ensure persons with underlying conditions and other vulnerabilities are not left waiting for several hours outdoors during the winter months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60659/21]
View answerWritten 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 (144)
Michael Ring
Question:144. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be reached on a medical card application for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the seriousness of their illness. [60682/21]
View answerWritten 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 Pandemic
Questions (145)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:145. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the 14-day data summarising the characteristics of confirmed Covid-19 notified in Ireland from 17 November 2021 to midnight 30 November 2021 which substantiates the statement made by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60685/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Protection Surveillance Centre is responsible for the collation of such data I have asked them to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (146)
Chris Andrews
Question:146. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be given an urgent date to have cataract surgery performed. [60688/21]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (147)
Chris Andrews
Question:147. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that patients at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital that are referred there for cataract surgery are being told it will be a four year wait to have this surgery performed; the reason for this delay; the actions he is taking to cut this waiting list time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60689/21]
View answerWritten answers
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last twenty months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021 and the associated curtailment of acute hospital services, coupled with the ransomware attack of May 2021, has impacted waiting times.
The current surge in Covid-19 cases has put increasing pressures on hospitals and ICUs. As part of the response to this the HSE advised all Hospital Groups on 18th November, to take a series of immediate actions which include a 14 day period of prioritising unscheduled care, COVID care and time sensitive work in particular in Model 4 hospitals. The situation is to be reviewed after that period.
On the 7th October I published the Acute Waiting List Action Plan. This plan, to run until December 2021, has a series of targeted measures that are designed to address the growth in waiting lists caused by Covid-19 and the cyber-attack. In addition, my Department, the HSE and the NTPF are also working on a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund. The plan will be informed by the lessons learned from the successful Vaccine Taskforce.
In recent years, my Department has worked with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to improve access for patients waiting for high volume procedures, including cataracts. Ophthalmology services are provided throughout all hospital groups in the country, with cataract removal one of the key procedures carried out as part of this specialty.
A key development in improving access to Ophthalmology services was the opening of a stand-alone high-volume consultant-led cataract theatre by the University of Limerick Hospital Group in Nenagh Hospital in 2018, with the intention that it would facilitate patients from surrounding geographical areas to avail of their treatment there. The impact of such initiatives can be seen in the reduction in the waiting times to access cataract procedures since 2018. At the end of October 2021 there were 4,717 patients waiting for a cataract procedure compared to 6,452 in October 2018.
For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been provided in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists. The €250 million will be used to fund additional activity in both the public and private sectors. The €50 million additional funding provided to the NTPF brings its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million, and as a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services.
In relation to the particular queries raised, regarding Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (148)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:148. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can receive a Covid Recovery Certificate. [60690/21]
View answerWritten answers
The EU Digital COVID Certificate is a document which is issued to help facilitate the safe and free international movement of people across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. The scope and details to be included in each Digital COVID Certificate has been agreed at EU level and is standardized across the EU to allow for complete interoperability.
The EU Regulation specifies that a certificate of recovery confirms that, following a positive result of a NAAT test carried out by health professionals or by skilled testing personnel, the holder has recovered from a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antibody tests are not currently regulated for in relation to the issuing certificates of recovery.
Certificates of Recovery can be issued upon request through the online portal following a positive COVID-19 test (RT-PCR or ‘NAAT’) taken more than 11 days ago in Ireland. The certificate will remain valid for 180 days after the day of the positive test result.
Primary Medical Certificates
Questions (149)
Chris Andrews
Question:149. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health when applications for primary medical certificates will recommence; the reason they ceased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60709/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme is underpinned by statute and comes under the remit of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners. The extent of the involvement of Health Service Executive (HSE) personnel in the Scheme relates to making a professional clinical determination as to whether an individual applicant meets the specified criteria for a Primary Medical Certificate, which is a requirement for the Scheme.
Following a Supreme Court decision of June 2020, the assessment process for Primary Medical Certificates was suspended at the request of the Minister for Finance. On the enactment of the Finance Act 2020 which provided for the medical criteria in primary legislation, the Minister for Health instructed the HSE that assessments could recommence from 1 January, 2021.
The ability to hold assessments for the Scheme has been impacted by, among other things, the public health restrictions in place and the role of the HSE Community Medical Doctors in the roll-out of the COVID vaccination programme.
If an applicant's case very clearly meets the strict criteria that govern the granting of the certificate, the Community Medical Doctors may be in a position to grant it, with supporting documentation from a Consultant. However the majority of applications are not clear cut and would need an in-person examination to make an adjudication.
Good progress on the assessment process has been made. The HSE has recently confirmed that a total of 1,078 assessments were undertaken in Quarter 3, 2021, which compares with a combined total of 1,272 assessments undertaken in Quarters 1 and 2, 2021.
Hospital Services
Questions (150)
David Cullinane
Question:150. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the timeline for tri-location of the Coombe women’s and infants university hospital with the National Children’s Hospital and St. James’s Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60720/21]
View answerWritten answers
In line with best international practice, it is Government policy, as re-iterated in the National Maternity Strategy, that the remaining standalone maternity hospitals, including the Coombe, should be co-located with adult acute hospitals. This policy commitment is re-stated in the National Development Plan 2021-2030. In addition, in the context of promoting women’s health, the Programme for Government commits to progress the planning, tender and design stages for the relocation of the Coombe to St James’s.
The HSE’s Capital Plan 2021 indicates that the project brief for the Coombe relocation is being developed. As such, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Questions (151)
David Cullinane
Question:151. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of plans and timeline for the relocation of the Rotunda Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60721/21]
View answerWritten answers
In line with best international practice, it is Government policy, as re-iterated in the National Maternity Strategy, that the remaining standalone maternity hospitals, including the Rotunda, should be co-located with adult acute hospitals. This policy commitment is re-stated in the National Development Plan 2021-2030. In addition, in the context of promoting women’s health, the Programme for Government commits to progress the planning, tender and design stages for the relocation of the Rotunda to Connolly Hospital.
The HSE’s Capital Plan 2021 indicates that the project brief for the Rotunda relocation is being developed. As such, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Questions (152)
David Cullinane
Question:152. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of plans and timeline for the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60722/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is committed to the development of the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) planned for the St Vincent’s University Hospital Campus at Elm Park, as set out in the Programme for Government.
The proposed corporate and clinical governance arrangements for the new National Maternity Hospital were set out in the Mulvey Agreement, which provides for the establishment of a new company - National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park DAC - which will have clinical and operational, as well as financial and budgetary independence in the provision of maternity, gynaecology and neonatal services. The draft legal framework that has been developed is designed to copperfasten these arrangements and to ensure protection of the State’s investment.
I have been clear that I will not bring any proposal to Government unless it affirms that the State’s investment in the new hospital is safeguarded, as well as providing assurances around all legally permissible services being provided in the new NMH.
Work is ongoing towards the finalisation of the legal arrangements. However, as I have stated previously, I will not be making any further comment in relation to this matter until the process has concluded.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (153)
Niamh Smyth
Question:153. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) cannot get a hip operation; if it will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60724/21]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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.