Written Answers Nos. 295-309
295. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health if he will report on works to provide a new local injuries unit at Ennis General Hospital; when the additional staff necessary to run this new facility will be recruited; when he expects that it will come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60903/21]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
296. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a new community hospital for Ennis, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60904/21]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
297. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the need for new operating theatres at Ennis General Hospital; the status of work to provide these new theatres; if he will provide the necessary resources to facilitate this much needed development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60905/21]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
298. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health when the HSE will implement NIAC advice to provide a booster dose for persons that received the one shot Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60906/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
299. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the action he will take regarding the refunding of the cost of PCR and antigen tests for persons returning to Ireland have been incurring since the rule was introduced on 30 November 2021 which is causing a lot of stress and financial burden to persons that are fully vaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60908/21]
View answerThe requirements for travel are kept under regular review based on the evolving international epidemiological situation. At present, and as part of our response to the emergence of the Omicron variant, passengers travelling to Ireland require a valid test result (subject to limited exemptions). Full details on international travel policy and the types of tests accepted are published at www.gov.ie/travel.
There is no process in place to reimburse any travellers who provide proof of a test result in order to travel to the State.
Additional testing measures are considered necessary in the interest of public health. These measures are intended to be temporary and to be kept under regular review as our understanding of the Omicron variant develops.
300. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if a Covid-19 PCR testing centre can be provided in the Dublin 8 area as a matter of urgency; his views on whether those who do not drive may put others at risk if they have to use public transport to travel to testing centres outside of the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60909/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
301. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the number of unused vaccines that have been disposed of by the State by month in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60910/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
302. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to collate to percentage of vaccine wastage and minimise same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60911/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
303. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the vacancies which exist within his Department; the length of these vacancies; when he expects these vacancies to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60913/21]
View answerThe Department’s staffing level as of 31 October 2021 stood at 691.69 WTE. This is slightly in excess of the Department's planned employment ceiling for 2021, due to particular ongoing work pressures associated with the public health response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Vacancies can exist across the various grades in the Department at different times due to ongoing retirements, resignations, promotions and mobility both internally and across the Civil Service. Vacancies or new posts in the various business units of the Department are considered on an ongoing basis and filled on the basis of priority business needs and subject to the availability of suitable candidates. Posts prioritised are filled in line with centrally agreed sequencing through intake from open and interdepartmental Public Appointments Service panels, internal promotional panels, Civil Service mobility schemes for different grades and, where appropriate, secondments from across the civil service and from the wider health sector for particular specialist posts. Additional staff to fill various roles have confirmed start dates and will commence employment with the Department throughout the months of December and January.
The Department continues to manage its workforce to fill vacancies on a prioritised basis as they arise.
304. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans for reconfiguring the Sláintecare implementation office; the vacancies in this office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60914/21]
View answerResponsibility for the implementation of Sláintecare projects is now devolved to a senior leadership team within my Department. To ensure that implementation is fully embedded across the Department and that the drive for universal healthcare across both the Department of Health and the HSE, a new Programme Board has been established. Reporting to me, the Board is co-chaired by the Secretary-General of the Department and the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE and will also comprise senior members of the Department’s Management Board and the HSE’s Executive Management Teams. It is expected to have its first meeting next week.
305. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans regarding Lifford Community Hospital; the expected length of closure; if it will be reopened to provide long or short stay beds; his plans for replacing the long stay beds and addressing concerns raised by HIQA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60916/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
306. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when a report into the Brandon case will be completed and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60917/21]
View answerThe HSE commissioned the National Independent Review Panel to carry out a review of a residential service for adults with a disability. The review report, the Brandon Report, focuses on matters of a sensitive nature, and how they were managed.
The HSE has advised me that there is no ongoing risk to service users and that there is a commitment to the implementation of the specific recommendations arising from the report. This is in addition to making substantial changes to the wider Disability services in the area concerned and nationally in line with National Policy.
The Board has also advised that it is focused on ensuring that all of the recommendations of the report are promptly and appropriately actioned by the HSE. Actions are being taken to seek assurances requested by me and will be reported to me once concluded.
It is imperative that the report leads to learning, with ensuing meaningful and tangible change.
I have on a number of occasions asked the HSE to publish the report in full. To date, the HSE has informed me of its intention to publish only the Executive Summary. I will continue to engage with the HSE and its Board on the matter.
The HSE informs me that An Garda Síochána has requested it not to publish any report at this time, and until it has completed its process. ?I am awaiting an update from the HSE in this regard.
It is important to note that the HSE’s publication plan will require briefings to families in the first instance and the provision of appropriate supports.
307. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount expended by his Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on electricity costs in tabular form; and if he will provide an additional schedule that sets out all energy costs associated with their ICT hardware, that is, servers and so on in tabular form. [60940/21]
View answerMy Department's headquarters is located at Miesian Plaza, Baggot Street, Dublin 2. Below is the total amount expended on electricity from 2017 - 2021. We moved headquarters from Hawkins House to Miesian Plaza in July 2018.
My Department's server hardware infrastructure is hosted in data centres provided by the Department of Social Protection and the Revenue Commissioners. There are no costs to my Department in this regard as the energy costs are fully met by each hosting data centre.
|
Electricity |
|
|
2021 |
€ 281,932.17 |
|
2020 |
€ 196,285.10 |
|
2019 |
€ 301,084.93 |
|
2018 |
€ 256,444.60 |
|
2017 |
€ 130,291.37 |
308. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing and midwifery staff employed by the HSE which are paid on the enhanced pay scale; the number which are not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60950/21]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
309. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing and midwifery staff employed by the HSE which are working for the service or have experience totalling 18 plus months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60951/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
